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.
It’s wild that Apple hasn’t released official Severance merchandise at this point, but the fan community is filling that role with a case that turns your Nest Mini into Lumon’s Board speaker.
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Pixel started the concept of “Feature Drops” at Google in December of 2019, with Android later starting something similar every season. Google Workspace is now the latest to get on the “feature drop” bandwagon.
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Following document upload and generating images of people, the latest Gemini Advanced to come to free users is “Saved Info.”
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At I/O 2024 last May, Demis Hassabis reiterated that DeepMind’s goal is “building AGI: Artificial general intelligence, a system that has human-level cognitive capabilities.” This week, Google co-founder Sergey Brin said that “the final race to A.G.I. is afoot.”
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Following the last update two weeks ago, Android 16 Beta 2.1 is rolling out to Pixel devices. It addresses some of the bugs that testers have encountered.
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The Google app’s Song Search capability is excellent and finally has a history shortcut to see past lookups. It’s available today in Google for iOS, but Song Search history can be accessed by anyone on the web.
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Following Gboard hitting 10 billion Play Store downloads yesterday, the Android keyboard has made a small change to the shortcuts button that lets you access various tools.
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A pair of Chromebook updates today highlight their broad usage across personal and enterprise, starting with Roblox enhancements.
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Some vehemently want the ability to remove At a Glance from the top of the Pixel homescreen. I personally find it useful as a space for high-priority notifications and think most users also get daily utility out of it. However, I do think At a Glance in 2025 is underutilized and Android should be doing much more with it.
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The Google Store has introduced a Pixel, Nest, and Fitbit “Devices” page to “Manage your Made by Google hardware in one place.”
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Following call delegation, Google Voice is making it easier to transfer personal numbers to Google Workspace business accounts.
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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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Gboard for Android is the latest Google app to hit 10 billion downloads on the Play Store. The listing says the app was released on June 5, 2013.
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Back in December, Google Messages rolled out the latest text field redesign and a new version makes it ever so slightly bigger.
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Earlier this year, YouTube became the “most frequently used service for listening to podcasts in the U.S.” and it’s now seeing “1 billion monthly active viewers of podcast content.”
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Loss of Pulse Detection was announced last August as the Pixel Watch 3’s latest safety feature, and it has finally been approved by US regulators, with a rollout set for next month.
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The latest Scam Detection features for Google Messages and the Phone by Google app are coming to Pixel with a March update.
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I think Google may have shared the future of smart displays, or at least an evolution of the form factor, earlier this year at CES: Google TV.
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Google announced today that “document upload is now available to all Gemini users” using the web, Android, and iOS apps. This started rolling out last week.
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Following the division behind Pixel, Android, and Chrome in January, Google today announced a new “voluntary exit” program for its People Operations, or HR, team.
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The first update for Google Voice in quite some time is enterprise call delegation.
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Earlier this month, Google started emailing Gemini Live users about an upgrade that makes “your conversations even more dynamic and engaging.” It’s rolling out now, and here’s how to check if you have the new Gemini Live update.
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Despite the long gap, I don’t think a Gemini speaker that modern Google releases in 2025 is too different from the 2019 Nest Mini (2nd-gen) or 2020 Nest Audio.
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Google is announcing a free version of Gemini Code Assist that lets developers “generate, explain and improve code.” All that’s needed is a personal Gmail account.
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