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.
In September, Google Fiber announced a ‘2 Gig’ tier, and it’s now widely available in the first cities. As part of this, a Wi-Fi 6 Google Fiber Multi-Gig Router is provided to customers.
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Fitbit’s most advanced smartwatch today can track heart rate, SpO2, and skin temperature, with the company now investigating whether it can measure blood pressure with a new study for Sense owners.
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At the end of last month, Google released Android 12 DP2.1 to address the big WebView crashing problem. Developer Preview 2.2 is now rolling out to Pixel phones running Android 12.
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After canceling entirely last year, Google today announced that I/O 2021 will be virtual and free to attend. This developer conference is the company’s biggest event of the year and will run from May 18-20.
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In June, Google appointed one senior vice president to oversee Search, Ads, and other big products. Prabhakar Raghavan today named new executives to lead Google Assistant and a handful of other teams.
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In mid-March, Google removed the ability for users to download their Play Music library via Takeout. With that data now gone, Google Play Music is getting one last update on Android to hide the app.
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Unlike other first-party apps, Google’s browser has historically followed a strict, publicized six-week release cycle. After going without updates for the past four months, a new version of Chrome for iPhone and iPad is rolling out now.
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Besides integrating Chat and Rooms with Gmail, Google recently introduced minor yet delightful animations when swiping away emails in the list view on Android.
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For the past few years, Google has been encouraging developers to write Android apps with Kotlin. The underlying OS still uses C and C++, though Google today announced Android Open Source Project (AOSP) support for Rust.
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The Experiments with Google site brings together various projects built with the company’s core platforms and new technologies. The latest collection from Google highlights WebXR Experiments that bring AR and VR experiences online.
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On iOS, Fi subscribers can check their voicemail through the companion app. An update to Google Fi earlier this week introduces a new “Privacy Screen” feature to lock those messages and other sensitive information with Face or Touch ID.
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Assuming a normal release schedule in 2021, the Pixel 4a and Pixel 4a 5G are nearing the end of their retail availabilities, though that’s not stopping Google from releasing an official comparison video today.
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The April security update is rolling out this morning, with the Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a 5G benefiting from a pair of camera and graphics performance enhancements. Older phones also get some functional fixes from this patch.
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While not as packed as last month’s quiet Feature Drop, the April security patch is rolling out today to address bugs on the Pixel 3, Pixel 3a, Pixel 4, Pixel 4a, Pixel 4a (5G), and Pixel 5.
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Back in November, Google announced that Docs, Sheets, Slides, and other Workspace files will count toward storage caps. This is set to start for personal accounts on June 1, but Workspace users will be given an extension into 2022.
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In August of last year, Google announced that it would allow more kinds of Android Auto apps on the Play Store. Developers can now publicly release new navigation, parking, and charging apps for Android Auto.
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In 2019, Google asked the Supreme Court to review Oracle’s long-running lawsuit over whether Android’s usage of Java was fair use. The Supreme Court this morning sided with Google and overturned Oracle’s win following a lower court ruling three years ago.
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As widely rumored for the past few weeks, LG officially announced today that its mobile division is shutting down. Software updates and support for existing smartphone owners will continue for a “period of time.”
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During the NCAA Final Four this evening, Google aired its “Get back to what you love” ad and the reaction has been overwhelmingly positive for both the emotional impact and how well-crafted it was in encouraging people to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
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Since its inception, Google has maintained a Stadia Dev blog to make announcements about new tools, features, programs, and partnerships. The Stadia team is now using it to cover the cloud-streaming platform’s technical aspects with an eye toward achieving “simplicity in a world of complexities for our end users.”
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With the last major overhaul in 2019, Google simplified the Home app to have two primary screens from four. Google Home now has settings to customize the “Feed” tab to “choose the types of events” that can appear.
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With the latest Pixel phones now a few months old and the next generation not due for a few more, Google ads are less focused on the device and more about how easy a switch is.
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Google Discover exists to the left of most Android homescreens, the dedicated Search app, and Chrome’s New Tab page. It’s meant to show articles, videos, and – increasingly – stories that are relevant to your interests. Publishers have been seeing significant drops in traffic from Google Discover, with many associating them with changes that have also impacted the quality of what appears.
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The head of Alphabet’s self-driving division surprisingly announced today that he’s leaving the company after five and a half years. Waymo will now be led by co-CEOs.
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