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.
Last year, the Google app on Android ditched Chrome Custom Tabs when opening Discover articles and Search results. Google has now redesigned the custom in-app browser with a bottom bar to make it easier to navigate.
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Google’s MVNO has offered a virtual private network since the service had “project” in its name. As part of Safer Internet Day, the Google Fi VPN will soon be available for iPhone subscribers.
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The latest Google app beta is rolling out a redesign to the player screen in Google Podcasts. Simplification is the focus with more spacing given to key controls, while other actions are hidden in the process.
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If Google follows last year’s precedent, the first Android 12 Developer Preview should be rolling this month. Ahead of that, a leak today of Android 12 design mockups show a radical visual overhaul of the Google operating system.
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A big change is coming to the Gmail mobile apps later this year when tabs for Chat and Rooms join the existing Meet section. Until that comes to personal Google Accounts, a small change in Gmail for Android adds vibration feedback when swiping.
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Google’s monthly update on Monday primarily addressed the Pixel 4a 5G’s edge touch recognition issues. However, the February security patch also added support for T-Mobile Standalone (SA) 5G on that phone and the Pixel 5.
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On Friday, the Chromecast with Google TV received its first update of the new year, and it packs a handful of big changes. We know what’s fixed because Google is now releasing a changelog with software releases.
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Fitbit started the year by becoming a part of Google’s hardware division and is today making a sizable update by rolling out blood glucose tracking to its Android and iOS app. The Fitbit Sense’s ECG feature is also coming to more places, while there are also a handful of other in-app and hardware changes.
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In general, there are two ways to Cast content on desktop Chrome. The browser can send your current window, or some services feature a native capability that just transfers the video stream to a bigger screen. YouTube TV’s web app used to have the latter Cast functionality, but it’s now gone due to a bug.
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Flutter is a development framework for creating applications on Android, iOS, web, and desktop. While it’s increasingly being used, the UI toolkit is not really meant to have a high profile to end users. That said, there exists a short video of Silicon Valley’s Russ Hanneman talking about Google’s Flutter.
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While we’re well into the new year, YouTube Music looks to be taking another stab at giving users a 2020 Year in Review. Hopefully, this iteration will be widely rolled out.
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Back in November — ahead of Black Friday, Google made its most affordable phone available in another color. After being unavailable for the past few weeks, the US Google Store has the Barely Blue Pixel 4a back in stock.
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In a sign that Google intends to follow last year’s early release cadence for previewing the next version of its mobile OS, the Android Beta Feedback app was updated via the Play Store on Thursday for Android 12.
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Google Play Music stopped working at the start of December, but the files you uploaded to the cloud locker and other data remain available for export. That will be changing later in February when Google deletes all information associated with Play Music.
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Google has a $1 billion plan to pay publishers for content that appears in a cross-service “News Showcase” product. This is the company’s preferred route to support journalism, and comes as it’s locked in a dispute with Australia over an upcoming requirement to essentially “pay for links.” Google News Showcase was just surprisingly announced for Australia.
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In the coming months, Apple will require app developers to disclose and make tracking opt-in. A new report today says Google is considering similar privacy measures for Android.
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Google today recapped the 2020 progress of its Vulnerability Reward Programs (VRPs) across Android, Chrome, and web services. The company touts a “record-breaking payout” of $6.7 million in rewards to researchers.
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Last month, we reported that Drive File Stream was being renamed to “Google Drive for desktop.” This name change is part of a broader move in 2021 to unify the current enterprise client with the consumer-focused Backup and Sync app that offers Google Photos upload.
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Remote learning today involves a lot of video calls, and Google is working to improve Meet, as well as Zoom, performance on Chromebooks. Efforts are focused on boosting program efficiencies and making live optimizations.
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Google’s video site has a number of topic-based destinations like /Gaming and /Fashion. Amid a big increase in viewership, YouTube.con/Sports has been revamped to offer a “more personalized” experience.
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Google Health encompasses the various teams at Google working on helping people “live their healthiest life.” The latest effort lets you measure your heart and respiratory rate using the Google Fit app and cameras on an Android phone.
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Last month, Google revamped Search on Android, iOS, and mobile with a focus on making results easier to read. A similar look has long been in development for the desktop web, with users able to preview it on COVID-19 queries. Google’s desktop redesign is now also available for music-related searches.
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With the Pixel 4 in October of 2019, Google Camera added a convenient feature that lets you quickly share your last photo or video to another app. An update to WhatsApp for Android this week prevents the Facebook-owned service from working with Social Share in Google Camera.
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Google in 2018 announced two private intercontinental undersea cables; becoming the first major non-telecom company to build its own after years of leasing or consortiums. The second, named Dunant, will feature record-breaking capacity by being the first cable to leverage space-division multiplexing (SDM) technology.
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