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.
Following the wider launch on Tuesday, Google today is detailing Android 11 (Go edition). This variant of the mobile OS for entry-level smartphones was first introduced with Oreo and is available on 100 million devices worldwide.
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Motorola today announced the Razr 5G as their second take on making an Android Foldable after the last generation did not make too much of an impact. This Android Foldable features all the specs expected of a 2020 smartphone, while being slightly more affordable.
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Last month, Google announced that Maps is coming back to watchOS after leaving the platform in 2017. Google Maps for Apple Watch is now available following the latest update.
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After announcing Orion Wifi yesterday, Google’s Area 120 is back with Fundo — a “platform for virtual events and experiences.” This experimental project is “designed and built for creators” to replicate the experience of in-person encounters.
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Back in August, Google provided a roadmap on all of its non-mobile Android platforms. Wear OS was promised a fall update, and it’s now officially rolling out to the first device.
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Google Finance is getting a desktop and mobile redesign today that is focused on making it easier to “find data for stocks you’re interested in, market trends and relevant news to make more informed investment decisions.”
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Back in March, Google Podcasts received a big visual revamp and launched on iOS. As part of that expansion, the team hosted an AMA and promised a handful of new features. Quick access to Cast from the Now Playing sheet is rolling out today in Google Podcasts for Android.
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As announced last month, Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides for Android now support Microsoft Office editing. A related change sees Docs adjust line spacing based on the current font.
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Earlier this year, Google lost the “Distinguished Engineer” responsible for the research that went into the Pixel’s imaging capabilities. Marc Levoy is now at Adobe, and sat down with The Verge for a very interesting interview about his career and what’s next in photography.
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Traditionally, the Android Beta Program shuts down following the launch of the in-preview release. Google is doing something different this year and keeping the program open to “future pre-release versions of Android 11.”
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Google today launched Android 11 for the latest Pixel phones. In addition to new media controls and smart device controls, it features the September security patch. If it hasn’t rolled out to your device, Google has posted the official OTA and factory images.
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The launch of Android 11 coincides with the quarterly Pixel Feature Drop. In addition to the general platform release, Google’s first-party devices pick up some exclusive features, with the most notable being Live View Location Sharing in Google Maps.
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Like everything else, 2020’s Android developer previews and betas were impacted by the major goings-on of our time. The cycle notably started a month earlier and it closes a month later than normal, though this is the second year that has occurred. Android 11 today is ready to launch and rolling out now to the latest Pixel phones. The latest version of Google’s mobile operating system is characterized by three major themes: Controls, People, and Privacy.
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Area 120 is Google’s internal incubator for experimental projects that later get merged with existing teams if proven successful. Orion Wifi wants to make it easy for malls, grocery stores, and other “public venues” to “sell Wi-Fi capacity to cellular carriers,” like Google Fi.
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Over the past week, Google has been testing an Assistant notification on the lockscreen that provides tappable access to frequent commands. It looks to be an extension of Google making its voice assistant more ambient.
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Last year, Google launched Verified SMS in Messages for Android to reduce spam. The Google Phone app is now picking up a “Verified Calls” capability as the dialer officially becomes available for many more non-Pixel devices.
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Ahead of the September 14 announcement, the “LG Wing” moniker was officially confirmed by the company. An 8-second video leak has now emerged showing the Wing swiveling and LG’s software customizations.
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Before taxes, the average monthly cost of Google’s MVNO for Flexible (pay as you go) users is between $30-80, or $70 on the Unlimited plan. Some subscribers are now receiving a $0 Google Fi bill that’s very clearly a bug.
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Google is kicking off September with six new Stadia Pro games and the launch of Marvel’s Avengers. The company also detailed how the Google Store will be discounting Stadia Premiere Edition by 10% later this week and into the next.
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Following the Home app last month, one of the last first-party apps that needs a dark mode is Google Maps. Fortunately, the latest version of the Android client finally reveals that work is underway.
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According to the New York Times, the US Justice Department is planning to file the federal government’s antitrust case against Google as soon as this month. Today’s report notably reveals a rushed approach that’s criticized for being political.
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This week we talk about one confirmed and one leaked price: Samsung Galaxy Fold 2 and the ‘Sabrina’ Android TV dongle, respectively. We also take a look at what features are coming next to Stadia and new games.
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.
Last week, the Google Home app received a dark theme, unified camera page, and ability to control all Nest and Chromecast media devices from the Android 11 power menu. Following Nest x Yale control rolling out, the Google Home app now quickly shows whether your lights and other similar devices are on or off, while there’s also a new set-up list.
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Google’s latest mid-range phone is officially just over a week old, and by all accounts it’s shaping up to be another Pixel 3a-level success. A Pixel 4a teardown today reveals that another shared similarity is the construction.
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