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.
Following the launch of Android 12L on Monday, Google today announced Android 12 QPR3 Beta 1 as part of a new, more frequent Beta Program to preview the next Feature Drop — which coincides with Quarterly Platform Releases — expected in June.
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During today’s The Android Show, Google discussed its recent work in the large-screen device space and its grand vision for the form factor, including “tablet-first” apps.
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The latest project from Area 120, Google’s house incubator, is called “Aloud,” and it lets YouTube creators “quickly and easily dub their videos into multiple languages.”
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Back in December, Google announced new widgets for Photos and YouTube Music. An updated widget featuring Material You for Play Books was also previewed and is now widely rolled out.
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Last year, Google updated Lens on Android to prioritize screenshot analysis over the live viewfinder. Google Lens has now been tweaked to make browsing your phone for images easier.
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Besides a push on social media, Google informs Pixel owners about quarterly Feature Drops directly on their phone. The Pixel Tips app now looks to be showing a splash screen highlighting what’s new immediately after you update.
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Like last year, the March drop of “Curated Culture” wallpapers for Pixel celebrates International Women’s Day. Their availability coincides with the Feature Drop and Android 12L.
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As rumored yesterday, Google today announced that it’s acquiring cybersecurity firm Mandiant. This deal, if approved by regulators, will expand Google Cloud’s security offerings.
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Google announced to third-party developers today that Android is “working on a new feature that would enable app archiving.” The company did not specify when it would launch, but started laying the groundwork for developer adoption.
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Over the course of last year, Google Fiber rolled out its 2 Gig plan to many more cities, and it’s now coming to business customers for $250/month.
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Following a similar move in the UK this January, Google is acquiring the new building its Poland office in Warsaw is located at. The company also announced two new pledges to reduce food waste and loss at its cafeterias worldwide.
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Android 12.1 with the March security patch is rolling out today for the Pixel 3a, Pixel 4, Pixel 4a, Pixel 4a 5G, Pixel 5, and Pixel 5a. [Update: The Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro will see SP2A.220305.013.A3 (Global build) OTAs “later this month.”]
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In addition to bringing Android 12L and the quarterly Feature Drop, the March security patch fixes 80 issues for the Pixel 3a to Pixel 6 Pro.
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Back in October, Google announced Android 12L as an unexpected “special feature drop” to improve the OS on tablets and foldables devices. After one 12L developer preview and three betas, this next release of Android — officially version 12.1 — is launching for Pixel phones alongside the March Feature Drop, while Google detailed what’s coming for tablets and foldables.
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Google is rolling out the Pixel’s tenth Feature Drop this March. While it will be available starting today for the Pixel 3a through 5a, the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro will get the Feature Drop “later” this March in a situation similar to the start of this year.
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Benchmarks are not the most reliable source of device specifications given their easily forged nature. That said, one for the Pixel 6a has appeared in recent days and reveals nothing too unexpected about the SoC, RAM, or timing.
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Google rolled out a Material You redesign for the Play Store in October, but it really only applied to the homescreen. The Play Store will soon get new Material You buttons throughout the app.
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YouTube’s interest in the podcasting space is quite explicit at this point, and the latest effort is offering grants to make video podcasts that are more native to the network.
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The first indication that YouTube Music might be able to share songs to Instagram and Snapchat emerged in November of 2020. Snapchat sharing finally launched for YouTube Music on iOS in October and it’s now coming to Android.
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Alongside other responses, Google announced this evening that its Voice VoIP service and Fi MVNO are waiving calling fees to Ukraine. The company also provided an update on Project Shield protections.
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With Google now releasing major Chromebook updates every four weeks, some releases are more significant than others. Chrome OS 99 adds a slew of convenient features that will start rolling out today.
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It’s been clear for some time now that Assistant Snapshot “does not have the same level of vision, central on-phone placement, or wide backing” as Google Now. It was never going to be game changing, but its upcoming demise officially closes the chapter on what could have been a radically different way to use smartphones.
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Executive Editor of The Verge Dieter Bohn announced on Friday that he’s leaving the technology publication to join Google.
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Back in November, Google removed the last “Updated on” section from Play Store app listings on Android to everyone’s annoyance. That change was reversed at the time, but it now appears to be gone again.
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