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.
Last week, Google announced that all G Suite legacy free edition users will have to transition and start paying for Workspace starting in July. This has upset non-business users that signed up for G Suite 16 years ago with their domain, and Google is now reaching out to these legacy personal users.
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In YouTube’s 2022 Priorities letter, CEO Susan Wojcicki cited podcasting (just before NFTs) as an additional source of revenue for Creators. Podcasts already exist on the site as videos, but this is the latest mention that strongly implies that YouTube is going to provide a more dedicated experience. What form could YouTube Podcasts take and does that sound like something you’d use?
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Following .app, .page, and .new in recent years, Google Registry is now launching a .day top-level domain. An Early Access Program (EAP) opens today, while wider access kicks off in a week.
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At I/O 2019, Google introduced the ability to cancel alarms by just saying “stop,” while the Pixel 6 picked up “Quick Phrases” last year. You can now tell Google Assistant on Smart Displays and speakers to “stop” talking without having to first preface that command with “Hey Google.”
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At the start of 2021, Google offered the Federated Learning of Cohorts (FLoC) as a replacement for third-party cookies used to place relevant ads on sites. Following criticism and feedback over the past year, Google today proposed the Topics API as a new solution.
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In two rare occurrences, the December 2021 and January 2022 updates for the Pixel 6 line were delayed from their usual first Monday of the month availability. The Pixel 6’s OTA schedule looks like it will return to normal with the February security patch.
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Back in September, Google added support for uploading image watermarks in Docs and is now making it easy to create your own background text identifiers.
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Earlier this month, 9to5Google reported that Google’s upcoming foldable might be named the “Pixel Notepad” and that it may cost less than the Galaxy Fold. We are now hearing that Google has a price of around $1,400 in mind for the Pixel Notepad.
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On Friday, we reported that Google was developing a new Chromecast device powered by Google TV. A new report today corroborates the existence of “Boreal” and reveals that it will be a lower-end streaming dongle that might launch as the “Chromecast HD with Google TV.”
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After missing its original 2021 deadline, Microsoft this morning is rolling out Android 11 to the Surface Duo.
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Back in October, the Play Store got a Material You redesign that was pretty straightforward in that it only touched the homescreens. Google now looks to be adding an “Offers” tab to the Play Store that makes for a quite cluttered bottom bar.
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Google is testing a redesign of Search’s image viewer that replaces the white or gray background with some much-needed color while rearranging other information and buttons for a less overwhelming experience.
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With the launch of the Pixel 6 and Android 12, At a Glance saw a big redesign. In November, we detailed how the visual revamp was a prelude to Google adding even more capabilities. That At a Glance upgrade, with interesting changes to the backend, is now beginning to roll out.
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In addition to doing Google TV’s “Watch with Me” series, Simu Liu of Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings will be shooting Pixel 6 ads.
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In recent years, Fitbit has offered a few months of free Premium when purchasing a new tracker or smartwatch. Subscribers that took advantage of that offer are now discovering that they’re eligible for another free trial.
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In an email to Family Link parents today, Google previewed that kids will soon be able to access YouTube Music and more parts of the video site.
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An interesting – albeit specific – user experience (UX) study from Google’s Material Design team today goes into what transition animation people prefer the most in Android apps.
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Back in September, we spotted that Google was developing an “Augmented Reality OS” for an “innovative AR device.” A new report today reveals that Google is working on an AR headset with “Project Iris.”
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Google Slides picked up an Android Wear — as it was called at the time — companion app in 2016 that allowed users to control presentations from their wrist. In recent weeks, Google quietly got rid of Slides for Wear OS.
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Back in November, Google created a new division focused on “high-potential, long-term projects,” like augmented reality. Google Labs now has a team working on blockchain and other related technologies.
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As part of the beta, Google today fully previewed the UI of its Play Games for Windows PC app. It also shared the specs needed to run Android games on your laptop and desktop.
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Back in September of 2021, Google said YouTube Music hit 50 million subscribers faster than it expected. A new market analysis report this week notes that YouTube Music grew 50% in a 12 month period with high interest from Gen Z.
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Back in October, Google Pay canceled its plans for “Plex” bank accounts with an accompanying card. In an interview today, Google shared that Pay will now focus on becoming a “comprehensive digital wallet.”
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In 2020, G Suite became Google Workspace as part of a mass reorganization of the company’s apps for the “future of work.” Various plans were migrated over, and Google is now finally getting rid of the G Suite legacy free edition.
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