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.
Just yesterday, Google said it was shutting down its “Museletter” experiment for turning Google Docs into paid newsletters. Area 120 is now back with “Qaya” for easily creating web storefronts.
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A year ago, the Pixel Launcher and At a Glance widget started showing severe weather alerts. However, an error today caused Google to send out a “Public Storm Warning” that was just meant for the Philippines around the world, with Pixel users particularly impacted.
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With Google’s 2nd-gen wireless charger now arriving for the first pre-orderers, some are noticing that they’re not getting particularly fast speeds. This is due to the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro requiring the December update for fast charging on the Pixel Stand.
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In the media landscape, newsletters are currently very popular among journalists and other writers that want a direct audience, as well as business. Most are using Substack, with Google’s Area 120 experimenting on a very interesting tool called Museletter that leverages Docs/Drive for distribution.
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As Android 12 arrives on more devices, Google today detailed what the latest version of its mobile OS will add to very affordable “Go edition” devices.
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Google is making a straightforward tweak to the Calendar mobile apps so that the first-party account switcher now appears in the top-right corner.
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Google has “improved” the Calendar setting responsible for preventing unwanted event invitations from automatically appearing in your schedule.
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Compared to Apple and Facebook, Google has been very quiet about its plans for augmented reality glasses. That’s starting to change as Google is actively hiring to create an “Augmented Reality OS” for an unspecified “innovative AR device.”
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YouTube TV just announced that Disney-owned channels, including ESPN and local ABC stations, might be dropped this week if a new contract is not signed.
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After being delayed a week, the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro are getting the Android 12 December security patch today with an absolute torrent of bug fixes and other enhancements.
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With the Android 12L Beta 1 now five days old, Google is asking Pixel owners to fill out a feedback survey. The questions are similar in nature to the original form used during the initial beta period.
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9to5Google now has T-shirts and sweatshirts to bring our usually digital selves into the physical realm of merch; just in time for the holidays!
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A few months after the launch of AirTags, Apple said it would release an Android app to let non-iOS users detect Find My-powered trackers. “Tracker Detect” was released this morning to let those on Android find AirTags.
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While announced alongside the Pixel 6, pre-orders for the 2nd-gen Pixel Stand did not open until mid-November. The new Pixel Stand is now shipping and seeing wider purchase options this week.
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Last week, a user reported that their Pixel 3 was not able to dial 911 (emergency services in the US). Google has confirmed that there is an emergency calling bug with Android under a “limited set of circumstances” and that there is a fix.
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Google is making a text box/compose field tweak to the Chat mobile and web apps that sees the Workspace communication service look more like the consumer Messages client for SMS/RCS.
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For the final drop of 2021, Stadia Pro is getting six games in a bigger month than usual that’s mostly in line with past December offerings.
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In a surprise announcement at The Game Awards, Google this evening revealed that it’s bringing Android gaming to Windows PCs next year through a desktop Play Games app.
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A year after Apple Music first became available on Google Nest and Home devices, the streaming service is now supported in five more countries.
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With holiday buying in full swing, the Google Store is following its Black Friday offerings with a handful of new deals. The most notable provides boosted trade-in values for older iPhones when purchasing the Pixel 5a.
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Google Photos is rounding out the year with upgraded camera animations for “Cinematic photos,” as well as the wide availability of several Memories-related features.
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As we’ve been expecting since the start of this year, Android is getting a new “App Pairs” feature that is live in 12L Beta 1. On phones, it replaces the previous “Split screen” approach to multitasking.
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One of the best features of the new Assistant is Continued Conversation, where your Pixel’s microphone briefly stays open after a response has been given to allow follow-ups. For the past week or so, Continued Conversation on all Google phones, including the Pixel 6, has been broken.
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The addition of scrolling screenshots that allow you to capture the entire screen was a big part of Android 12. Google has now quietly added support for Android 12’s scrolling screenshots in Chrome.
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