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.
This month’s security patch for Pixel 5 devices on Verizon was delayed compared to all other unlocked and carrier models. Rolling out now, the November update lets the Pixel 5 access Verizon’s 5G Nationwide network.
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Earlier this year, Google announced that it would default to auto-deleting location and search data. Building on that, the company is introducing two settings to control “whether your data in Gmail, Meet and Chat can be used to offer ‘smart’ features in these and other Google products.”
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Android 11 revamps the power menu that opens when you hold down on the physical un/lock key. However, as part of integrating Google Home and Pay, some find the actual device controls deprioritized. The November security patch does bring back the lost “Screenshot” button for some Pixel users to address at least one concern.
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Besides the price and ease of use, Google is positioning its new thermostat to first-time smart home buyers by offering it in four colors. One whimsical aspect of the Nest Thermostat’s design is the use of color-matching batteries.
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Almost every tech company was invested in virtual reality five years ago and saw it as the future. One Google effort was to use VR as a means to let students go on virtual field trips. Expeditions is now being folded into the Google Arts & Culture app as the dedicated experience shuts down next year.
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Back in July, Google announced some updates and upcoming features for the “Why this ad” panel. Its tweaked replacement, “About this ad,” is now launching and rolling out on Google Ads and Display & Video 360.
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Earlier this month, unused marketing hinted at Google’s latest smart speaker becoming a “home theater sound system” for its Google TV streaming dongle. Google has now confirmed it is working on Nest Audio and Chromecast integration.
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This week, we talk about Google giving away free Stadia Premiere Edition kits to YouTube Premium subscribers. We then swing to the other end of the spectrum and dive into Google Photos no longer offering unlimited High quality backups.
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.
Back in September, Google launched a WordPress plugin for easily creating AMP-based stories through a WYSIWYG editor. Version 1.1 of Web Stories for WordPress is now here as the first major update following the beta period and stable release.
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In the integrated Gmail experience available to Workspace customers, classic Hangouts has already been swapped out. Google Chat is in its place, with conversations now able to be pinned for consistent Gmail sidebar access.
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For the past decade, YouTube has closed out the year with a “Rewind” video that recaps viral trends, major moments, and other happening in online culture. However, 2020 will not see a YouTube Rewind as the Google company cites this year’s various circumstances.
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The ability to hum a song to Google was the breakout hit of last month’s Search keynote. In a blog post today, Google explains how the machine learning that powers Hum to Search works.
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After announcing new unthreaded rooms last week, Google Chat is now adding Calendar integration for streamlined event creation.
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For most, YouTube — especially on mobile — is primarily for content consumption. The app can also be used to upload video or go live, and Google is now better emphasizing that with a giant “create” button in YouTube for Android and later iOS.
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Last July, Google started testing a redesign of Assistant that partially launched with the Pixel 4. This compact Google Assistant is now appearing for several Google app beta users in its widest — but still not complete — rollout yet.
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YouTube Music looks to be joining its competitors in offering a “Year in Review” playlist to “relive the top songs you listened to.”
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As Play Music nears deprecation, Google continues to update its successor with more and more features. YouTube Music is now working on Snapchat and Instagram story sharing, but the functionality is not yet live.
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While it’s relatively rare for Google services to go offline, the phenomenon does occasionally occur. YouTube and YouTube TV (in the US) are currently down, with videos not playing.
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Android users today can enter a “work profile” that partitions personal apps and those required by their job. Google, starting with Calendar, is making the experience less disjointed on Android 11 by surfacing both personal and work data.
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Google this morning announced storage changes that impact several services, though it primarily affects Photos. Pixel phones will notably be exempted from the new Google Photos rules and continue to offer unlimited “High quality” backups.
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In addition to Photos ending unlimited free backup, Google is making a change to how Docs, Sheets, Slides, and other similar files are stored. The company also announced new auto-delete polices for inactive and full accounts.
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Google Photos launched in 2015 with unlimited backup at a reduced but good enough quality for most users. The company announced today that it’s ending this practice next year, though existing uploads will not be affected.
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Google is modernizing and revamping its resources for Search Engine Optimizers, web developers, and site owners. “Google Search Central” is replacing “Webmasters Central,” while there’s a new website and blog.
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Area 120 is Google’s internal incubator for experiments, and its latest project is called Demand. This data analytics platform hopes to provide artists, venue managers, promoters, and others in the live music industry actionable insights.