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.
While we wait for the next Wear OS update in March, Google is adding a confirmation step to Pixel Watch’s Emergency SOS safety feature to prevent accidental activations “during activities like exercise.”
Expand Expanding Close
Google is widely rolling out a redesign of the Gemini overlay and homepage on Android.
Expand Expanding Close
At the end of the Pixel 9 launch event in August, Google teased two more retail locations to bring the total to six. A seventh Google Store has now been announced for Austin, Texas.
Expand Expanding Close
After first coming to the Public Preview program, the Google Home Gemini Extension is now rolling out to all users. Google tells us that it will be fully available over the coming weeks.
Expand Expanding Close
Beta 1 of Android 16 is available today as most people’s introduction to Google’s next major OS version.
Expand Expanding Close
The first beta of the next major version of Google’s mobile OS is launching today with Android 16 Beta 1 rolling out to Pixel devices. This release is now available.
Expand Expanding Close
Following the announcement in December, Google is now rolling out Android’s Identity Check security feature to Pixel devices. It’s also coming to “One UI 7 eligible Galaxy devices in the coming weeks.”
Expand Expanding Close
In addition to multi-Extension prompts and Live conversations with media, Google made a handful of Samsung-specific Gemini announcements with the Galaxy S25 launch yesterday, like launching with the side button.
Expand Expanding Close
To “accelerate” Android XR development, Google announced this evening that it “signed an agreement to welcome some of the HTC VIVE engineering team to Google.”
Expand Expanding Close
Announced alongside the Galaxy S25 and new Gemini features, the Circle to Search redesign is beginning to roll out today.
Expand Expanding Close
There was a big Google presence at the Galaxy S25 launch event this morning. Google is now specifically telling Pixel 9 owners (and prospective buyers) about what new Gemini AI features they are set to get.
Expand Expanding Close
Last year, Google TV lost the ability to purchase all television shows. In recent weeks, we’ve noticed that Google TV is no longer letting you buy certain movies.
Expand Expanding Close
As part of Samsung’s Galaxy S25 launch, Google announced the latest Android, Circle to Search, and Gemini app features.
Expand Expanding Close
ChromeOS 132 started rolling out last week, and Google has just now posted the changelog.
Expand Expanding Close
It’s not the dream of a full bundle, but some Google One subscribers will soon get a discount on YouTube Premium in the US. Meanwhile, YouTube is starting to test a handful of new features that subscribers can opt-in to.
Expand Expanding Close
Google has partnered with Samsung on a “Galaxy Watch for Kids” experience that is rolling out starting today and will be available in the “coming weeks.”
Expand Expanding Close
At the BETT 2025 education show, Google today announced the latest education and Chromebook features.
Expand Expanding Close
Android 15 QPR2 Beta 3 rolled out to Pixel devices yesterday with some changes ahead of the stable launch in March.
Expand Expanding Close
Back in December, Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking was announced as Google’s first reasoning model and an updated experimental version is now available to test.
Expand Expanding Close
Google is rolling out Android 15 QPR2 Beta 3 this afternoon to Pixel devices, and the biggest user-facing change is the removal of the globe icon in the bottom-right corner when you only have one keyboard/language set.
Expand Expanding Close
Putting cameras in earbuds serves as an interesting stopgap or alternative to smart glasses, with Apple, Meta, and Samsung rumored to be working on this form factor.
Expand Expanding Close
Ahead of the stable launch in March, Google is rolling out Android 15 QPR2 Beta 3 for Pixel devices.
Expand Expanding Close
In a situation similar to the Pixel 4a earlier this month, Fitbit today announced a “Sense and Versa 3 Battery Performance Program” software update.
Expand Expanding Close
Last year, Google Maps on Android was revamped so that the main map view displayed information using sheets, and the entire app is now getting this visual redesign.
Expand Expanding Close