The Waymo app for hailing autonomous vehicles in Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Francisco, and more cities in the future is getting a bit simpler today.
Expand Expanding CloseWaymo app simplifies bottom bar, adds Liquid Glass
Author
Send tips/talk to abner@9to5mac.com or @technacity (open DMs).
Abner Li has worked at NewGeekGuide 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 NewGeekGuide 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.
What’s new in Android’s December 2025 Google System Updates [U]
The monthly “Google System Release Notes” primarily detail what’s new in Play services, Play Store, and Play system update across Android phones/tablets, Wear OS, Google/Android TV, Auto, and PC. Some features apply to end users, while others are aimed at developers.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle explains Gemini in Chrome’s agentic browsing security, protections
With Gemini in Chrome and the upcoming availability of agentic capabilities, Google is detailing how the browser will protect against threats.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle and Apple partner on better Android-iPhone switching
The latest Android Canary build is available today and it features work by Apple and Google to make switching between Android and iPhone devices easier.
Expand Expanding CloseGalaxy XR adding ‘PC Connect’ for Windows apps and games, Google ‘Likeness’ avatars
After launching in October, Google is rolling out a suite of new Android XR features for Samsung’s Galaxy XR, led by PC Connect.
Expand Expanding CloseHands-on: Google Glass is now real with ‘monocular’ Android XR glasses coming in 2026
After demoing Android XR glasses for the first time in December 2024, my takeaway was that rumors about how Google was behind in augmented reality were greatly exaggerated, if not outright wrong. A year later, Google is on the verge of releasing “AI glasses” with a display in 2026 and they fully realize the vision of Google Glass.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Store’s final 2025 Pixel deals, boosted trade-ins are here
After ending their Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales, the Google Store has posted its final offers for the 2025 holiday season on Pixel devices.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Store Black Friday 2025: Pixel 10 Pro discounts end today
The Google Store has kicked off its 2025 Black Friday deals, with these Pixel offers available until December 2-6.
Expand Expanding CloseWhat Google Messages features are rolling out [December 2025]
Like most Google apps, Messages A/B tests many features. However, it takes the RCS/SMS client a rather long time to actually launch these capabilities in stable even after they are announced. From various reports, Google itself, and devices we’ve checked, this is the current state of Messages.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Play Books is celebrating its 15th birthday
Google today is celebrating the 15th birthday of Play Books. The service started as “Google eBooks” on December 6, 2010.
Expand Expanding CloseChrome Autofill getting two-line design on Android, Google Wallet integration, more
Google is rolling out a number of updates to Chrome Autofill, including Google Wallet integration and a slightly better design on Android.
Expand Expanding ClosePixel Watch rolling out always-on Media Controls, Timer, & Stopwatch
With Wear OS 6, Google promised “more consistent always-on behavior” (AOD), and the Pixel Watch is starting to do this across three key experiences, including the Timer app.
Expand Expanding ClosePhone by Google shrinking bottom bar to match Material 3 Expressive
Besides announcing Call Reason this week, Phone by Google is testing a shorter bottom bar to comply with Material 3 Expressive.
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Bug: Pixel Launcher device search replaced by Google app
A curious bug today sees Google app device search replace the modern Pixel Launcher experience.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Fi’s Messages for web and RCS will work offline in the future
Google today officially detailed the new Fi Web Calls & Messages that started rolling out yesterday. The MVNO acknowledges that there are a “few changes to how things work under the hood.”
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Wallet rolling out nearby notifications, flight check-in alerts
Following the announcement at I/O 2025 in May, Google Wallet is letting users set up nearby pass notifications.
Expand Expanding CloseNotebookLM app adds built-in camera for image sources
Google has rolled out a new camera to the NotebookLM app that lets you quickly upload images and use them as sources.
Expand Expanding CloseFourth Google Store opening of 2025 happening this Friday
As of this coming Friday, Google will have opened four retail locations in 2025. Google Store Georgetown is coming tomorrow to serve the Washington, DC area.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Messages rolling out big photo viewer redesign
After testing earlier this year, Google Messages is now rolling out a big redesign and modernization of its photo viewer.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle rolling out Gemini 3 Deep Think to AI Ultra
After previewing last month with the launch of Gemini 3 Pro, the new Deep Think mode is now available for Google AI Ultra subscribers.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Recorder update brings ‘Create music’ to Pixel 9, more
Google is rolling out the latest update to Pixel Recorder and it brings “Create music” to the Pixel 9 series, as well as other interface tweaks.
Expand Expanding CloseThis is how Google Fi’s new Web Calls and RCS system works, rolling out now
Back in October, Google said Fi Wireless would “update web calls and messages.” This works by introducing a new Google Fi Web Calls page, while RCS is now handled by Google Messages for web.
Expand Expanding CloseContinuous Circle to Search translation comes to Pixel after Samsung exclusivity
As part of yesterday’s Android 16 QPR2 launch and new features drop, Google is ending Samsung’s exclusivity on continuous Circle to Search translations.
Expand Expanding CloseGemini gets web redesign with new dark theme, ‘My Stuff’ folder
Following Android and iOS last month, the Gemini web app is getting its redesign, with Google aiming for a “clean, modern look.”
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