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Abner Li

technacity

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.

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Over-the-ear headphones with cameras as a stopgap AR form factor

Skullcandy Riff wireless headphones

Display-less smart glasses with a camera will probably be the most imminent form factor for augmented reality. The world-facing camera and other electronics will only get smaller so they’ll probably approach regular — albeit of a thicker style — frames sooner than later. It’s not hard to imagine existing wearers of glasses to switch and get the benefits of an always-ready camera for both pictures and visual search queries (Google Lens), as well as headphones.

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