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.
Search has long had the ability to open links you click on in a new tab so that Google’s list of 10 blue links never closes. Google is now testing prominently surfacing that option just underneath the search bar.
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A report in the Wall Street Journal today revealed that the Biden-Harris presidential transition team has turned to Google Workspace in light of the current administration and US government not yet officially recognizing this month’s election results.
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Back in January, the Chrome browser’s continued availability on Windows 7 was given a 2021 end date. Google is now extending Chrome support for Windows 7 to 2022 in light of this year’s current conditions.
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As previewed in August, Google Meet is now rolling out breakout rooms. At launch, it’s only available to Enterprise for Education customers and meant to aid distance learning.
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This week saw Google announce an absolute flood of news from Assistant Driving Mode and end-to-end encryption for RCS in Messages finally happening to a brand new Google Pay. We then talk about everything the Stadia team announced for the streaming service’s one-year anniversary.
Alphabet Scoop is available Google Podcasts, iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, and through our dedicated RSS feed for Pocket Casts and other podcast players.
In this line of work, which is clearly not reflective of the general populace, the phone one uses is more or less pre-determined by what’s newest. My daily driver history since 2016 has been set by Google’s annual hardware cadence. This strategy, or the lack of one, has served me well in that I don’t have to actively choose a phone. That is, until the Pixel 4a and its new Barely Blue color.
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After introducing new family features yesterday, Google Fi is offering a significant $200 discount on the Pixel 4a 5G for new subscribers, while existing members can take advantage of a lesser but still notable deal.
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Back in September, Google introduced iPhone and iPad widgets for Photos, Search, and YouTube Music. In addition to Gmail yesterday, Google Drive and Fit widgets are now on the iOS home screen, with Calendar and Chrome also previewed today.
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In mid-2019, Google decided to take over and speed up the launch of RCS. A little over 17 months later, Google announced today that it has completed a global rollout of RCS, while Messages will start testing end-to-end encryption.
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With the launch of iOS 14 in September, Google’s key apps were updated to support the latest platform features. After adding default email app support, Gmail now has an iOS home screen widget. Google is also highlighting how Chrome on iPad supports opening multiple windows.
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Following today’s launch of M1-powered Macs, Google has quietly released a Mac version of Chrome that is optimized for Apple Silicon.
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Trees play an important role in lowering street-level temperatures, especially in cities with heat islands that have a host of environmental issues. To help prioritize and make planting more efficient, Google has released the Tree Canopy Lab.
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As Smart Displays have matured, they’ve increasingly taken on shared and family use cases. Google is now adding a handful of new features for the Nest Hub Max and other devices, starting with sticky Family Notes.
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Like Assistant this morning, Google Fi is adding a trio of family features aimed at managing phone usage and safety.
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Over the past few years, Google has been continuously working to make Chrome extensions safer. Developers now have to limit what they do with collected data, while the Chrome Web Store early next year will feature a privacy practices disclosure .
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Over the past year, Google has been working with banks and credit unions on co-branded checking and saving accounts. Google today is set to announce Plex Accounts, a “new way to bank in Google Pay.”
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The last Chrome update of 2020 is starting to roll out and Google is touting a handful of performance improvements. Chrome 87 features tab throttling and better resource management, as well as a number of user-facing additions.
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For the past few months, Google Pay has been readying support for digital bank accounts, while there have been rumors of a broader revamp. Google tomorrow is unveiling this “new Pay app” with a video announcement.
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Following a step-focused redesign in April, Google Fit is now getting a richer homepage that can display more information, as well as additional sleep data and a sharing feature.
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In addition to a broader fall update with speed improvements and “more intuitive controls,” Google this August announced a new Weather Tile for Wear OS. That’s rolling out now along with a Breathe Tile.
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While the prevailing thought might be that people are using mapping and navigation services less amid COVID-19 restrictions, Google has been working to make its app more useful and relevant. Google Maps today announced three new features, including live transit “crowdedness” status.
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Last May at I/O 2019, Google announced a replacement for Android Auto’s current phone screen experience. Google Assistant Driving Mode is now here as an early preview inside Google Maps.
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After a big update last week introduced new My Mixes and homepage “moods,” YouTube Music is rolling out a carousel of “Quick picks” to instantaneously generate a radio playlist.
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When Google announced its latest mid-range phone in August, pandemic-related constraints meant the device was only available in “Just Black.” The Pixel 4a is now available in “Barely Blue.”
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