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 app rebrand last month, “Find Hub” is replacing “Find My Device” in Android Settings with the latest Google Play services update.
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More Google Messages beta users now have the Material 3 Expressive redesign of the chat interface, while it’s also beginning to appear on the app’s homepage.
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Following last month’s update, Google is continuing to round the corners of various interface elements in Chrome for Android, with version 137 today focusing on menus.
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Following the initial release at I/O 2025 two weeks ago, Google is rolling out Android 16 QPR1 Beta 1.1 as a bug fixer for Pixel devices.
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Following The Android Show announcement, Google is rolling out Advanced Protection to Android 16 Beta 4.1 and 16 QPR1 Beta 1 on Pixel devices.
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In recent days, Google AI Pro subscribers noticed lower query limits for 2.5 Pro in the Gemini app. That has now been doubled, with Google now specifying what the limits actually are.
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Following the big speech translation announcement at I/O 2025, Google Meet is improving screen sharing with a number of updates.
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This was just supposed to be about how Google has yet to launch UWB finding and that I’ve gone all-in with the Moto Tag as my tracker of choice, but then “Google’s Find Hub” happened.
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The Gemini side panel in Google Drive offers one of the more powerful AI experiences in Workspace, with its latest capability being “Catch me up.”
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When you search for “weather” on mobile, Google might show generative AI summaries for local conditions.
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Google has updated NotebookLM today with the ability to publicly share notebooks via links, just like Docs.
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Google Photos is highlighting today how you can use quotation marks to search for text in images. Meanwhile, Ask Photos now has voice search.
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Ahead of Search Live, Google is giving AI Mode a straightforward voice input feature that has a particularly delightful animation.
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Following Gmail for some users and Photos, Google Messages is beginning to roll out a Material 3 Expressive redesign of just the chat interface.
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Google teased Material 3 Expressive for Photos last month, and one part of it — a redesign of the albums view — is now live on Android. QR code sharing for albums is also now available following last week’s announcement.
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Besides a rumor revealing the likely event date, an early prototype of the Google Pixel 10 Pro has leaked today.
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If something about Google Maps on Android and iOS looks different to you, it’s because the logo that appears in the bottom-left corner of every single map has been updated.
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Following the Memorial Day sale (which is still live), Father’s Day deals are live at the Google Store with the Pixel 9a available for $449.
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Google Fi Wireless has brought back a 50% off promo for the new Unlimited Essentials and Unlimited Standard plans for 18 months.
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Google released a small update to the Pixel Weather app this week that just tweaks the map view for a more fullscreen experience on phones.
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Welcome to episode 56 of Pixelated, a podcast by 9to5Google. This week, we talk more about Google I/O 2025 and Android 16 QPR1, as well as reminisce over Google Photos turning 10.
In addition to the Veo 3 expansion today, Google confirmed that Gemini Live camera and screen sharing is now available to all Android and iOS users.
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At the end of this month, Google Store Domain Northside in Austin, Texas will open as the company’s seventh retail location in the US.
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Following last week’s launch at I/O 2025, Google is expanding access to Veo 3 in the Gemini app and Flow, while the Google AI Ultra subscription is coming to more subscribers.
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