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.
Google has been working on Tasks integration in Calendar for Android and iOS over the past year. The feature is now officially rolling out in the coming weeks.
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This week, we talk about everything Google announced at Launch Night In. It was a tight 31-minute show that saw the Chromecast with Google TV, Nest Audio, Pixel 4a 5G, and Pixel 5. We’ve also had time to go hands-on with the new Chromecast, so send us your questions!
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.
At last year’s hardware event, Google stopped selling the Daydream View, while many apps dropped support long before that. Google announced today that “Daydream VR software is no longer supported” and that it ended with Android 11.
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Every month, Android manufacturers release security patches to protect devices from the latest issues. With the Android Partner Vulnerability Initiative (AVPI), Google will now detail problems it has discovered on partner devices.
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In addition to picking up USB-C headset support, the Stadia Controller now has an experimental “Tandem Mode” that helps expand accessibility and input options. It also lets you use third-party gamepads somewhat wirelessly when playing on the Chromecast Ultra.
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One part of the new Google TV is quick access to YouTube TV through the “Live” tab. To mark that integration, new YouTube TV subscribers that pay for a month of service can get a free Chromecast with Google TV right now.
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In addition to six new games coming to the Pro subscription this morning, Google announced that the Stadia Controller now supports USB-C headphones when playing on a Chromecast or the web.
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When Digital Wellbeing launched, it was initially used to manage how often people use their phones. However, it broadly applies to other aspects of life and technology. Google is now bringing Digital Wellbeing to the concept of face retouching in camera and photo apps, starting on the Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a 5G.
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Google Maps Live View uses augmented reality to overlay arrows, directions, and now landmarks over the real world to make navigating easier. The feature is getting a number of big updates today.
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By adding a long sought after remote and being quite affordable, the Chromecast with Google TV is one of today’s highlight announcements. In fact, the Google Store has sold out of the streaming dongle’s “Sky” and “Sunrise” colors.
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Back in June, Google announced that it would license content from news publishers for a new feature that would appear across its products. The company today unveiled “Google News Showcase” and a $1 billion investment.
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October 2020 will see six games join Stadia Pro later this week. This includes new titles Dead by Daylight and Human: Fall Flat, as well as Celeste.
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Google’s senior vice president of Devices & Services opened and closed Launch Night In. Rick Osterloh also posted written remarks where he affirmed Google’s commitment to “building hardware for the long term,” while also noting in an interview that Soli is coming back in the future.
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In addition to picking up the Chromecast with Google TV, Nest Audio, Pixel 5, and 4a 5G today, the Google Store started offering hardware “packages” that provide a discount when buying multiple Nest products simultaneously.
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One of the most impressive software features to debut with the Pixel 4a 5G and Pixel 5 is “Hold for Me.” The Google Assistant will stay on the line until an actual human being comes on for you to directly interact with.
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With the launch of its affordable mid-range phone in August, Made by Google teased the rest of its 2020 phone lineup. At Launch Night In, the Pixel 5 was announced as Google’s flagship phone for the next year.
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For the past four years, Made by Google has hosted press conferences in San Francisco and later New York to announce its annual hardware lineup. Like many of its technology peers, the company is going virtual for 2020. Here’s how to watch Google’s Launch Night In on Wednesday, September 30th at 11 a.m. PT.
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Besides introducing an “Explore” tab earlier this year, Google’s primary — and soon only — streaming service has remained visually unchanged since the 2018 revamp. YouTube Music is now testing high-level filters for the Home feed of recommendations.
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We are less than 24 hours away from Launch Night In and have already seen some last-minute leaks. The latest comes from the Canadian Google Store, which this evening briefly revealed how Chromecast with Google TV buyers in that country will get six months of free Netflix.
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Google is trying hard to make Meet a video conferencing competitor by adding a torrent of new features in quick succession. After making premium features free at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Google is now extending free, unlimited Meet calls into next year for Gmail accounts.
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At the start of this month, we spotted Google working on a Maps dark mode for Android. The Google Maps dark theme is now beginning to roll out for some users and it encompasses the entire app.
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Google’s upcoming flagship phone has been thoroughly shown off in official renders, while the specifications have been fully detailed. One of the last unknowns is the material, and the latest leak says that the Pixel 5 is made of aluminum.
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After rolling out to desktops in June, Google Meet can now filter out disruptive sounds, thanks to noise cancellation on Android and iOS. The video conferencing service is also adding attendance reports for schools and educators.
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After teasing earlier this year, Google has fully detailed how Home & Away Routines work. That said, the feature does not appear to be rolled out yet today.
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