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.
The chat feature in NotebookLM is getting significant improvements today to “performance, quality, and contextual understanding,” as well as the ability to set goals.
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In starting the Gemini for Home voice assistant preview today, Google also shared when Gemini for Google TV is coming to more devices, like the Google TV Streamer.
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Gboard for Android is rolling out a new Flick keys shortcut that lets you quickly enter numbers and symbols with a swipe down.
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After the tenth addition earlier this month, Google Wallet on Android is now rolling out support for Puerto Rico IDs.
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Google is beginning to roll out the Gemini for Home voice assistant in the US for devices set to English on all Nest speakers and displays from the past decade. Make sure you’re enrolled in the Early Access program.
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The monthly “Google System Release Notes” primarily detail what’s new in Play services, Play Store, and Play system update across Android phones/tablets, Wear OS, Google/Android TV, Auto, and PC. Some features apply to end users, while others are aimed at developers.
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With Wear OS 6 not available on the Pixel Watch, Google is rolling out an October 2025 update to the original device.
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As part of the Fitbit Coach preview, Google shared that it will be releasing “new Fitbit hardware” in 2026.
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As previewed alongside the Pixel Watch 4 launch in August, Google will begin rolling out a Public Preview of Fitbit Coach “starting tomorrow and over the next week” in the US. The idea is to leverage AI and Gemini models to give you a personal coach, just like how athletes have a team around them providing support.
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The rollout of Chrome’s M3 Expressive redesign, which began in late August, is now complete. It comes a few weeks after most first-party apps have received their updates.
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Release notes for Google Home 4.1 are now available. This is the first major app update following the redesign.
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Gems are custom instances of Gemini with specific instructions suited for particular tasks. The latest premade Gemini Gem by Google is called “wellness.”
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Following desktop in July, Chrome for iOS and Android’s New Tab Page now has a shortcut for AI Mode, as well as Incognito.
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Google is widely rolling out the next Gemini app redesign that brings the model switcher into the prompt bar to consolidate controls.
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Following the announcement last week, the video player, icon, and app-wide redesign is now widely rolling out to YouTube for Android and iOS.
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Since December, I’ve been under the impression that Galaxy XR would be Samsung hardware and Google software (like a modern day Google Play edition). That is not the case, with the first Android XR headset fully themed with Samsung’s One UI.
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Alongside the series of announcements earlier this week, Google Fi made official HD calling. Its absence has been a long-standing and noticeable complaint from subscribers.
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The YouTube family of apps have their own design language, and the latest change is an updated icon set that is widely rolling out to YouTube Music.
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Besides seeing your status in the top-right corner, Play Points can now be viewed in Google Wallet for Android.
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The Google Store is making it easier to replace lost Pixel Buds Pro 2 or Pixel Buds 2a components.
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Alongside the headset launch today, Samsung also teased glasses powered by Android XR as it works on multiple extended reality form factors.
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After previewing last December as Project Moohan, the Samsung Galaxy XR is now available as the first headset running Google’s new Android XR operating system.
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After widely rolling out the “Font size” setting last week, the latest Gboard for Android update lets you hide the period and comma keys.
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Google Fi is getting a series of notable updates in the coming weeks that improve messaging, browsing, and calling, with Google AI playing a role.
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