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.
Welcome to episode 48 of Pixelated, a podcast by 9to5Google. This week, we talk about the Pixel 10 Pro Fold renders and Pixel 10 camera rumors.
If you don’t have a mobile-specific signature in Gmail for Android or iOS, Google will now use your web signature.
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The latest Google Search easter egg is more elaborate than usual with the ability to catch 151 Pokémon.
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In January, Gemini Live gained a “Talk Live about this” feature, and it should now be more widely available on Android.
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Ahead of next week’s launch, the Google Pixel 9a has already undergone a teardown.
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YouTube is continuing to remove grandfathered pricing for its Premium subscription service.
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As of Thursday afternoon (PT), more Gemini app users on Android are seeing Astra’s Live camera and screen sharing capabilities.
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In recent weeks, some Google Photos users haven’t been able to save their Magic Editor creations, but a fix is now available.
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After a redesign of the Weight stats page in November, Fitbit is now updating Water logging on Android.
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Last month, Google renamed Gemini Extensions and previewed an upcoming Google Photos “app,” with more details on how it works now available.
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For the past few years, the top of the Google Discover feed has shown widget-esque cards with glanceable information, and “your space” is now available on more devices.
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Two weeks after the last patch, Google is rolling out Android 16 Beta 3.2 to Pixel devices.
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Google is now widely rolling out the ability to “Create text notes by default,” as well as an Audio shortcut, in Keep for Android.
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To date, NotebookLM works by having you manually add files and links, with Google now introducing a “Discover sources” button that searches the web for you.
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Google is replacing the executive in charge of the consumer-facing Gemini app since its inception, with the new boss a familiar face.
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After introducing a search and view capability earlier this week, the Pixel Weather app has lost its 6-hour radar map as of Friday.
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At the start of March, Google discussed the latest in widgets, including what a high-quality design looks like. Google Keep is now redesigning and modernizing one of its Android widgets.
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Besides the weekend confirmation that camera and screen sharing in Gemini Live is still rolling out, Google has now confirmed that it will be available on “any Android device with Gemini Advanced.”
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After starting last week, Fitbit for Android has now widely rolled out a redesign of the Health Metrics stat page.
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Google Messages looks to be planning a sizable update to group chats, with the highlight being an ability to “join this group with this unique link or QR code.”
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For its 21st birthday, Gmail wants to make sending end-to-end encrypted (E2EE) emails much easier for companies in regulated industries.
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Play Books was one of the last Google apps to get a Material You redesign in February of 2024, and it now has Dynamic Color theming.
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With the launch of iOS 18.4 today, Google Fi subscribers can finally enable RCS (Rich Communication Services) on the iPhone.
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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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