After offering voluntary exits in January, Google is said to have laid off “hundreds of employees” in the division responsible for Android, Chrome, Pixel, and more.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle layoffs impact hundreds in Pixel, Android division
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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.
Google Keep for Android widget redesign rolls out
After starting earlier this week, Google has rolled out the redesigned Keep for Android “Quick capture” widget.
Expand Expanding CloseAndroid 15 April update rolling out: Pixel camera, display fixes
After last month’s big update, the Android 15 April security patch is rolling out today for the Pixel 6, 6 Pro, 6a, 7, 7 Pro, 7a, Tablet, Fold, 8, 8 Pro, 8a, 9, 9 Pro, 9 Pro XL, 9 Pro Fold, and 9a. It follows a single-feature April 2025 Pixel Drop for Gemini Live’s new Astra capabilities.
Expand Expanding ClosePixel 9a is missing Modes, more as it’s still on Android 15 QPR1
After setting up and updating, your Pixel 9a will still be running Android 15 QPR1 instead of QPR2.
Expand Expanding ClosePixel 9a review: Google’s A-Series is now its own thing
Compared to past years, the 2025 A-Series doesn’t feel like a variant of the main line. Rather, the Google Pixel 9a is its own thing that most people will be quite happy with.
Expand Expanding CloseChrome 135 rolling out edge-to-edge design on Android
As previewed last month, Chrome 135 for Android is rolling out an edge-to-edge design for the bottom of your screen.
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Gboard’s Assistant voice typing on Pixel becomes ‘Advanced features’
The Google Assistant wind down on mobile continues with Gboard rebranding “Assistant voice typing” on the Pixel to just “Advanced features.”
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle announces 7th-gen Ironwood TPU, Lyria text-to-music model, more
In addition to the latest in Workspace at Cloud Next 2025, Google today announced Ironwood, its 7th-generation Tensor Processing Unit (TPU) and the latest generative models.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle announces ‘Workspace Flows’ automation with Gems, audio in Docs, and more Gemini
Besides new Gemini features in Google Docs, Sheets, Meet, Chat and Vids, Cloud Next 2025 saw the announcement of Google Workspace Flows.
Expand Expanding CloseDeep Research powered by Gemini 2.5 Pro (experimental) now available
Gemini Advanced subscribers can now perform Deep Research with Google’s most intelligent 2.5 Pro (experimental) model.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle confirms Pixel Watch Wear OS 5.1 update isn’t widely rolled out yet
Google has shared more details about yesterday’s April 2025 update for the Pixel Watch, including how not all devices have received Wear OS 5.1 yet.
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Yes, the Gemini icon is now bigger and brighter on Android [U]
If you noticed something different after updating the “Google Gemini” app on Android, it’s the icon getting a little bit bigger and brighter.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle starts rolling out Pixel Watch 3 Loss of Pulse Detection in the US
Following the April 2025 OTA update and Scam Detection yesterday, Google is now rolling out Loss of Pulse Detection in the US.
Expand Expanding ClosePixel Watch April 2025 update rolling out
After releasing Wear OS 5.1 last month in two waves, Google is rolling out an April 2025 update for the Pixel Watch, Pixel Watch 2, and Pixel Watch 3.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle brings Scam Detection warning to the Pixel Watch
Last month, the Pixel 9 gained real-time Scam Detection, and those warnings are now coming to your paired Pixel Watch 2 and 3: “So if you’re on the go, you can be alerted to a scam call without needing to take out your phone.”
Expand Expanding ClosePixel 9 series, including 9a, get free Gemini Live Astra camera access
Google this morning announced the April 2025 Pixel Drop with just one feature. Notably, Gemini Live’s new Astra camera and screen sharing is available for free on the Pixel 9 series.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Keep rolling out widget redesign on Android
As we previously spotted, Google Keep for Android is rolling out a redesign of the Quick capture widget.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle says a ‘NotebookLM app is coming soon’
Since launch, NotebookLM has just been a website, but Google now says an “app” is coming soon.
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Gemini app restores 2.0 Flash Thinking (experimental) on Android, iOS
Over the weekend, all Gemini app users on Android and iOS lost access to 2.0 Flash Thinking (experimental). This was just a bug, and the model has been restored today.
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Apple TV for Android adds convenient Skip Back, Muted subtitles
The first sizable update to Apple TV for Android phones and tablets is here with version 1.1 today. The mobile app launched in February and has so far just seen patch updates.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle AI Mode adding multimodal Google Lens search
AI Mode entered testing a month ago and Google is now expanding access to free Labs users, as well as adding Lens visual search.
Expand Expanding CloseGemini Live widely rolling out camera & screen sharing on Pixel 9, S25 series
After starting in March and continuing in recent weeks, Google is now officially rolling out camera and screen sharing in Gemini Live for Android to the Pixel 9 and Galaxy S25 series.
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Google Maps expanding ‘suspected fake reviews’ warnings
Google Maps is detailing its 2024 progress in “preventing and taking down deceptive content,” which includes adding fake review warnings.
Expand Expanding CloseHow do you use Android app shortcuts?
App shortcuts were introduced with Android 7.1 in October 2016. They’ve seen some UI changes over the years, but they’ve mostly stayed the same.
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