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.
After letting I/O 2025 attendees experience it earlier this year, Google is releasing a new AI-powered Androidify app and website. This joins the Android 16 QPR1 launch and September 2025 Pixel Drop.
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Google today is rolling out a major Android 16 QPR1 update to Pixel devices that brings the Material 3 Expressive redesign. It coincides with the September 2025 Feature Drop and security patch.
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Google Messages is addressing how some users do not like the redesigned fullscreen camera + gallery interface by adding a dedicated shortcut to access the latter.
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The Pixel 10 series launched with Android 16 QPR1, and some owners are now seeing a September 2025 security patch update.
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A federal judge today announced what remedies Google faces after the company was found to have a monopoly in online search.
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Google is upgrading Audio Overviews in NotebookLM with three additional formats, like Debate, that provide an alternative to the ever-popular podcast style.
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With the Pixel 10 update, Google introduced a convenient “Read aloud” feature for the Screenshots app.
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After the initial wave of M3 Expressive, the Gmail for Android redesign continues by placing each email in a container.
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In addition to the broader Material 3 Expressive update, Google Drive is redesigning the editor you get after using the document scanner.
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The Google Chrome interface has remained remarkably consistent over the years, and the Android browser is now getting Material 3 Expressive tweaks to match other first-party apps.
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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.
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Following the announcement earlier this month, the Gemini app is widely rolling out “Temporary chat.”
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With the Pixel 10 series, Gboard introduced generative AI-powered Writing tools and a Smart Edit voice experience. All Gboard users are now seeing some visual tweaks, with reorganized settings also coming.
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YouTube Music for Android is testing a rather big navigation change that moves Search to the bottom bar.
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Following the broader Material 3 Expressive redesign last week, the Google Phone app is now more widely rolling out calling cards.
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Since last year, Google Vids has only been available to Workspace customers, and is now rolling out to free users.
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Ahead of the Gemini-powered Coach preview later this year, Fitbit app 4.50 is rolling out with a dark theme on Android and iOS. This is independent of the Material 3 Expressive redesign.
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Google Drive started rolling out Material 3 Expressive earlier this month, with the redesign’s wider availability accompanied by a few more components.
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Google Clock 8.1 is now widely rolling out with a Material 3 Expressive redesign. Meanwhile, the last remaining Pixel apps are also getting their revamps.
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While AI’s chatbot UI and prompt-based nature showcases the natural-language prowess of LLMs, I think a text field is daunting for most people. I see last year’s Pixel 9 Pro as very much belonging to that initial wave of AI features where LLM capabilities are something you seek out by opening an app. In 12 months, Google has more naturally integrated AI into the core Pixel 10 Pro experience.
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The Google Messages redesign started widely rolling out to the stable channel last week, and Material 3 Expressive is now available on the actual chat screen.
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Google has been updating various Android Settings pages with Material 3 Expressive, and the “Backup” redesign brings a rather drastic simplification.
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Back in July, Google detailed a new “System services” page to update background apps that help power your Android device.
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Gmail was one of the first apps to start testing Material 3 Expressive in June and the redesign is now widely rolling out.
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