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.
Since launch, Gemini on iOS has been part of the Google (Search) app. That’s about to change with at least one iPhone user today spotting a standalone “Google Gemini” app on the App Store that also lets you access Gemini Live.
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Earlier this week, Google Keep for Android replaced its bottom bar with a FAB (floating action button). It’s objectively a small design change, but I’m certainly feeling it every time I open the app to create a new note.
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In developing the Tensor G6 for the Pixel 11 series, Google talks about problems users have had in past generations, with battery life unsurprisingly playing a role.
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Beginning in 2023, Google started raising the price of YouTube Premium. Most saw the increase immediately, but there were some exceptions. The early adopter (grandfathered) price for what’s now YouTube Premium is going away soon.
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After offering basic themes, Google Slides now has templates that “help users build presentations much faster.”
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Ahead of the main offer at month’s end, the US Google Store has some Pre-Black Friday 2024 deals on the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Pixel Watch 3, and Pixel Buds Pro 2.
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Google has rolled out a number of small tweaks to the Gemini app UI in recent weeks, and the latest changes the dark theme on the web.
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After replacing “Library” with the “Collections” tab in August, the next notable change to Google Photos is an “Updates” feed in place of “Sharing.”
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Last month, YouTube announced a host of new features. After the new miniplayer and settings revamp, YouTube is rolling out the fine-tunable redesign of playback speed controls in the Android and iOS app.
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Following the April announcement and testing in June, Google Vids is now generally available for Google Workspace tiers.
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After three generations of the Pixel Watch, the Google Store is selling the first watch band from a third-party manufacturer.
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Google’s Data Restore Tool lets you migrate information when setting up a new Android device and it has now been renamed to “Android Switch.”
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As previewed back at I/O 2024 in May, Google is beginning to roll out the Gemini Utilities Extension that can “control your Android mobile device & apps.”
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After adding Magic Rewrite to the grid of shortcuts, Google Messages is testing giving Magic Compose a more prominent position and button that is always visible.
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Google updated Call Screen with contextual replies last December, and the Pixel Phone app is now readying “AI Replies” powered by large language models.
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With the Android 15 November security patch, the Pixel 9, 9 Pro, 9 Pro XL, and 9 Pro Fold are getting their next update with several fixes.
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Following the stable release last month, the first update to Android 15 is rolling out with the November security patch for the Pixel 6, 6 Pro, 6a, 7, 7 Pro, 7a, Tablet, Fold, 8, 8 Pro, 8a, 9, 9 Pro, 9 Pro XL, and 9 Pro Fold.
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Compared to phones and even wearables, it’s less important what version of Android your smart TV is running (as long as it receives regular security patches). For its part, Google is reportedly switching to a biannual release cycle for Android TV big updates.
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Google has yet to roll out the November 2024 update for Pixel devices, but Verizon this evening has detailed what’s coming and it’s a more sizable release for the Pixel 9 series.
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A Google Keep redesign on Android today simplifies the bottom portion of the app by introducing a new FAB (floating action button), much like Google Tasks earlier this year.
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As it tends to do new products, Google is emailing some owners a feedback survey about their experience with Pixel Buds Pro 2.
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An update to Pixel Screenshots is rolling out with a number of UI tweaks, like doing away with the “All screenshots” view.
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In the smallest of tweaks, the Google app’s Song Search shortcut has a new, modernized icon.
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Over the past day or so, some Pixel owners have encountered an issue where Google Play services says it’s “not supported by your device.”
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