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.
When you Cast to a Smart Display or speaker, Google plays a tone to confirm the transfer. Google is now changing that beep to be softer on the latest Nest Hub preview firmware.
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Back in September, Google released an mmWave model of the Pixel 4a 5G that was only available at Verizon. Besides the cellular radio providing access to faster speeds, it’s available in “Clearly White,” though that color is now coming to the unlocked Pixel 4a 5G.
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Google is planning to release a new Nest Hub in 2021, sources familiar with the matter tell 9to5Google. This upcoming Smart Display will feature sleep tracking powered by the company’s Soli radar technology.
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The general layout of YouTube Music has remained largely the same since its 2018 relaunch, but a small change online and on Android sees Google tweak the background theme.
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Following our report that the Nest Cam IQ Outdoor is out of stock, Google today confirmed that it’s sold out. Nest also revealed to 9to5Google that it’s planning a “new lineup of security cameras for 2021.”
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Google’s Nest security camera line has remained unchanged for the past three years. The Nest Cam IQ Outdoor was the last new product announced, but it has been out of stock in most parts of the world for the past several weeks.
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Since Smart Compose launched in Gmail at I/O 2018, the machine learning feature has expanded to more users and other products. In Google Docs, the helpful tool, along with autocorrect, is now available when commenting.
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Last month, Google Podcasts introduced RSS support for shows that are not publicly listed. The Google Podcasts web experience now has a simple feed, like on mobile, to view all your episode subscriptions.
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Google is following last month’s big Pixel Feature Drop with a bug fixer. The January update addresses six issues for the Pixel 5 and Google’s other current phones.
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Google today is releasing the first software update of 2021 for the Pixel 3, Pixel 3a, Pixel 4, Pixel 4a, Pixel 4a (5G), and Pixel 5. The January security patch follows last month’s sizable Pixel Feature Drop.
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Made by Google is kicking off the new year with a new device passing through the FCC. This filing suggests a new Nest Hub Smart Display.
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Everyone is looking for indoor activities amid the current situation, and Google is providing one in the form of a video tutorial on how to make an origami Android mascot.
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Assistant is one of Google’s most important products as voice cements itself as a key way to interact with technology. The personal assistant spans across all of the company’s form factors and plays an outsized role in smart homes. As the new year gets under way, let’s recap all the major features that Google Assistant and Google Home picked up in 2020.
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Following nine titles to close out last year, Google is ringing in January 2021 with four games joining Stadia Pro this Friday: Ary and the Secret of Seasons, Figment, F1 2020, and Hotline Miami.
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Earlier this month, Google announced that the carousel at the top of Photos would add more memories and designs. Google Photos is now using that to serve your Year in Review and generate a 2020 photo book.
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The December Feature Drop introduced a trio of smart features to better optimize Pixel usage. Adaptive Charging, which has your Pixel top up slowly overnight to preserve battery health, is the most significant, but there are key requirements to get it to work.
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The majority of Google’s apps are free (and more than usable with ads), but the company has built up a number of paid service tiers — led by YouTube — in recent years. The Google Store is now prominently advertising those offerings with a dedicated “Subscriptions” landing page.
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An ultrawide lens is the Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a 5G’s distinguishing camera hardware addition, and at launch, it could be used to take wide astrophotography shots. With Google Camera 8.1 in November, that capability was quietly removed.
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Depending on the earbuds, set up could be as simple as bringing the Bluetooth accessory near your Android phone. This is made possible by Fast Pair, which Google updated in recent weeks to take after iOS.
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Just before Thanksgiving this year, Google updated named food timers on Smart Displays so that they would be accompanied by a whimsical illustration of what you’re waiting for. Some Nest Hub timers today are automatically getting additional Christmas cheer.
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Over the past week, a small subset of users have not been able to access Google Assistant on any of their devices. This Assistant glitch appears to be occurring at the Google Account level, with Smart Displays and speakers being the most severely impacted devices.
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St. Nick is departing the North Pole to begin his worldwide journey to deliver presents. Like in past years, you can follow along with the Google Santa Tracker.
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Following a render leak on Monday, key specs for the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 have now emerged with a possible starting price. This comes from a slide tweeted by Microsoft leaker WalkingCat (@h0x0d) today.
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Earlier this month, Google discontinued its three-year-old premium Assistant smart speaker after announcing a smaller alternative in September. The Google Home Max is now surprisingly in stock on the US Google Store.
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