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 the announcement in December, Google is now rolling out Android’s Identity Check security feature to Pixel devices. It’s also coming to “One UI 7 eligible Galaxy devices in the coming weeks.”
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In addition to multi-Extension prompts and Live conversations with media, Google made a handful of Samsung-specific Gemini announcements with the Galaxy S25 launch yesterday, like launching with the side button.
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To “accelerate” Android XR development, Google announced this evening that it “signed an agreement to welcome some of the HTC VIVE engineering team to Google.”
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Announced alongside the Galaxy S25 and new Gemini features, the Circle to Search redesign is beginning to roll out today.
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There was a big Google presence at the Galaxy S25 launch event this morning. Google is now specifically telling Pixel 9 owners (and prospective buyers) about what new Gemini AI features they are set to get.
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Last year, Google TV lost the ability to purchase all television shows. In recent weeks, we’ve noticed that Google TV is no longer letting you buy certain movies.
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As part of Samsung’s Galaxy S25 launch, Google announced the latest Android, Circle to Search, and Gemini app features.
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ChromeOS 132 started rolling out last week, and Google has just now posted the changelog.
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It’s not the dream of a full bundle, but some Google One subscribers will soon get a discount on YouTube Premium in the US. Meanwhile, YouTube is starting to test a handful of new features that subscribers can opt-in to.
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Google has partnered with Samsung on a “Galaxy Watch for Kids” experience that is rolling out starting today and will be available in the “coming weeks.”
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At the BETT 2025 education show, Google today announced the latest education and Chromebook features.
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Android 15 QPR2 Beta 3 rolled out to Pixel devices yesterday with some changes ahead of the stable launch in March.
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Back in December, Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking was announced as Google’s first reasoning model and an updated experimental version is now available to test.
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Google is rolling out Android 15 QPR2 Beta 3 this afternoon to Pixel devices, and the biggest user-facing change is the removal of the globe icon in the bottom-right corner when you only have one keyboard/language set.
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Putting cameras in earbuds serves as an interesting stopgap or alternative to smart glasses, with Apple, Meta, and Samsung rumored to be working on this form factor.
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Ahead of the stable launch in March, Google is rolling out Android 15 QPR2 Beta 3 for Pixel devices.
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In a situation similar to the Pixel 4a earlier this month, Fitbit today announced a “Sense and Versa 3 Battery Performance Program” software update.
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Last year, Google Maps on Android was revamped so that the main map view displayed information using sheets, and the entire app is now getting this visual redesign.
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Last October, Google greatly simplified the Gemini app on mobile. With the overlay redesign on Android, the Gemini homepage continues to get simpler.
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A small bug with the latest beta version of Google Messages for Android removes the Magic Compose button for some users. This is not the first time this has happened.
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Codenames for the Pixel 11 have already emerged, with Google opting for a bear theme in 2026. Meanwhile, Google might apparently use Tensor G4 on the Pixel 10a as a possible cost-cutting measure.
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Google has been slowly rolling out a redesign of Gemini overlay on Android and more beta users are now seeing it as of Monday morning.
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The Android 16 Beta for Pixel devices is scheduled to start in January and some key dates have emerged. Compared to previous years, Android 16 is set to arrive in Q2 of 2025 (instead of Q3), with Google moving up the first Developer Preview from February to November.
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Following the announcement by Samsung at the start of 2025, Google earlier this week shared more details about Eclipsa Audio.
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