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 today published a report about how it’s using the latest AI approaches to combat spam across Search, Chrome (with Gemini Nano for Enhanced Protection), and Android.
Expand Expanding Close
Google is beginning to roll out the ability to personalize group chats in Messages for Android with custom icons.
Expand Expanding Close
After announcing in March, Google Maps has rolled out a feature that can scan screenshots on your iPhone and save any found locations.
Expand Expanding Close
Google now offers release notes for the Home app on Android and iOS, with the version 3.32 update introducing several new features and bug fixes.
Expand Expanding Close
Following last week’s announcement, native image editing in the Gemini app is now seeing wider availability.
Expand Expanding Close
After adding lockscreen and homescreen widgets in recent weeks, Gemini now has an iPad app. Audio Overviews are also now available in more languages.
Expand Expanding Close
One of the Google Fi perks is access to a VPN. It now has a new name for all Fi subscribers, while Pixel owners are being switched over to the built-in “VPN by Google.”
Expand Expanding Close
We’re not expecting a Pixel Watch update this month, but the companion app now has a light theme.
Expand Expanding Close
Ahead of Android 16, the Android 15 May 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. There are three fixes this month that apply to all supported devices.
Expand Expanding Close
The Google app on iOS, which has its own web browser, is adding a new “Simplify” feature when you come across complex text.
Expand Expanding Close
To raise awareness about what the Play Store does, Google is launching a safety-focused advertising campaign about how you should “download apps not traps.”
Expand Expanding Close
With Android 16, Pixel phones will get a Battery health capability, and Google has now revealed what devices will support it.
Expand Expanding Close
Google is updating Gemini 2.5 Pro with “significantly improved” coding capabilities. This updated model was originally going to be released at I/O 2025, but the company decided to move up the launch.
Expand Expanding Close
According to new release notes, Google is rolling out the first 2025 software update for the Nest Wifi and Nest Wifi Pro. It’s not yet widely available.
Expand Expanding Close
A quality-of-life improvement to the Gemini app lets users upload up to 10 images per prompt on Android, iOS, and the web.
Expand Expanding Close
Google is widely rolling out Chrome 136 for Android today with some visual tweaks, like toning down Dynamic Color in some parts of the browser.
Expand Expanding Close
Ahead of this month’s announcement, Google accidentally published a blog post detailing the thinking and research behind Material 3 Expressive.
Expand Expanding Close
Following last week’s announcement, the Gemini app update that introduces an Android homescreen widget is widely rolling out.
Expand Expanding Close
Last month, AI Mode gained Google Lens integration (as depicted above) to power multimodal search. Google is now working on “Live for AI Mode.”
Expand Expanding Close
Ahead of Material 3 Expressive’s debut at I/O 2025 later this month, a redesign of the Google Clock app has emerged.
Expand Expanding Close
In addition to images and Audio Overviews, the Gemini app can now generate short video clips, and here’s how best to prompt Veo 2.
Expand Expanding Close
In addition to announcing Audio Overviews in 50+ languages and letting users pre-order the native mobile app this week, Google shared that NotebookLM is currently powered by Gemini 2.5 Flash.
Expand Expanding Close
Welcome to episode 52 of Pixelated, a podcast by 9to5Google. This week, we talk about the upcoming “Android Show” and the Android 16 leaks.
Samsung has long offered the ability for your phone (or tablet) to power a desktop OS experience when connected to an external display. Google is now working on a DeX-like desktop mode experience for Android.
Expand Expanding Close