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 obtained some unhealthy information if you happen to have been holding out hope that this alteration could be a glitch (despite the proof on the contrary). Google has now formally introduced the top of tap-for-notifications performance:
Based mostly in your suggestions, we’re right here to announce that we’ll be making the next modifications to your Google Assistant notifications on Pixel Buds whereas we consider additional modifications to notifications. Assistant will not learn unread notifications when utilizing the press Assistant characteristic. Assistant may also not learn unread notifications robotically and permit you to reply.
To be able to hear notifications, you may activate Google Assistant and say “Learn my notifications.”
We’re nonetheless curious what that suggestions might need appeared 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): Fashionable earbuds are a lot extra than simply tiny audio system perched in our ears, and the great ones supply quite a few methods to straight work together with our telephones, from music playback controls, to these linked to digital assistants. The unique Pixel Buds Professional are a pair years outdated at this level, however have nonetheless been holding up nice — no less than, up to now. However now it seems to be 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 facet (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 simply’re nonetheless in a position to hear your notifications, however simply not in a position to entry them on this method. As an alternative, affected customers want to talk their request aloud to Assistant. And whereas that works in a pinch, it’s a heck of lots 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 very best guesses in the mean time are tied to the forthcoming launch of the Pixel Buds Professional 2 and Google’s rising deal with Gemini. Even with that in thoughts, this alteration 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.