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.
At the start of last year, Google announced a certification program for Chrome OS accessories. Since then, the Works With Chromebook badge has been applied to docking stations and now monitors, including one from HP.
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Assistant Smart Displays can either display a clock or photos when they are not actively used. Google is now offering a new background “Photo Frame” that brings the Weather Frog from mobile Search to Nest Hubs.
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With the launch of Android 12 Beta 1 at I/O 2021 last week, Google made the next version of its OS more widely available through OTA installs. The company is now running an Android 12 Beta survey that asks you to identify any issues you’ve found and for thoughts on the key visual changes.
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Google rolled out the latest version of its browser this week with the ability to freeze Tab Groups and have PWAs launch on startup. Under-the-hood, Chrome 91 is 23% faster, thanks to a pair of JavaScript additions.Â
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At this year’s Marketing Live event, Google previewed a number of new shopping experiences that users will soon benefit from. One push for the latter part of this year is highlighting deals in Google Shopping and Search through a new results page.
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In April, Google announced that Meet on the web was getting a redesign with streamlined bottom bar controls and other changes. It’s now rolling out for the first users and will be available for all in June.
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The first-ever physical Google retail location will open in Chelsea this summer. Ahead of that, here’s a sneak peek at the store in New York City and how it’s very much reflective of Made by Google’s friendly design language.
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Over the past year, work-life separation has become increasingly difficult for people, and that’s likely to stay as hybrid work becomes the norm. Google conducted a study on this occurrence and found that most users want to separate work and personal life on their phones, with profiles serving as one possible solution.
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At I/O 2021, Google announced several “Smart canvas” features that will better integrate the company’s various productivity apps. The ability to present from Docs, Sheets, and Slides directly to Google Meet is now rolling out.
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I/O 2021 introduced a flurry of productivity-oriented features to bring Workspace apps closer together. Gmail is now adding a convenient “Save to Google Photos” shortcut for consumers.Â
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At the end of 2019, Google Duo and WebRTC creator Justin Uberti became a high-ranking engineer for Stadia. The Google Distinguished Engineer announced today that he was joining Clubhouse, the audio social media app.
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With activity and associated location data being highly sensitive, Fitbit is finally rolling out support for two-factor authentication (2FA). It’s not yet widely available and leverages SMS text messages.
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At the end of last month, Google redesigned the Discover feed on Android 12. With today’s Doodle celebrating the Savoy Ballroom, some rather Material You-like theming is being applied to Google Discover on the Pixel Launcher.
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For the past few years, Google has equipped its mapping vehicles with air pollution sensors. Google worked with Jaguar Land Rover on the first all-electric Street View car that will be tasked with measuring air quality in Dublin, Ireland.
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Following version 90’s release on Android, Mac, Windows, and Linux, the next release of Google’s browser is rolling out. Chrome 91 is here with a handful of features for Android including updated form controls and desktop sites on tablets.
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More devices with 11th Gen Intel processors continue to be announced, and the latest is HP’s Pro c640 G2 Chromebook. Visually, this latest generation is not too different from the original, but there are some nice upgrades.
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The experience of Casting YouTube to a Chromecast-connected TV has remained mostly unchanged for the past several years. Google now looks to be making a pseudo-YouTube app for Chromecast that takes after the Android TV version.
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Last week, Google announced “Smart Canvas” as a set of features to boost the interconnectedness of Docs and other Workspace apps. Google Docs is now getting a low-hanging capability to “position an image in front of or behind text.”
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While I/O 2021 is over, Google today released a pair of interesting talks about “Getting your app ready for Google TV” focused on integrations. One highlight was a comparison between Android and Google TV.
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Earlier this month, week-long US voting to select five Doodles from 54 submissions to get on Google.com closed. The company today announced the Doodle for Google 2021 finalists.
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Google’s $1 billion licensing program to support publishers and surface new card-based content is now coming to the desktop web. News Showcase will be available on the Google News website after previously being limited to Android and iOS.
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Announced last month, the Fitbit Luxe is the Google-owned company’s first fitness tracker to have a color display. With the Luxe, Fitbit is also finally adopting USB-C for the charging cable.
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The last update to Pixel Buds with an accompanying changelog came in September with a fix for audio cutouts, while that was preceded by a feature drop the month before. One upcoming new capability for the Pixel Buds could be the ability to see remaining battery life in hours on Android 12.
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On Thursday, Made by Google announced that its first physical store would open this summer. Google’s hardware division has dabbled in retail with pop-ups for the past several years, but this is the most significant investment yet.
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