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.
Google today announced a “significantly more powerful Gemini Deep Research agent” that will soon be available in consumer apps and is now available for developers.
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In addition to their ADT partnership (and investment), Google is working with AT&T on its new Connected Life security system.
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To address how Phone by Google recently gained a landscape calling screen, the dialer app is now offering a setting to “Keep portrait mode on calls.”
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After teasing in September, Google Chrome for iOS is now more widely rolling out a built-in Gemini experience.
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Following the last round of negotiations, Google announced today that its cord-cutting service is getting a big update in 2026 with “YouTube TV Plans” that will offer “over 10 genre-specific packages.”
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Google is introducing Android Emergency Live Video today to let users in three countries share their camera feeds with dispatchers.
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Noting how the “way people consume information evolves,” Google announced five updates to boost links in AI Mode and the Gemini app, as well as support the web.
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Google is rolling out the latest update to Pixel Recorder and it brings “Create music” to the Pixel 9 series, as well as other interface tweaks.
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Google is rolling out the latest update to Pixel Camera this week with version 10.2.
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YouTube TV is emailing a pretty notable coupon code to subscribers that lets them “save an extra $100 on the new Pixel 10 Phones.”
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Following the big image update, Google Photos is detailing a complementary video editor redesign on Android and iOS.
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Following the announcement this morning, Google is rolling out the December 2025 update to the Pixel Watch 4, 3, and 2.
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Following AI Summaries last month, Google is rolling out the Notification Organizer to Pixel with Android 16 QPR2.
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After missing out on last month’s Feature Drop, Google is rolling out a sizable Pixel Watch 4 update this December that adds one-handed gestures.
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The Waymo app for hailing autonomous vehicles in Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Francisco, and more cities in the future is getting a bit simpler today.
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With Gemini in Chrome and the upcoming availability of agentic capabilities, Google is detailing how the browser will protect against threats.
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The latest Android Canary build is available today and it features work by Apple and Google to make switching between Android and iPhone devices easier.
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After launching in October, Google is rolling out a suite of new Android XR features for Samsung’s Galaxy XR, led by PC Connect.
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After demoing Android XR glasses for the first time in December 2024, my takeaway was that rumors about how Google was behind in augmented reality were greatly exaggerated, if not outright wrong. A year later, Google is on the verge of releasing “AI glasses” with a display in 2026 and they fully realize the vision of Google Glass.
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The Google Store has kicked off its 2025 Black Friday deals, with these Pixel offers available until December 2-6.
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Google today is celebrating the 15th birthday of Play Books. The service started as “Google eBooks” on December 6, 2010.
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Google is rolling out a number of updates to Chrome Autofill, including Google Wallet integration and a slightly better design on Android.
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With Wear OS 6, Google promised “more consistent always-on behavior” (AOD), and the Pixel Watch is starting to do this across three key experiences, including the Timer app.
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Besides announcing Call Reason this week, Phone by Google is testing a shorter bottom bar to comply with Material 3 Expressive.
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