Send tips/talk to abner@9to5mac.com or @technacity (open DMs).
Abner Li has worked at 9to5Google since 2015 and in late 2020 took on the role of editor-in-chief. He is keenly focused on tracking what happens at Google, and is often the first to spot new features in Google’s ever-growing family of applications that are updated on a daily basis, including Search, Assistant, Maps, Workspace, Android, Chrome/OS, Wear OS, and YouTube Music.
To him, what Google does greatly impacts the technology space and modern life. Inside the company, he is particularly interested in the key products mentioned above, as well as services like Google Podcasts and Google Lens. Each are massive platforms that can be unwieldy to grasp, with Abner keenly bent on understanding their philosophy and future direction. He is most excited about Google’s plans for augmented reality glasses.
Abner spearheads the APK Insight program at 9to5Google to chronicle all changes in the company’s Android apps, often finding new features before they are officially announced. This includes redesigns and revamps, launches, and new products.
A big area of interest is Google’s hardware division, including Pixel, Fitbit, and Nest. He detailed all of the Pixel 3’s camera features before launch and scooped the 2nd-generation Nest Hub’s Soli-powered Sleep Sensing capability, including how it would integrate with Google Fit.
Recently, Abner detailed the Pixel Watch’s specs in full before launch, including bands and pricing. He also got wind of the Pixel Tablet’s ultimate form factor.
With less than 48 hours until I/O 2022, Google today teased an overview of what the Android team might possibly announce at the developer conference.
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Google has long been a proponent of web technologies that offer an “experience comparable to a native application.” It has advocated for and built out browser features/APIs to that effect, and Google is now launching the Advanced Web Apps Fund.
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Playlists are undoubtedly a big part of YouTube Music’s discovery angle, and Google is now testing a big UI redesign for them on mobile.
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In a rather curious turn of events, Amazon has put what looks to be the existing Chromecast with Google TV up for pre-order with an availability date of next week.
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For most of the world, Google Play Points is structured into four levels. Play Points users on the top Platinum tier are now being offered a hardware perk in the form of Google Store discounts.
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Earlier this week, Google started beta testing Android 13 for Android TV. Similar to previous years, a system image is available for the ADT-3 Developer Kit.
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A curious bug impacting some Pixel owners sees the Phone ringtone, Default notification sound, and Default alarm sounds randomly change on Google devices.
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Google started asking Android Beta Program users for feedback with version 11 in 2020. With Android 13 moving on from the developer preview phase last week, the Beta 1 feedback survey is now open this evening.
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Since its inception in 2015 (and the 2018 relaunch), YouTube Music has only ever offered a dark theme, but the Android and iOS apps are now adding a splash of color to liven things up.
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Back in March, Google halted Android app and subscription purchases in Russia due to sanctions. Google Play is now “blocking the downloading of paid apps and updates to paid apps in Russia starting May 5, 2022.”
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Coral is Google’s platform for adding on-device AI and inferencing capabilities to hardware. To make it more widely available, especially for Internet of Things use cases, Google is partnering with Asus IoT.
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Since its release in 2011, the Roboto font has expanded to include several variants and just got a reading-optimized Serif version in February. Roboto Flex was officially unveiled today as a “major upgrade” and “Google Fonts’ biggest project to date.”
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The March Feature Drop introduced a system battery widget on Pixel, but it’s not the easiest homescreen object for people to add. To address that, Android 12 QPR3 makes it easier to find the “Battery” widget.
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Following our report last month, Google today announced its support for “passwordless FIDO Sign-in standards” and previewed what the end-user experience of passkeys on Android and Chrome will look like.
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Back in March, Google introduced the ability to pay for public parking with your voice. As part of this feature, Google Assistant has added “Your vehicles” settings. Meanwhile, the Google app has made a tweak to its preferences.
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Live Q&A sessions with the Android team were a staple of previous Google developer conferences. After skipping last year, Google I/O 2022 will once again see an Android fireside chat.
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Following rumors, Google announced today that it has acquired microLED startup Raxium to join the Devices & Services team.
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Back in March, we revealed that Fitbit is working on a pair of new smartwatches. 9to5Google can now report that the next two Fitbit wearables will be the Sense 2 and Versa 4, as well as some of their hardware details.
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In what should be the final preview before the public launch next month, Android 12 QPR3 Beta 3 is now rolling out to Pixel phones.
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At today’s virtual Workspace Summit, Google announced an expanded partnership with enterprise software giant SAP that sees Docs and Sheets integrate with S/4HANA Cloud.
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YouTube Go was first announced in 2016 as a lightweight Android app that’s optimized for lower-end hardware and constrained cellular connectivity. YouTube announced today that it was shutting down the Go app “beginning in August.”
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For the first time (in the modern era), there are two active Android Beta Programs, as well as the stable channel. Google explained today why there’s occasionally no Android 12 QPR3 or Android 13 Beta OTA immediately after signing-up your Pixel.
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At I/O 2021, Google announced that Assistant would help you change stolen credentials. This Google Assistant-branded, Duplex-powered capability for changing passwords is now rolling out in Chrome for Android.
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After introducing better widgets, Apple Music for Android is getting an in-app Sleep Timer that offers extensive options.
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