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.
Building on existing ad policies, Google today announced a new certification program for health insurance advertisers in the United States.
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YouTube Select allows brands to place advertising on the site’s top videos and channels. Google is now expanding what YouTube Select offers with seasonal sponsorships that will be available quarterly.
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Given its use of the Snapdragon Wear 4100, the TicWatch Pro 3 is the absolute latest Wear OS watch available, and it is now getting the H-MR2 update announced last year with a handful of new features and optimizations.
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Over the past few years, Google Search has added 3D models for various animals, dinosaurs, insects, planets, and other education items. Google is now introducing AR Pac-Man, 3D Hello Kitty, and Gundam with 14 iconic Japanese characters in total.
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Apple tomorrow is hosting its “Spring Loaded” event where the long-rumored AirTags could finally be announced. Ahead of that, Samsung — which already launched a competing SmartThings Find service and two products — touted how many devices it has in-network and two new features.
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At the start of last month, Google started to release new iOS versions of the YouTube family of applications following a long, unspecified pause. Gmail, Google Calendar, Docs, and other apps were updated today in a seeming return to normal for iPhone and iPad owners.
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The side panel in Google Workspace apps provide quick access to Calendar, Keep, Tasks, and most recently Voice. Google Calendar on the web now features an add-on for Google Maps.
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Following leaks last week, Fitbit today officially announced the new Luxe fitness tracker. Made of stainless steel, it costs $149.95 and has a new color display with availability set for spring.
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Following Black History Month and International Women’s Day, Google is introducing a handful of new Earth Day-themed Pixel wallpapers this week.
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Last year, Google announced Search would use page speed and other metrics that better reflect how users experience the web to rank results in 2021. Google today provided more details and a timeline about the upcoming “page experience update.”
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Google celebrated the landing of Perseverance in February with virtual fireworks, and today has a more elaborate Search easter egg for Ingenuity becoming the “first aircraft in history to make a powered, controlled flight on another planet.”
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At the end of last year, Google One added a VPN on higher-tier plans to help build out the subscription offering. Still only available on Android, the Google One app is working on the ability to “block internet if VPN disconnects.”
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Last year, Google let users control what information appears in the Assistant Snapshot feed. A new “Favorites” section for Google Assistant Snapshot now lets you pin important cards to the top, with this capability being especially handy for important reminders.
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In recent weeks, Google deprecated the legacy Wear OS app install method for new phone-watch pairings. This means that buyers of new wearables or those that need to reset their devices might not see all the same apps as before. Developers would ideally update and modernize applications to fix this, but end users can still easily install and sideload those Wear OS apps.
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In recent months, Google Podcasts has been relatively quiet about its upcoming work. Until then, one feature that’s now widely available sees “For You” episode recommendations come to the Google Podcasts web app.
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With a relative lull until the next wave of product launches, the Google Store is starting to show reviews and ratings. An early effort, it’s not clear where the reviews are being sourced from as you can’t leave them directly on the site.
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For the past few months, Google has been slowly rolling out its eventual replacement for the phone-based Android Auto experience. The early preview of Assistant Driving Mode is now getting an international launch.
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The Nest Secure was discontinued in October, but Google promised to keep supporting the alarm system. Besides software updates, this includes manufacturing more Nest Detect sensors, which are now available again in the Google Store.
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A small tweak to Google.com on desktops now lets you quickly “jump to the search box” with a convenient keyboard shortcut. It’s particularly useful for refining your original query.
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In addition to now showing movie purchases from the Google Play Store, the YouTube TV website now offers playback speed controls. A staple of the main YouTube service, this small addition is not yet available on the Android or iOS apps.
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This week 9to5Google’s Abner Li, Ben Schoon, and Kyle Bradshaw talk about the Pixel 5a and what else they’ve learned about GS101 Whitechapel, while closing on what new Nest Cams could look like.
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The Project Zero team today announced an updated vulnerability disclosure policy for 2021. It follows changes made last year to better address perennial concerns from the broader security community.
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Last year, Chrome introduced the ability to link to a highlight on web pages. The creation process involved downloading a separate first-party extension, but Google is now directly integrating this feature in Chrome.
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As the COVID-19 vaccination rollout continues, Google today announced a number of additional efforts to help achieve distribution equity worldwide, like surfacing locations in Maps and Search. The Google.org philanthropic arm is making several donations to increase access in the US and abroad.
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