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.
Chrome Tab Groups can already be saved across signed-in desktops, but Google will soon sync them with your mobile devices. Meanwhile, Tabs Groups are now available on iOS.
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Ahead of the Google TV Streamer launching later this month, the next Chromecast with Google TV update (July 2024) is rolling out. While Google is no longer manufacturing new dongles, they will remain on sale until inventory runs out, while software updates continue.
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Google is rolling out Pixel Camera 9.5 for Wear OS beyond the Pixel Watch 3 with a handful of usability updates.
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At the end of May, Google Messages officially announced the ability to edit RCS messages, and editing is now finally seeing wider availability.
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Ahead of the launch tomorrow, Google has released factory images for the Pixel Watch 3.
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As an avowed lover of small watches, Google’s decision to start at 41mm in 2022 has been ideal. However, towards the end of my time with the Pixel Watch 2, the thick bezels around the screen started to feel constraining and just plain old. The Pixel Watch 3 (41mm) came just in time to remedy that, while really emphasizing its Fitbit DNA.
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Back in August, the Google app’s Search bar widget on Android was updated with Dynamic Color but at the expense of other options being removed, and a customizable shortcut is now being tested.
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After Mark as played for podcast episodes and Sound Search, YouTube Music is rolling out a redesign of artist pages on Android and iOS.
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At the start of this year, Google added body temperature support to the Pixel Thermometer app in the US, with an expansion to Europe now set to arrive.
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For some in Europe, Google has emailed a €100 discount code for the Pixel Watch 3.
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The Pixel Watch 3 officially launches on September 10, but more than a few people in the US have received theirs already or are getting them a day or two early.
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Last month, Google announced that it would be upgrading the personal video calling experience in Meet, and a new UI for everyone is now rolled out on Android.
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There are a handful of ways that Google Messages on Android signals you’re having an RCS conversation, and the app is now testing a small change to the primary indicator.
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With the Pixel 9 series, Google finally offers a standalone Weather app. All-in-all, it’s pretty good, and I hope there’s more on the way.
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Gemini Advanced today is letting users give out three 4-month trials to the subscription.
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For the past few months, Google Play has been heavily promoting its Play Points loyalty program, with the latest example being at Zedd In The Park and with Playground.
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In July, Google announced the Play Store’s new “Collections” feature, and the widget is now widely rolling out in the US.
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Google apps started adding animated splash screens in 2021 with Android 12, and YouTube Music now finally has one.
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After redesigning its Android widgets earlier this year, Pocket Casts is getting transcripts and the ability to create and share an interesting section of a podcast as a video/audio clip.
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Google has made a change to how you enable the “Hey Google” hotword and Voice Match on Pixel Buds and other Assistant headphones.
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Google is working on a redesign of Quick Settings that might launch with Android 16.
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Besides Private space, Android 15 lacks marquee user-facing additions, but there are a handful of tweaks and changes that I’m still eager to have.
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The 2nd-generation Pixel Stand is listed as “no longer available” across Google Stores around the world.
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Back in November, Google Drive introduced a new homepage on the web, and the latest design lets you simultaneously see suggested folders and files.
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