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.
An apparent “set up” issue with the Google Assistant today prevents users from controlling smart home devices with their voice.
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An “early preview” of Assistant Driving Mode was announced in November, and more people received it at the start of this year. The initial version is more limited than what was demonstrated almost two years ago, and Google is now surveying users about it.
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Alphabet today announced Q4 2020 earnings with $56.9 billion in revenue. These numbers range from October to December, and include the holiday season.
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After adding a “Troubleshooting” menu last month, Google Meet now has a pre-video call “green room” to “quickly preview how you’ll appear to others before entering.” Available on the desktop web, it lets you check peripheral and network status.
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Besides the feed to the left of most Android homescreens and the Google app for iOS, Discover is also available in Chrome’s new tab page on mobile. Website owners will soon be able to see Discover traffic from Chrome in the Google Search Console.
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Pixel owners picked up two new background sets with the last Feature Drop in December. Coinciding with the start of Black History Month, Google today rolled out a new “Curated Culture” wallpaper collection for Pixel devices.
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Elon Musk tweeting yesterday morning that he would be on Clubhouse later in the evening spurred more than a few people to look for the app on Android. The service is currently exclusive to iOS, but users looking through the Play Store did find an identically named app. Unfortunately, upon realizing it wasn’t the audio social network, many downvoted that application to the point where it had to be temporarily pulled by its creators.
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Like autoplay on the main video site, YouTube Music is good at recommending similar songs to listen to next. YouTube Music is now surfacing “Start radio” right on the main Now Playing interface.
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According to several consistent reports, the Pixel 4a 5G is suffering from touch reliability issues following last month’s software update. Besides taps not registering, those that use 3-button navigation are particularly affected.
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Over the past few years, Google has been working to reduce the need for users to perform follow up queries. Google Search is now streamlining that further with an “About this result” panel that provides direct information about websites before clicking.
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The second software update of 2021 for the Pixel 3, Pixel 3a, Pixel 4, Pixel 4a, Pixel 4a (5G), and Pixel 5 was released today. This February security patch contains the usual set of bug fixes.
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Ford this morning announced a wide-ranging partnership with Google to help the automaker adapt to “seismic changes as new technology transforms the way people move.” Ford and Lincoln cars will soon use Android Automotive, while there’s also a cloud component to this deal.
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Besides iTunes, Apple’s biggest offering on Microsoft’s operating system is the iCloud sync client for files, photos, and mail. Apple is now extending its presence on Windows with an iCloud Passwords Chrome extension.
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Street View launched over a decade ago, and this vast image database is currently powering the Live View AR feature. An update to Google Maps for Android improves the Street View experience by adding a split screen mode.
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The Pixel 5 and 4a 5G launched with a redesigned Camera app that later made its way to other phones. One of the Pixel UI tweaks to Google Camera 8.0 is a new way to access full zoom controls outside of the preset increments.
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The Pixel Slate was announced in October 2018 as Made by Google’s first tablet and flagship, touch-only Chrome OS device. After two years, the Pixel Slate is now out of stock and discontinued in the three countries it launched in.
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While night modes are pervasive on Android and iOS, they are less common on large screen form factors. Google is now A/B testing a dark mode for Search on desktop web.
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Google’s interest-based stories field is to the left of even more Android homescreens following the launch of Samsung’s Galaxy S21 and continued One UI 3.1 rollout. Google Discover is now interestingly testing applying hashtags to every article that appears.
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It’s standard practice for developers to pause app updates over the December holidays and resume in early January. That was the case for Google this year, but the lack of new iOS releases oddly continued for almost the entire month until app updates resumed yesterday and today.
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Today, Google Play announced an upcoming policy change that will allow gambling and betting Android apps in more countries. These applications are currently only available in four stores around the world.
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As revealed at the start of this month by an inadvertent retail listing, Google is ending Verizon’s exclusivity on the Clearly White Pixel 4a 5G by releasing an unlocked model. Featuring Sub-6 5G connectivity, it retails for $499 today in four countries.
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Made by Google is comprised of several brands, including Pixel, Pixelbook, and Nest. The latter — fully known as “Google Nest” — is losing its social media accounts next month in a move that will see all of Google hardware communicate from one unified account.
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Over the years, Apple has made available a handful of application for Microsoft platforms to mostly serve iPhone owners using Windows. One of primary apps today is an iCloud sync client, and Apple looks to soon be releasing an iCloud Passwords Chrome extension.
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The two cars that Android Automotive currently powers are both electric. Ahead of Google’s dashboard experience coming to more vehicles, the built-in Google Maps app is improving how you find EV charging stations.
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