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.
With the December 2024 security patch, Google is rolling out the stable Android 15 QPR1 update and a Pixel (Feature) Drop for the 6, 6 Pro, 6a, 7, 7 Pro, 7a, Tablet, Fold, 8, 8 Pro, 8a, 9, 9 Pro, 9 Pro XL, and 9 Pro Fold.
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Google is rolling out the December 2024 Pixel Feature Drop alongside Android 15 QPR1 today, and it’s a rather sizable update.
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Following Utilities, Messages, Phone, and WhatsApp, the Spotify Gemini Extension is rolling out today, while a Chess Gem is now available for Advanced users.
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After updating the Individual variant with message and call notifications, as well as shared location, earlier this year, Google Contacts has rolled out a redesign of the Favorite contacts widget.
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YouTube TV is fully embracing the popularity and whimsy of its “Enjoy the zen” ad breaks (literally) with a dedicated channel.
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Google is readying some sort of “AI Mode” for the Search app on Android that appears to be a new conversational and visual (or multimodal) experience.
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Verizon Message+ is set to stop working in a few days (after a month-long delay), and Google is out with a brief guide for those switching to its Messages app.
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The Google Photos mobile app is rolling out a new setting that basically lets you undo a backup, and “remove all of the photos and videos that are currently found on your device in Google Photos.”
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Following the wide Utilities rollout yesterday, Google is rolling out the Messages, Phone, and WhatsApp Gemini Extensions. These integrations were announced in late October.
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Google has been working on AI weather models for the past few years, and GenCast is its latest forecasting system with “state-of-the-art accuracy.”
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Google today detailed how it spent the past two years improving the performance — especially on Speedometer — of Chrome for Android.
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Spotify Wrapped 2024 is here and features an AI Podcast that’s “Built with Google’s NotebookLM.” Two AI hosts from the viral note-taking/research tool “unwrap” your year in music.
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The “Utilities” Gemini Extension has been rolling out over the past few weeks, and it’s now seeing wider availability in the Android app.
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Google is working on a “Clear voice” feature for the Pixel Recorder that will “Reduce background noise while recording for clearer speech playback.”
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After abandoning the previous design a few months ago, Google Messages is back with another redesign of the text field.
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Google is upgrading the Play Integrity API for Android app developers to be faster and more secure.
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Following an update to the Pixel Troubleshooting app/service, the Pixel 6-9 can natively show “Device temperature.”
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Back in August, Google said it would be using Gemini large language models to improve Assistant on smart speakers/displays with better responses and a new voice. This is beginning to roll out for some users and commands.
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Last December, Google Wallet gained support for loyalty cards and passes on wearables. Google Wallet for Wear OS is soon getting support for “access cards,” like work badges or student IDs.
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Google’s work on adding more basic features that make Gemini a good phone assistant continues today with the ability to place calls and send messages without unlocking your device.
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Following the main YouTube app, YouTube TV for Android phones and tablets has a new miniplayer styled after picture-in-picture.
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After four days of voting, we have a winner in our single-elimination tournament for the best Google four-color app icon.
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For Cyber Monday 2024, the US Google Store and other retailers have discounts on various Pixel Watch Bands.
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As part of the redesigned incident reporting across all platforms, Google said Maps would show Waze reports for users to confirm while navigating. This is beginning to roll out.
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