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.
Back in June, Google announced that Windows apps are coming to Chrome OS through a third-party partnership — instead of an in-house solution. Parallels Desktop for Chromebook Enterprise is launching today to provide access to Windows apps that some businesses still need.
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Following the US Justice Department filing its antitrust case over Google’s search dominance, the company quickly said that the lawsuit was “deeply flawed.” Google has since published a longer defense that challenges the facts laid out by the government and argues that end users choose Search naturally.
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At the start of this year, we reported that Google Photos was trialing a subscription where your best pictures get automatically printed monthly. The premium print series is now official and rolling out soon, while Google Photos is also expanding its other physical offerings.
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After adding a Web Stories carousel, Google Discover is making two tweaks to cards. The first sees a “heart” being used for feedback, while Discover on some articles will link to Google News full coverage.
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The new Google Assistant has had a look of its own since it launched on the Pixel in 2019. Google looked to be bringing elements of that interface to other devices with a UI that we dubbed as being “compact.” NGA is now losing its original transparent look.
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Ahead of an upcoming Control Center integration in iOS 14.2, Shazam for Android is getting a persistent notification to initiate music identification from anywhere on your phone or tablet.
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First-time YouTube TV members are already getting a free Chromecast with Google TV upon sign-up. A separate flipped promotion lets streaming dongle buyers new to the cord-cutting service save $60 over three months of service.
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Back in August, a “Hey Google, show me my day” command was added to quickly launch Assistant’s recap feed on Android. Google also previewed a number of other Assistant Snapshot features coming, with “Catch up on news” and a FAB with shortcuts now widely available.
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This week, we talk about what’s happening with Google Workspace and how there’s now a plan to move classic Hangouts users to a free version of Chat. Meanwhile, Google is not yet done with hardware this year as seen by the new Google Wifi and Nest Thermostat.
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.
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Google announced Trusted Contacts at the end of 2016 as location sharing tailored for family and friends. After nearly four years, a shutdown of Trusted Contacts, in favor of parallel functionality in Google Maps, was announced today.
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With 18 days til US elections, Google is rolling out a number of features across Assistant, Maps, and Search that will help people vote.
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Google today lets users set their preferred video, music, radio service for use on Assistant Smart Displays, speakers, and phones. Google Assistant now has a settings page for podcast services.
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The initial Live View concept that Google demoed at I/O 2018 saw the Maps application mark and overlay information over the real world. It was a more full-featured AR experience that was not limited to walking directions. Now two years old, Google is getting ready to fulfill that original vision.
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At today’s Search On event, Google provided an update on the state of Duplex. This includes how the conversational technology has been deployed amidst the pandemic and work on shopping and ordering capabilities for Google Duplex on the web.
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Google kicked off Search On 2020 by talking about its latest artificial intelligence enhancements. The search engine is picking up three specific enhancements that will help “you find exactly what you’re looking for.”
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Google’s last announcement at Search On 2020 will likely be its most popular. Starting today, you can “Hum to Search” using Google to find out what song has been stuck in your head.
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Beyond phones and Smart Displays/speakers, Google Assistant is available on a slew of other devices. Google today is highlighting other form factors that recently launched with Assistant, including Samsung TVs and Fitbit.
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At the tail end of 2018, we reported on Google’s plans to replace Hangouts with Chat and Meet. The company later confirmed the news and has since been moving enterprise users to those two apps. Google is now ready to start detailing how it will transition classic Hangouts users to a free version of Chat.
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Google Recorder 2.0 is widely rolling out to older Pixel phones via the Play Store today with a handful of new features and tweaks. However, the new version of Recorder does remove the “Save to Google Drive” shortcut.
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When the Chromecast with Google TV went on sale two weeks ago, the Google Store also opened pre-orders for a first-party Ethernet adapter. The official accessory is now shipping and should arrive next week for early buyers.
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The Google News Initiative has provided funding and grants to publications, as well as built tools to aid subscriptions and analytics. The latest effort is to provide reporters with a suite of tools, dubbed Journalist Studio, that leverage technology to simplify workflows.
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To follow a big Android TV update yesterday, Google has just released an Apple Watch app for YouTube Music. It provides basic playback controls and browsing of what’s on your phone.
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The new Chromecast with Google TV is just under two weeks old and is getting a software upgrade today. Rolling out now, it’s officially listed as an “incremental update,” with the Chromecast Voice Remote also seeing new firmware.
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Over the past few months, Google has aggressively pushed its latest video conferencing service to new platforms from Smart Displays to Chromecast. Google Meet is now available for Glass Enterprise Edition 2 in beta.
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