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.
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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Google has quietly raised the price of the Google TV Streamer to $149.99.
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I quite like how Chrome for Android’s main interface has essentially remained the same since 2012. The consistency is refreshing as everything else on my phone changes. While I’m open to modernization, the latest attempt at a redesign suffers from too much chrome.
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After a 10-month pause, Google Wallet is now rolling out support for Ohio state IDs on Android.
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While not as big as the last release, Android 17 QPR2 Beta 4 is a sizable update ahead of the stable December release.
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Google has quietly released a cozy mobile game called Froggy’s World in the vein of Animal Crossing and Stardew Valley.
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Android 17 QPR2 continues to add user-facing changes with new Status bar settings in Beta 4.
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Following the big release two weeks ago, Google is rolling out Android 17 QPR2 Beta 4 for Pixel devices. As of Friday afternoon, the Pixel 11 series is not yet compatible, but Google says support is coming “soon.”
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While the US Google Store’s pre-order and launch period deals have ended, Google has started a new round of boosted trade-in values that are only slightly lower than before.
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Following the Gemini app in May, Gemini Notebook is switching to “compute-specific usage limits” starting in September.
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Google Health 5.07 is rolling out on Android and iOS with meaningful updates to manual workout logging and a handful of bug fixes.
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Following the launch of the Pixel 11 series, Google has updated its developer documentation for Gemini Nano 4.
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Expert Intelligence is a new “cross Google initiative that helps you engage with your trusted sources through Google AI products,” starting with Play Books and Gemini Notebook.
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Google is rolling out a trio of updates that boost AI Mode’s travel capabilities, starting with the ability to get price alerts for flights.
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After beta testing in recent weeks, Google Messages today officially announced custom chat themes and backgrounds on Android.
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Since we’re presumably still a few weeks away from Pixel Camera 11 rolling out to older phones, Google Calculator rounds out the icon gradient redesigns today.
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Google is out with a blog post today recapping new network security measures in Android 17.
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The first follow-up to the Fitbit Air is a new Special Edition that integrates with Pokémon Sleep. Available in the US and Japan, it’s meant to make sleep tracking feel like a “daily adventure,” while celebrating Pokémon’s 30th anniversary this year.
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The last big update to Google Keep was at the start of this year with the reminders-Tasks migration. Google has now updated Keep for Android with “Find in note” search.
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In response to the “significant hardware supply constraints that are altering device memory availability,” Google aims to reduce the memory usage of Android apps.
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Google today is significantly boosting the Gemini Live experience with several productivity-focused integrations.
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Google today introduced Gemini 3.5 Transcribe as its “most precise speech-to-text model yet” that is already powering several first-party products.
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On Saturday morning, you might have noticed an app called “Android Pulse” appearing in the list of available Google Play updates.
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With the Pixel 11 series hitting store shelves on August 20, launch deals are beginning to wind down. However, some still remain for a limited time, including how Amazon now lets you trade in your old device for the Pixel 11 and get a gift card.
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