Up to date, September 17, 2024 (03:54 PM ET): It’s been just a few days now since we checked in with Google about this disappearing characteristic, and we’ve bought some unhealthy information in case you had been holding out hope that this variation is perhaps a glitch (despite the proof on the contrary). Google has now formally introduced the tip of tap-for-notifications performance:
Primarily based in your suggestions, we’re right here to announce that we are going to be making the next modifications to your Google Assistant notifications on Pixel Buds whereas we consider additional modifications to notifications. Assistant will now not learn unread notifications when utilizing the press Assistant characteristic. Assistant may even now not learn unread notifications routinely and help you reply.
With a view to hear notifications, you may activate Google Assistant and say “Learn my notifications.”
We’re nonetheless curious what that suggestions may need regarded like, because it’s not usually that we hear about customers requesting the elimination of extant options.
Unique article, September 12, 2024 (01:21 PM ET): Trendy earbuds are a lot extra than simply tiny audio system perched in our ears, and the great ones provide quite a few methods to instantly work together with our telephones, from music playback controls, to these related to digital assistants. The unique Pixel Buds Pro are a pair years outdated at this level, however have nonetheless been holding up great — no less than, up to now. However now it appears to be like like Google could possibly be eradicating one of many key methods these earbuds let customers management their telephones.
Over the previous couple days, Reddit customers like hintze85 and fakeaccountt12345 have been sharing reviews that their Buds have misplaced the flexibility to learn notifications by urgent and holding on the earbud’s aspect (through 9to5Google). And lest we write this off as a glitch, a few of these customers report listening to an audio message informing them that “contact and maintain wont learn notifications anymore.”
What’s weird is that you just’re nonetheless in a position to hear your notifications, however simply now not in a position to entry them on this manner. As a substitute, affected customers want to talk their request aloud to Assistant. And whereas that works in a pinch, it’s a heck of so much much less swish while you’re attempting to be barely extra discreet.
We’ve heard some theories for why Google could possibly be altering this conduct, and the perfect guesses in the intervening time are tied to the forthcoming launch of the Pixel Buds Pro 2 and Google’s growing concentrate on Gemini. Even with that in thoughts, this variation nonetheless seems like a step backward, and not one of the Pixel Buds customers we’ve seen speaking about it on-line appear more than happy with the choice.