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.
The last update to the foldable and tablet-focused Android 12L is here. Join 9to5Google as we chronicle all the new features and changes in Android 12L Beta 3 for Pixel phones.
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Android 12L nears public launch today with the availability of the final Beta 3 release today for Pixel phones enrolled in the Beta Program. The Pixel 6 line is eligible for the first time this cycle.
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Over the past year, Google has been encouraging developers to optimize their apps for tablets and foldables. After having done so, Chrome has seen an 18x increase in multi-window usage on large screen devices.
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As part of Galaxy Unpacked, Google announced a handful of first-party app updates that go hand-in-hand with the new Galaxy S22 and Tab S8. This covers Google Messages, Duo Live Sharing, and Voice Access.
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Back in September, Google Weather received a (late) Material Theme redesign, but a peculiar bug made it so that launching from At a Glance loaded the old UI. This has mercifully been fixed today, though other bugs still persist.
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Fitbit today offered a number of guided programs as part of its premium subscription. The Google-owned company is now testing one called Quantified Self that’s personalized and involves using “Fitbit data to figure out which strategies can meaningfully boost your stats.”
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For Safer Internet Day 2022, Google is previewing a handful of new features across several products, including Assistant, Fi, and Account security, and a slew of related initiatives.
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Google is rolling out a pair of new Android widgets for Chrome today, while making official the previously experimental “Journeys” feature that lets you “revisit past explorations grouped by topic.”
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Following Samsung’s tease yesterday afternoon, Google today provided more details on the new Assistant experience coming to Wear OS, including its new design.
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Last year, Google started automatically enabling 2-Step Verification for end users. It has now successfully done so for 150 million people and this 2SV requirement has resulted in a 50% decrease of compromised Google Accounts.
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YouTube Music annoyingly got rid of the handy “Offline Mixtape” app shortcut in July, but has now introduced “Downloads” as a more expansive replacement on Android.
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Similar to last year, February’s drop of “Curated Culture” wallpapers for Pixel phones celebrate Black History Month. Their availability coincides with the February security patch and marks one year of monthly wallpapers from Google.
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Besides events, Google Calendar is getting ever deeper task integration. The latest lets you “easily see and manage your overdue tasks” from a new “Pending” section in Google Calendar for Android, iOS, and web.
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Google today rolled out the final update for the Pixel 3 and 3 XL. This update was targeted for the first quarter of 2022 back in November.
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In a return to form, the Android 12 February security patch is simultaneously rolling out for the Pixel 3a, Pixel 4, Pixel 4a, Pixel 4a 5G, Pixel 5, Pixel 5a, Pixel 6, and Pixel 6 Pro today.
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Google today updated the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro alongside all other phones. The February update fixes Pixel 6 issues related to Bluetooth audio and the camera.
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After we enabled on Wednesday, Google Messages is starting to roll out the navigation drawer redesign in Photos integration.
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Later this year, Google will update the latest watches with the newest version of its wearable operating system. Until then, Google is already redesigning some core parts of older watches with Wear OS 3’s new UI.
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The Google Chrome icon is in the process of being updated and modernized for the first time in eight years. This is meant to better “align with Google’s more modern brand expression,” with the company now optimizing the logo for each operating system.
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Stadia’s future as a white-label streaming platform has been clear for some months now, especially after the first partnership with AT&T. A new report provides more details into the current state of Stadia and the new “Google Stream” focus.
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The Security Hub was first introduced on the Pixel 6 and later rolled out to other Google phones. In recent days, Security Hub hit 10 million installs on the Play Store — a possible indication of how many modern Pixel phones are in use.
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Back in November, we previewed a big “At a Glance” upgrade that started rolling out on Pixel phones last month. Before this take, Google reportedly planned a fuller At a Glance experience that would reside on the lockscreen.
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Google today announced Cloud Next ’22 for October 11-13, 2022. The dates are similar to last year, and Google Cloud again says it’s “too early to determine” the format.
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Google’s latest move to boost Workspace targets businesses that have existing email systems, but do not have access to modern productivity apps. The big selling point of Google Workspace Essentials Starter edition is how it’s free with “no limited trial period.”
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