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.
Following iOS, Google Photos for Android is simplifying the bottom bar by removing the “Memories” tab, though the auto-organizing feed — now called “Moments” — remains available.
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Google Messages has been working on dual SIM RCS since the start of this year, and support is now more widely rolling out in beta.
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After introducing in mid-December, Gemini Advanced subscribers can now access 2.0 Experimental Advanced in the Gemini app on Android and iOS.
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Late last year, Google widely rolled out “profile sharing” wherein you set what name and contact photo other people see in the Messages app. This resulted in people seeing different profile images, but Google Messages is now letting you override that with “Set as chat picture.”
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With the first US Google Store discounts of 2025 focused on the Pixel Watch, Fitbit, and Pixel Buds, the next sale is for the Pixel 9 series.
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In what should be the first rolled out change of 2025, artist pages on YouTube Music now feature a Top songs carousel.
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Welcome to episode 36 of Pixelated, a podcast by 9to5Google. This week, we talk about the OnePlus 13, Gemini on Google TV at CES 2025, and more.
Google Drive for desktop on Mac and Windows has been updated with faster file sync thanks to differential uploads.
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I like Google Discover and the feed — for the most part — surfaces interesting articles aligned with my interests. Reading, rather than listening, is how I usually consume information, but Google’s new Daily Listen is remarkably compelling and boosts Discover in a meaningful way.
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Last year, Google released eight updates for its streaming dongles. The first Chromecast with Google TV update of 2025 is now rolling out, with Android 14 not yet here.
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The first big redesign of the Gemini overlay on Android is beginning to roll out for some users.
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Following the last update in December, Android 15 QPR2 Beta 2.1 is rolling out to Pixel devices. It addresses some of the bugs that testers have encountered.
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Google today announced a “Supporters of Chromium-based Browsers” initiative in partnership with The Linux Foundation, while detailing its contributions to the open-source browser project.
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Google’s work on adding more basic features that make Gemini a good phone assistant continues today with the ability to place calls and send messages without unlocking your device.
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As 2025 gets underway, CEO Sundar Pichai reiterated to Googlers how the next few months will see new AI products and features.
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Google is rolling out a redesign of the Pixel Phone app’s in-call UI that gives more prominence to Call Notes and Audio Emoji.
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Google has reached out to Pixel 4a owners today about an upcoming software update that will “improve the stability of their battery’s performance.” This is part of a “Pixel 4a Battery Performance Program.”
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In addition to your phone, Nest smart devices, and Nest display/speakers, Google Home’s presence sensing feature, which aids Home & Away status and Routines, is now testing the ability to use “smart media devices.”
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Google is kicking off a new experiment in Search Labs today called “Daily Listen.” It’s a bit like NotebookLM’s Audio Overviews, while there are also podcast parallels.
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As previewed at I/O 2024 in May, the Gemini overlay on Android is widely rolling out its “Ask about this PDF” integration.
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Following the announcement in December, Google is widely rolling out QR code-based sharing in Quick Share on Android.
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After first being spotted in development in July of 2023, the Gboard for Android beta is beginning to roll out an “Undo” button.
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Back in November, Google redesigned Keep for Android to make note creation a two-step process. Google Keep is now readying a “Create text notes with a single tap” setting.
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Artist pages in YouTube Music have long included a subscriber count that’s very much carried over from the main app, and Google is now testing a new “Monthly Audience Metric.”
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