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.
As we approach the launch, the Pixel Watch 4 is beginning to leak as heavily as the Pixel 10 series, with specs for the upcoming wearables emerging today to detail this year’s upgrades.
Expand Expanding Close
After beta testing, Gboard is undoing key aspects of the Emoji and GIF picker update that Android users did not particularly like.
Expand Expanding Close
Following last week’s announcement, more Wear OS users are now seeing the Gemini update in the Google Play Store.
Expand Expanding Close
As previewed last month with other Android updates, Google Home for Wear OS is letting you set a custom list of device Favorites.
Expand Expanding Close
Following the announcement last month, Google Chrome is now widely rolling out the bottom address bar option on Android.
Expand Expanding Close
Rivian today announced a partnership with Google Maps on a new navigation system for its electric vehicles.
Expand Expanding Close
Google is testing AI-generated summaries in the Discover feed on Android and iOS, as well as easier bookmarking.
Expand Expanding Close
Google Messages is addressing a big complaint of the combined gallery and camera redesign by letting users access each separately.
Expand Expanding Close
In June of 2024, Google said ChromeOS would be built on Android going forward, with an interview last week describing it as a “single platform.” We now have a bit more clarity on what’s happening to ChromeOS in the future.
Expand Expanding Close
To help demonstrate what NotebookLM can do, Google is introducing “featured notebooks” on various topics.
Expand Expanding Close
One of the most useful aspects of Pixel VIPs is how it shows recent calls and messages, and the Google Contacts app is now gaining that functionality with “Recent activity.”
Expand Expanding Close
Like Pixel Preferred Care earlier this year, Google Fi device protection now has a new “device protection provider” with one benefit improving.
Expand Expanding Close
After coming to the web and iOS, the Gemini app is beginning to roll out chat search on Android.
Expand Expanding Close
A small update to Pixel VPN by Google is rolling out that adds Material 3 Expressive and makes some tweaks to the Quick Settings Tile.
Expand Expanding Close
Introduced in 2021, “Google Drive for desktop” is getting a visual redesign that centralizes controls and management in one window.
Expand Expanding Close
While we wait for the bigger Now Playing redesign, YouTube Music is updating the shuffle and repeat buttons.
Expand Expanding Close
Phone by Google, like Messages, is taking a piecemeal approach to rolling out its previously announced redesign. Following the Favorites tab removal that most, if not all, Google Phone beta users got yesterday, the Home and Keypad redesign is beginning to roll out with a navigation drawer.
Expand Expanding Close
Following Android and iOS last week, the new Gemini logo is now available on the web.
Expand Expanding Close
The first Android Canary has a number of user-facing tweaks for the Pixel Launcher that let you remove the AI Mode shortcut, while bringing back the colorful At a Glance weather icons.
Expand Expanding Close
Google just announced the Android Canary release channel to replace the traditional developer previews. There are a lot of unknowns today, especially in regards to how often they will be released, but how’s everything new in the first Android Canary update.
Expand Expanding Close
Google today is “announcing a significant evolution in [its] pre-release program” for Android. Instead of Developer Previews, we’re now getting an Android Canary release channel. The goal is to “provide earlier, more consistent access to in-development features.”
Expand Expanding Close
YouTube launched the Trending page in 2015, and is now planning to retire it as people’s viewing and discovery habits have changed.
Expand Expanding Close
Ahead of the full Material 3 Expressive redesign, Phone by Google is widely removing the Favorites tab for users enrolled in the beta program.
Expand Expanding Close
After bringing Veo 3 to subscribers around the world last week, Google is now rolling out photo-to-video generation in the Gemini app.
Expand Expanding Close