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.
Since December, I’ve been under the impression that Galaxy XR would be Samsung hardware and Google software (like a modern day Google Play edition). That is not the case, with the first Android XR headset fully themed with Samsung’s One UI.
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Alongside the series of announcements earlier this week, Google Fi made official HD calling. Its absence has been a long-standing and noticeable complaint from subscribers.
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The YouTube family of apps have their own design language, and the latest change is an updated icon set that is widely rolling out to YouTube Music.
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Besides seeing your status in the top-right corner, Play Points can now be viewed in Google Wallet for Android.
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The Google Store is making it easier to replace lost Pixel Buds Pro 2 or Pixel Buds 2a components.
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Alongside the headset launch today, Samsung also teased glasses powered by Android XR as it works on multiple extended reality form factors.
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After previewing last December as Project Moohan, the Samsung Galaxy XR is now available as the first headset running Google’s new Android XR operating system.
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After widely rolling out the “Font size” setting last week, the latest Gboard for Android update lets you hide the period and comma keys.
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Google Fi is getting a series of notable updates in the coming weeks that improve messaging, browsing, and calling, with Google AI playing a role.
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Following the rebrand this year, the Find Hub app has reached over 1 billion downloads on Google Play.
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Following the Material 3 Expressive redesign earlier this month, Google Wallet will be adopting Android 16’s Live Updates “for key travel journeys.”
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Following last week’s release, Android 16 QPR2 Beta 3.1 is rolling out as a patch for Pixel devices that failed to boot if “Enable desktop experience features” was enabled before installing.
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After restarting the program last October, the US Google Store is now selling a refurbished Pixel 8, while details about the Pixel 8 Pro are here.
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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.
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Gemini is cleaning up its apps, previously known as extensions, for more direct integrations that don’t require invoking @YouTube or @Google Maps.
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The account menu was the last non-Material 3 Expressive aspect of Google Messages and it has now been updated.
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As announced alongside the Pixel 10 launch, Gemini Live is more widely rolling out native audio output for a “more responsive and expressive conversation” on Android.
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Ahead of Gemini for Home early access coming at the end of October, Google is rolling out a firmware update that brings new light colors to the Nest Audio and Mini.
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After debuting on the Pixel 10 (version 10.0), Google is rolling out the Pixel Camera 10.1 update to older devices with a handful of Material 3 Expressive tweaks.
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Ahead of International Repair Day this week, Google Stores are marking the occasion with a “special offer” on a limited number of out-of-warranty Pixel repairs.
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As of Wednesday afternoon (PT), most users cannot watch YouTube videos, with various playback errors popping up.
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Android 16 QPR2 is a big quarterly update coming in December, with Beta 3 rolling out today for Pixel devices.
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The Android 16 Beta Program should be nearing completion with QPR2 Beta 3 for Google Pixel devices now available.
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Besides a pill-shaped tweak for the Suggestion strip, Gboard’s next visual change is a dedicated keyboard Font size setting.
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