Following the Material 3 Expressive redesign earlier this month, Google Wallet will be adopting Android 16’s Live Updates “for key travel journeys.”
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Wallet adding Live Updates support for flights, trains, & more
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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.
Android 16 QPR2 Beta 3.1 rolling out for Pixel
Following last week’s release, Android 16 QPR2 Beta 3.1 is rolling out as a patch for Pixel devices that failed to boot if “Enable desktop experience features” was enabled before installing.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Store now sells refurbished Pixel 8 from $489
After restarting the program last October, the US Google Store is now selling a refurbished Pixel 8, while details about the Pixel 8 Pro are here.
Expand Expanding CloseGemini removes ‘@Google Maps’ & ‘@YouTube’ apps for direct integration
Gemini is cleaning up its apps, previously known as extensions, for more direct integrations that don’t require invoking @YouTube or @Google Maps.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Messages rolling out account menu redesign
The account menu was the last non-Material 3 Expressive aspect of Google Messages and it has now been updated.
Expand Expanding CloseGemini Live native audio more widely rolling out on Android
As announced alongside the Pixel 10 launch, Gemini Live is more widely rolling out native audio output for a “more responsive and expressive conversation” on Android.
Expand Expanding CloseNest Mini and Audio lights switching to new Gemini colors
Ahead of Gemini for Home early access coming at the end of October, Google is rolling out a firmware update that brings new light colors to the Nest Audio and Mini.
Expand Expanding ClosePixel Camera 10.1 rolls out Material 3 Expressive redesign [U]
After debuting on the Pixel 10 (version 10.0), Google is rolling out the Pixel Camera 10.1 update to older devices with a handful of Material 3 Expressive tweaks.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Stores offering 50% discount on some Pixel repairs this Saturday
Ahead of International Repair Day this week, Google Stores are marking the occasion with a “special offer” on a limited number of out-of-warranty Pixel repairs.
Expand Expanding Close[Fixed] It’s not just you: YouTube was down in widespread outage
As of Wednesday afternoon (PT), most users cannot watch YouTube videos, with various playback errors popping up.
Expand Expanding CloseHere’s everything new in Android 16 QPR2 Beta 3 [Gallery]
Android 16 QPR2 is a big quarterly update coming in December, with Beta 3 rolling out today for Pixel devices.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle rolling out Android 16 QPR2 Beta 3 for Pixel
The Android 16 Beta Program should be nearing completion with QPR2 Beta 3 for Google Pixel devices now available.
Expand Expanding CloseGboard rolls out its own keyboard ‘Font size’ setting [U]
Besides a pill-shaped tweak for the Suggestion strip, Gboard’s next visual change is a dedicated keyboard Font size setting.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle announces Veo 3.1 and updates Flow with more controls, tools
Google today announced Veo 3.1 as its latest video generation model, with Flow getting a number of updates to take advantage of the latest capabilities.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Accounts now support setting up Recovery Contacts
In addition to safety features for Android’s Messages app, Google is introducing new Account recovery tools today, like establishing trusted contacts.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Messages adds Key Verifier and spam link detection
Google is rolling out two new safety features for Messages, including the launch of Android Key Verifier.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Wallet rolls out nicknames for passes
Following the Material 3 Expressive redesign, Google Wallet has rolled out pass nicknames and other features that developers can take advantage of.
Expand Expanding CloseYouTube rolling out video player redesign, other ‘expressive and intuitive’ updates
The YouTube family of apps continue to have their own design language that’s distinct from Google services. YouTube is now rolling out a redesign of the video player across Android, iOS, web, and TV, as well as a handful of other “expressive and intuitive” updates.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Keep rolling out reminders-to-Tasks migration
As previewed last year, Google Keep is replacing its legacy reminders system with Google Tasks. This is now beginning to roll out.
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Gmail and Google Calendar add Gemini-powered ‘Help me schedule’
Following Add to Calendar earlier this year, the latest Gemini capability coming to Gmail is “Help me schedule” with Google Calendar.
Expand Expanding CloseNotebookLM Video Overviews add Nano Banana visual styles, Brief or Explainer formats
After introducing in July, NotebookLM is giving Video Overviews a big upgrade with the help of Google’s Nano Banana image editing and generation model (Gemini 2.5 Flash Image).
Expand Expanding CloseNano Banana image editing comes to AI Mode and Google Lens
Nano Banana has been a hit in the Gemini app, and Google is now bringing the model’s (Gemini 2.5 Flash Image) viral image editing and generation to AI Mode, as well as Google Lens.
Expand Expanding Close4th-gen Nest Learning Thermostat gets four new Farsight faces
Following all the Gemini for Home announcements at the start of this month, Google is introducing new faces for the Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen).
Expand Expanding CloseGemini overlay rolls out Summarize page shortcut in Chrome for Android
As previewed last month, activating the Gemini overlay in Chrome for Android now lets you quickly Summarize pages.
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