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 previewed in December, Project Mariner is Google DeepMind’s research prototype exploring the “future of human-agent interaction, starting with browsers.” Google AI Ultra subscribers now have access to Project Mariner, while the browser agent capabilities are coming to the Gemini app and Search.
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Google is bringing Gemini and Gemini Live to Chrome for Mac and Windows. The initial launch lets you ask questions about a page, while future versions will be able to navigate the web and take other actions on your behalf.
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At I/O 2025, Google announced a slew of updates for the Gemini app, including the launch of 2.5 Flash and Gemini Live camera and screen sharing for iOS.
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The technology powering Gemini Live’s camera and screen sharing is called Project Astra. It’s available as an Android app for trusted testers, and Google today unveiled agentic capabilities for Project Astra, including how it can control your Android phone.
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Ahead of Android 16’s stable release, Google today is rolling out QPR1 Beta 1 to Pixel devices with the Material 3 Expressive redesign.
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To date, AI Premium is how you access the latest features from Google. At I/O 2025, that subscription tier is being renamed to “Google AI Pro,” while we’re getting “Google AI Ultra” for $249.99 per month.
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At I/O 2025, Google announced an absolute torrent of new features, powered by Gemini and AI, across its biggest products and services that will soon be available to users. We’ve compiled all the consumer-facing announcements and notable developer developments made at the event below.
I/O 2025 kicks off today as Google’s biggest event of the year to showcase what’s new for end users and developers. Gemini and AI will undoubtedly be the big focus. Join us as we live blog the two-hour keynote.
Everything Google announced at I/O 2025: Gemini, Search, Android, and more
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As previewed earlier this month, Google today released the NotebookLM app for Android and iOS ahead of I/O 2025.
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As announced at The Android Show: I/O Edition last week, Google is more widely rolling out the “Find Hub” update that rebrands “Find My Device.”
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Following a prompt bar redesign, as well as model picker simplification, on Android and iOS over the weekend, the Gemini app is beginning to roll out chat search.
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In 2024, Google Wallet introduced a “verify it’s you” requirement a few minutes after phone unlock, and now appears to be extending that beyond payments to opening the entire Android app.
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With Material 3 Expressive, Google is making a push for bottom controls in apps with toolbars. This new component displays “frequently used actions relevant to the current page.”
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Since December, Google has been testing a Gemini-powered upgrade for Assistant on some Nest speakers. The Nest Audio is now using the Gemini colors, which raises some interesting branding questions.
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Following the web redesign and other changes, Google is introducing a new prompt bar for the Gemini app on Android and iOS.
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The video introducing Google’s new design language starts with a pull-to-refresh animation that turns “Material 3” into “Material 3 Expressive,” with the sequence introducing the new loading indicator.
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With all users stateside able to test, the shortcut for launching AI Mode is now in the Google app’s Search bar on Android and iOS.
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Welcome to episode 54 of Pixelated, a podcast by 9to5Google. This week, we talk about The Android Show, Android 16, Wear OS 6, and more.
As previewed last month, YouTube TV is now beginning to let subscribers build custom Multiviews for non-live sports content.
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The “search box” in Circle to Search in Android will now use your whole screen to “generate suggestions and results.”
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After introducing on iOS earlier this week, the Google app for Android is now widely getting the new ‘G’ icon with an update today.
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Gmail for Android introduced a new “quick reply” interface inside emails last year, but Google looks to be replacing it with a simpler docked bar.
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Google One now has 150 million subscribers in a 50% increase from February of last year. The subscription offering dates back to May of 2018.
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As we spotted earlier this week, Google is widely rolling out an update to the Gemini model picker that also changes how you access Deep Research.
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