After being part of the Google (Search) application since February, Gemini is now its own standalone app on the iPhone.
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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.
After being part of the Google (Search) application since February, Gemini is now its own standalone app on the iPhone.
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Ahead of the holiday season, Google Maps is rolling out a handful of new features, like reporting transit delays.
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If you have Private Space enabled on Android 15, Google is aware of “some known issues you may experience when you use a Wear OS watch.”
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The Gemini side panel on the Gmail website now works with Google Calendar after initially integrating Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides.
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After demoing at I/O 2024 in May, Google is rolling out real-time Scam Detection for phone calls on Pixel devices.
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The modernization of the Fitbit app continues with a redesign of the Weight stats page and logging experience, while Google is working on a new “Sleep Lab.”
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Ahead of the holidays, Google is rolling out an update to the Fitbit Ace LTE that adds two new types of chats and other features to the app.
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In a change to the usual release cadence, Google said yesterday that the next Pixel Watch update is not coming until March 2025.
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Now that the “pre-” Store deals have ended, Google is detailing its Black Friday 2024 discounts, including for the Pixel 9 Pro, that start on Thursday, November 21 in the US.
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Gems, or custom instances of Gemini focused at specific tasks, can now incorporate files in their instructions for “more tailored and contextually relevant responses.”
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In addition to “AI Camera Search” with clip descriptions, Google today detailed other upcoming Home app features, like a redesign of media controls.
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After pulling Wear OS 5 for older devices in September and not releasing anything last month, Google is rolling out latest Pixel Watch, Pixel Watch 2, and Pixel Watch 3 update with the November 2024 security patch today.
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Google today is rolling out Android 15 QPR2 Beta 1 for Pixel devices.
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With Android 15 QPR2 Beta 1, Google is overhauling Do Not Disturb with customizable “Modes.” You can “Minimize distractions and take control of your attention with modes for sleep, work, driving, and everything in between.”
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As teased in August, Gemini is coming to Google Home, starting with “AI Camera Search” and “Help Me Create.”
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While we wait for the stable QPR1 release in December, Android 15 QPR2 Beta 1 is here for Pixel devices.
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Google pulled Wear OS 5 for the Pixel Watch and Pixel Watch 2 in September, but updates look set to resume, including for the Pixel Watch 3, today.
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Back in March, Waymo began opening up to the public in LA. The autonomous Waymo One service is now available to “anyone in Los Angeles.”
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With version 131, Chrome for iOS is picking up a handful of new integrations with other Google services like Drive and Maps. Most are already available in the Android browser.
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As announced at the end of last month, Gemini’s Google Home Extension is now seeing wider availability this week.
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Following the other three phones in the series two months ago, repair parts — including the inner screen — for the Pixel 9 Pro Fold are now listed on iFixit.
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If you updated Google Photos today and something looks different on your Pixel, it’s because Google went from a transparent status bar to a translucent one.
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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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Earlier this year, Google Maps started showing the weather in the top-left corner, but that’s now being moved to another part of the Android app.
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