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.
While Android 12 is now available in AOSP today, Google did not release it to Pixel phones in an unprecedented departure. Instead, the company is still working on the Pixel’s Android 12 update and teased it would be a “special release.”
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Android 12 is not launching today. As such, we only have the October security patch with another Android 11 update for the Pixel 3, Pixel 3a, Pixel 4, Pixel 4a, Pixel 4a (5G), Pixel 5, and Pixel 5a.
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In a significant departure from previous years, Google today rolled out Android 12 to AOSP but did not launch any devices, including Pixel phones.
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The Pixel’s Now Playing feature is powered by Android System Intelligence (previously called Device Personal Services). An update for Pixel phones running Android 12 will introduce an interface redesign for Now Playing, as well as the ability to send unrecognized songs to the cloud.
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YouTube has a nifty mini-player on the web that’s now being used to let you quickly “Continue watching” videos from your phone and other devices.
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Google and NBCUniversal have signed a new contract and YouTube TV will retain all NBC channels with no change to the monthly subscription price.
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Motion Sense is the marquee feature of Google’s most recent Assistant Smart Display and it powers Sleep Sensing. The Nest Hub (2nd-gen) looks to be adding another Soli Quick Gesture capability that will let you “browse photos.”
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Compared to the last design language revamp, Google’s rollout of Material You is happening at a much faster pace. That Material You app update blitz comes amid a barrage of Pixel 6 advertising and that’s no coincidence. It’s the sign of a well-under-way vision at Google that has been sorely missing.
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Outside of improving the browser’s technical underpinnings, Google has been working to make Chrome easier to use with features like Tab Groups and copy link to highlight. Chrome is now experimenting with a “Journeys” feature and Search side panel.
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October 2021 sees Google add five Stadia Pro games in only a slight decrease from last month’s particularly notable collection.
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At the start of September, Google started teasing its next flagship phone with a “Coming Fall 2021” date. That has now evolved into “Coming Soon” with the latest Pixel 6 ad from Google Japan.
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Reminders on Google products are a bit convoluted with multiple ways to create them across Android and Assistant smart home devices. You can view most alerts in the Assistant Reminders experience that Google just updated with a dark theme.
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YouTube TV’s previous contract for NBC channels was set to expire at midnight Eastern time, but the two companies have agreed to a “short extension.”
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Google Japan has a penchant for Gboard/input-related April Fools’ announcements. While April 1st has not been observed by the company for the past two years, one such product idea looks to have been brought back to mark the Kitano Tea Ceremony today: Gboard teacup version.
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Earlier this year, Google said it would delay its plan to replace third-party cookies and started offering a detailed schedule. The Privacy Sandbox timeline is seeing its monthly update today, and Chrome will not begin testing FLoC and other ad/relevant content technology until Q1 of next year.
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In addition to upcoming Android, Chrome, and Firebase virtual events, Google is hosting a “Smart Home Developer Summit.” Taking place in October, it will be a follow-up to an identical event last year, as well as announcements at I/O 2021 in May.
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The Material You rollout continues with Google One getting a redesign that leverages Dynamic Color. However, the bigger update is a dark theme that replaces the previous bright look.
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Following iOS PiP and desktop download, YouTube is now testing the ability to “get suggestions for topics related to videos you’re watching” on Android that are powered by Google Assistant.
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The Google app recently lost its “More” tab for a unified panel when opening the account switcher. That new settings menu can now be accessed in the Google Discover feed to the left of the Pixel Launcher.
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In addition to the big MUM upgrade that lets you ask questions about a photo, Google Lens is getting more prominent on iOS and in desktop Chrome.
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In launching the new Nest Doorbell (battery) in early August, Google also rebranded the old Nest Hello and continued selling it. Google today told customers that it’s launching a second-generation Nest Doorbell (wired) in 2022.
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At I/O in May, Google announced Multitask Unified Model (MUM) as a big improvement to Search. MUM is now set to come to Google Lens “early next year.”
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Earlier this year, Google Search started showing “About this result” to give people more context about a website before they click. At Search On 2021, the company announced three new sections that will appear in the panel.
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