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 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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After detailing the “advanced flow” for sideloading earlier this month, Google is opening the Android developer verification process to developers today.
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After announcing with the March 2026 Feature Drop, Google is now widely rolling out Transit mode to “turn on helpful settings while you’re on the train” and real-time commute updates in At a Glance.
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Google Maps EV trip planning, which predicts battery usage and recommends charging stops, is getting an Android Auto expansion today.
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Following Lyria 3 Pro, Gemini 3.1 Flash Live, and importing, Google has a few other Gemini app updates, starting with Personal Intelligence seeing wide US availability.
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Android 17 features a number of location privacy updates, with the latest introduced in Beta 3 being the “location button.”
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Android 16 introduced translucency to the notification shade and Quick Settings last year. As rumored, Android 17 Beta 3 continues that blur trend.
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Google today rolled out Android 17 Beta 3 for Pixel devices. This comes a month after the second release.
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Exactly four weeks after the last release, Google is rolling out Android 17 Beta 3 for Pixel devices. This update features the Platform Stability milestone.
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Besides Gemini 3.1 Flash Live today, Google is rolling out the ability to import memory and chats into Gemini from other AI apps.
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With the launch of Gemini 3.1 Flash Live, Google is launching Search Live globally. Meanwhile, Google Translate’s new headphones experience is now on iOS.
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Google today announced Gemini 3.1 Flash Live as its “highest-quality audio and voice model yet” to power big upgrades to Gemini Live and Search Live.
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Google Messages and Phone by Google have reached major milestones on the Play Store.
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Google shared today that Android and Chrome have set “new performance records” for mobile web browsing.
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Last month, the Gemini app gained the ability to produce 30-second tracks with Lyria 3. Google today announced Lyria 3 Pro with support for songs that are up to 3 minutes long.
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Following the first iOS 26.4 preview, Apple Music 5.2 entered beta earlier this week with three new features.
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Earlier in March, the US Google Store kicked off a fairly standard $200-300 sale on the Pixel 10. Some customers are now getting an additional $150 Pixel 10 coupon code that stacks with the original discount and ends very soon.
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Following the announcement at CES in January, Gemini for Google TV is picking up a number of visual updates.
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Google is announcing a new version of Android Automotive that goes beyond infotainment use cases to control more of the car.
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Last September, the Gemini app introduced a “Tools” menu. The latest web redesign adds those capabilities into the “plus” menu for a somewhat cleaner Gemini prompt box.
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Today, you can use Google Messages for web using QR code pairing or Google Account sign-in. The original login method will soon go away.
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Like other Google apps, Messages for Android A/B tests many features. It can take the RCS/SMS client a rather long time to actually launch new functionality in stable. From various reports, Google announcements, and devices we’ve checked, this is the current state of Messages.
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After beta testing for the past several weeks and months, Google Messages today officially announced Mentions and the Trash folder.
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Following the announcement at the start of this month, Real-time Location Sharing in Google Messages for Android is more widely rolling out.
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