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, and Chrome/OS.
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 up-and-coming 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.
Another big area of interest is Google’s burgeoning hardware division. He detailed all of the Pixel 3’s camera features before launch and got wind of Stadia’s hardware controller. Most recently, Abner scooped the 2nd-generation Nest Hub’s Soli-powered Sleep Sensing capability and how it would integrate with Google Fit.
Send tips/talk to abner@9to5mac.com or @technacity (open DMs).
While Apple is rumored to announce a Siri Speaker at WWDC aimed as a high-end Echo competitor, Amazon is readying an Alexa device with a built-in display. In a leaked image, the new device is more monolithic, featuring a touchscreen and possibly a camera.
Google Maps is adding a small, but very useful feature that lets users save where they parked. Available on both iOS and Android, the feature can also provide reminders for when your parking meter is about to expire.
Apple Music for Android has received a huge revamp today to match the release of iOS 10 for iPhone and iPad last September. That redesign is now making its way to the streaming service’s Android app. The interface is nearly identical with features like iOS 10-specific features including lyrics and an improved Library available on Android for the first time.
With a focus on parts of the world that have slower connectivity, Google updated Photos today to have faster backup and sharing, while the Duo video chatting app received an audio-only mode.
With the launch of Allo and Duo last year, Google telegraphed that Hangouts would become an enterprise product. Today, the service is being fully revamped into Hangouts Chat and Hangouts Meet. The former is a Slack-like group chat app, while the latter improves video conferencing.
YouTube has finally announced its long-rumored online television service that doesn’t require a cable subscription. Known simply as YouTube TV, it features local broadcast networks and channels like ESPN for $35 a month.
Update: The redesigned Google Voice app is now available on the App Store.
Back in 2009, Google launched an ambitious voice-forwarding service that allowed users to maintain one number across multiple devices. Today, Google Voice received its first major update in years that sees a redesigned web interface, iOS app, and the promise of continued updates.
With the addition of intelligent Goals last year, Google Calendar became more than just a regular scheduling and to-do app. Today, the iOS app is gaining Apple Health integration that will automatically mark as finished and adjust your fitness-related Goals.
Following new features for Google’s other photo apps this morning, Motion Stills is getting a major update that allows you to add text that tracks an object in a video, super-resolution videos, and automatic cinemagraphs.
According to a number of sources, Fitbit is on the verge of acquiring smartwatch maker Pebble. The deal comes as both companies are facing declining fortunes in the wearable industry. Notably, this acquisition will reportedly see the Pebble brand phased out.
Pokémon Go’s popularity has significantly declined since its summer release. Most updates have been minor, with Niantic hosting in-game events that let players collect more points. While a ‘Nearby’ feature has been highly requested, the current revision that’s now seeing a wider rollout has also been significantly curbed.
Google Photos is getting a number of updates today that improve the editing experience through machine learning and more manual controls. Additionally, a standalone PhotoScan app for iOS allows you to digitize your old physical prints with just your phone’s camera.
At $6000, the Google Jamboard is clearly aimed at enterprise customers who want a unified real-time collaboration solution. However, the more interesting collaboration software that runs on the 55-inch 4K touchscreen will also be available through companion iOS phone and tablet apps.
Similar to Chrome, an update to the Google app for iOS today adds a new incognito mode that prevents search or browsing history from being saved. Other features include native playback of YouTube videos, improved iOS 10 compatibility, and performance improvements that reduce crash rates by 50%.
Announced over the weekend, the latest version of Pokémon Go with the new Buddy feature is rolling out now. Version 1.7.0 for iOS includes many bug fixes and support for the Pokémon Go Plus accessory, but also disables the game on jailbroken devices.
Back in June, Google released a Motion Stills app that removes shakes from iOS Live Photos and turns them into easily shareable GIFs and movies. That functionality is now built into Google Photos 2.0 with more sharing options and a number of other tweaks.
A report earlier claimed that Pokémon Go usage is in decline from its fever pitched height two months ago. Direct battling and trading might spark a revival in the game, but so far Niantic is still focused on international expansion and stability. Version 1.5.0 on iOS adds a new Pokémon appraisal feature, minor fixes, and the promise of new features.
In May, Google circulated a draft proposal to effectively kill Adobe Flash by blocking the plugin and prioritizing HTML5 by the end of the year. The company is going ahead with that plan to “de-emphasize” Flash with a staged disabling of the plug-in through multiple versions of Chrome.
Version 1.3 of Pokémon Go is rolling out on iOS and brings a few minor features and fixes to the hit game. Most notably, users now have the ability to change their username once and a bug that prevented bonus XP from throws has been resolved.
Version 52 of Google Chrome is now rolling out to all users via Google’s stable channel with the usual bug fixes and security patches. For Mac, the update notably adds Material Design to the browser’s top bar and other UI elements. Other changes include removing the ability to use the backspace key as a return shortcut.
Update 7/6: Pokémon GO is now officially live in the US App Store. Click here to view the listing and download.
Update: While the game is not yet available in the US, those in Australia can download the app here. In a statement, the Pokémon Company tells US and Japanese customers to “please wait for a while” for the formal launch.
After a brief field test in May, Pokémon GO is now available on iOS. The game, which was produced in partnership with Ingress-makers Niantic Labs allows users to collect, train, and battle Pokémon characters in an augmented reality world. Initially, the game appears to be limited to the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. It’s also now available on Android.
Google’s latest photography app — following behind others such as Google Photos and Snapseed — stabilizes iOS Live Photos and turns them into shareable GIFs and short movie clips. The app can create still images by freezing the background of a Live Photo and makes short videos that feature sweeping cinematic pans. The free Motion Stills app comes to us from Google Research and is only available on iOS…
Update: The Spaces app is now live in the App Store and on the web.
Google can’t seem to stop making social networks and messaging apps. In fairness, the just announced Spaces app is referred to as a tool for small group sharing. While similar to the Communities feature that Google+ is now built around, the new app seems like a much more focused version of group messaging that better highlights content.
