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.
After launching in three countries, Google is now bringing AI Mode to many more countries around the world, while AI Ultra subscribers will get to use the first agentic capability.
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The Android 16 preview cycle continues today with QPR2 Beta 1 today for Pixel devices.
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Ahead of Gemini Live visual guidance beginning to roll out next week, a new update to the Gemini app on Android redesigns the homescreen widget.
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With the Pixel 10 series and Pixel Watch 4, Google is announcing the latest Gemini app features.
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Ahead of the QPR1’s big Material 3 Expressive redesign going stable, Google is starting the Android 16 QPR2 Beta today for Pixel devices.
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At Made by Google 2025, Google detailed “Gemini for Home” and briefly showed what appears to be a new first-party smart speaker.
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Besides Magic Cue, Voice Translate in the Phone app is Google’s other tentpole on-device AI feature for the Pixel 10 series.
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Alongside the Pixel Buds 2a, Google announced a big Pixel Buds Pro 2 software update coming in September, while there’s a new Moonstone color.
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With the Pixel 10, Google is introducing a new Journal app that lets you quickly jot down what’s happening in your life. There are also updates to Pixel Recorder, Screenshots, and Studio.
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Qualcomm today announced the Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 and W5+ Gen 2 as its latest chip for smartwatches.
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For the Pixel 10 series, Magic Cue is one of the tentpole AI features, with Google believing that proactive contextual suggestions will change how you use a phone.
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Google today announced a major update and redesign for the Fitbit app on your phone that adds a Gemini/AI-powered coach. It’s not exclusive to the Pixel Watch 4 and will be available for all past generations, as well as Fitbit devices, with the preview starting in October.
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Alongside the Pixel 10 and Pixel Watch 4, Google today announced the Pixel Buds 2a. These $129 earbuds feature active noise cancellation (ANC) and come four years after the first generation.
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The Pixel 10 series is powered by the Tensor G5, Google’s biggest upgrade to its custom silicon.
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At Made by Google 2025, Google announced the Pixel Watch 4. While it looks the same, there are significant hardware changes that actually make this a sizable update. I’d go as far as saying that this is the biggest hardware upgrade of all the products unveiled today, but you’ll only notice the changes in person.
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This year, Google announced everything about the Pixel 10, Pixel Watch 4, and Pixel Buds 2a before the actual Made by Google 2025 presentation gets underway in one hour with a number of special guests.
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With the in-app redesign widely available, Google Calendar for Android is now rolling out M3 Expressive homescreen widget updates.
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After testing since June, Google Messages is rolling out its Material 3 Expressive redesign, including an updated homepage, to the stable channel.
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As previewed in April, Google Wallet for Android is now rolling out support for Montana state IDs.
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Google Messages was one of the first apps to beta test Material 3 Expressive, and the redesign is now making its way to the stable channel.
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Following Calendar, Drive, and Keep, Google Tasks has received a solo M3 Expressive tweak on Android.
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As of May (I/O) 2025, Google offers the Gemini app in three tiers. Many Gemini app features are available for free, while paying $19.99 per month for Google AI Pro (which includes 2 TB of storage) unlocks a lot more. Google AI Ultra at $249.99/month gives you everything else, including cutting edge capabilities.
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On Friday, Google teased a star-studded Pixel 10 keynote, and it now turns out that Jimmy Fallon will actually be hosting Made by Google 2025.
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As previewed earlier this year, Gemini in Google Docs will now let you “create audio versions of your documents.”
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