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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.
Google Meet is joining Gmail, Messages, and Phone in getting Material 3 Expressive, though it’s a slightly smaller — ironically — redesign than Google’s other communication apps.
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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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Google is redesigning the Account switcher that appears in the top-right corner of every first-party app to be a fullscreen experience instead of a floating window that preserves context.
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Google Drive has rolled out a pair of redesigns to the Android app that modernizes the file upload experience and video player.
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Ahead of the Google Assistant deprecation later in 2025, the Gemini app on Android can now identify songs with help from Google Search.
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The Phone by Google app is getting an all-encompassing Material 3 Expressive redesign that also adds “Horizontal swipe” or “Single tap” options for answering calls. Like Google Messages, this is beginning to roll out to the beta channel.
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Besides the new navigation drawer and 2.5 Pro going stable, the Gemini app is rolling out video upload and analysis. This lets you add a clip to your prompt.
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Google has now rolled out the redesigned Pixel Launcher search bar (in the US) and new Gemini launch animation (for everyone) to Android 16 QPR1 Beta 2 users.
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Following last week’s announcement, Google Messages is widely rolling out features like “Snooze notifications” and “Delete for everyone” to the stable channel.
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Last week, a “Magic Cue” capability for the Pixel 10 leaked, and Gboard today revealed upcoming “Pixel Sense” integration.
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Following the announcement in early June, Google is more widely rolling out Scheduled Actions to the Gemini app on Android.
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Google Fi Wireless has a new offer that discounts both a Pixel 9 and your monthly plan for 24 months.
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Following the I/O 2025 announcement and early availability for some, Google is now letting AI Mode users test Search Live with voice input.
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Google is rolling out a small update to the Clock app — version 7.14 — on Android that makes a pair of visual tweaks. It follows the last release in April.
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For some, the Google Drive scanner is how they digitize documents and receipts, and the Android app is testing a change that makes it more prominent.
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Google Maps is beta testing a Material 3 Expressive redesign of its watch app ahead of Wear OS 6.
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After opening the last one in May, a new Google Store is coming to Miami later this year.
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After first testing in April, YouTube Music is now widely rolling out lyrics sharing on Android and iOS.
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Waymo One is expanding in California across its three existing service areas: San Francisco Bay Area, Silicon Valley, and Los Angeles.
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The design of the Google app has gotten nicer as of late thanks to AI Mode, and another modernization sees the Discover feed go edge-to-edge.
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Following the first preview three months ago, Google is ready to launch Gemini 2.5 Pro and make the reasoning model generally available (GA) for consumers and developers.
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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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Historically, the Google Messages beta offers a stable experience, but there’s currently a bug that crashes the app when trying to share images and links.
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The latest release notes — version 3.33 — for the Google Home app on Android and iOS are now available.
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