Latest news with #LilKatz
Android Authority
20 hours ago
- Android Authority
Google Pixel Buds 2a leak suggests price hike could be on the cards
Lil Katz / Android Authority TL;DR A reliable website has revealed more Pixel Buds 2a renders and apparent European pricing. The images give us a closer look at the earbuds and charging case. The Pixel Buds 2a will apparently start at €149 in Europe, making it significantly more expensive than the original model. Google is expected to launch the Pixel Buds 2a alongside the Pixel 10 phones on August 20. We've already seen specs and a few images showing off the earbuds, but a new leak has revealed more details. WinFuture has posted a series of renders showing off the Pixel Buds 2a. The images show the earbuds in Gray and 'Iris' color options. Check out a few of the renders below. The outlet's images give us a more detailed view of the earbuds, revealing a printed Google logo instead of the imprints seen on the Pro earbuds. We also get a good look at the charging case, which has a similar oval shape to the Pixel Buds Pro 2 case and features a gray or blue line around the lid. As for pricing, the website notes that the Pixel Buds 2a will start at €149 (~$174) in Europe. By comparison, the original Pixel Buds A earbuds started at €99 (~$116) in the region. So the new earbuds could see a significant price hike in at least one market. Otherwise, a previous leak suggests that the Pixel Buds 2a will offer active noise cancelation and seven hours of playback (or 20 hours with a case). Don't expect the case to offer wireless charging support, though. Follow
Android Authority
01-07-2025
- Android Authority
These Google Nest speakers are getting three new voices
Lil Katz / Android Authority TL;DR Google's Nest smart speakers with Gemini-backed Google Assistant are getting new voices. The three new voices are also named after plants, as were the seven previously made available by Google in December 2024. Gemini-powered Google Assistant is still an experimental feature, available only in the US. Google's ongoing mission to replace the traditional Google Assistant with Gemini has largely been limited to Android phones. Other devices, such as smart speakers and other Nest devices, are also in the fold, but the enhancements have been voluntary. Back in December 2024, Google enabled Gemini-backed responses on Nest devices as an experimental feature and is now adding small enhancements to entice more users to jump on board. Google has recently been testing new voices for Google Assistant responses powered by Gemini on Nest speakers. Spotted by 9to5Google, the following new voices add to the previously released seven, bumping the count to ten: Yarrow with a deeper, warm voice, with a deeper, warm voice, Croton with a deeper, smooth voice, and with a deeper, smooth voice, and Pilea with a higher, bright voice. As with the last set of improved voices for Google Assistant, the new ones also follow plant-based naming. Since these voices are also backed by Gemini, they sound more natural and less robotic than the four pre-Gemini era voices, namely Red, Orange, Amber, and Green. Based on the preview shared by 9to5Google, these new voices sound calmer and seem to have a slower rhythm compared to the previous options. How to enable Gemini-powered Google Assistant on Nest speakers Along with more natural voices, Gemini magic in Google Assistant offers diverse responses with more context. However, since this feature is voluntary, it must be turned on. Here are the steps to activate Gemini's responses on Nest smart speakers: Open the Google Home app on your phone or tablet, and tap the yellow conical flask icon on the top right. If you haven't already done so, tap Join Public Preview to access Gemini features. Toggle on 'Experimental AI features.' Return to the previous screen and tap the Settings icon at the bottom right. Tap Assistant voice & sounds, where you should see the new voices; you can choose one of them. Since these features are part of Google's experimental roll-out, they may not be available for everyone. Additionally, this test is limited to the US and only for English language, so don't be disheartened if you can't access the new voices just yet. To learn more, visit our detailed guide on how to try out Gemini-enhanced Google Assistant on Nest devices. Meanwhile, Google also has other plans to use Gemini and enhance your Google Home experience from smart devices, such as smart tags, doorbells, thermostats, etc. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
Android Authority
28-05-2025
- Business
- Android Authority
Older Galaxy Buds models get the deeper integration they deserve with One UI 8
Lil Katz / Android Authority TL;DR One UI 8 adds deeper integration for Samsung's older earbuds. Users can now control sound settings for their older Galaxy earbuds through Quick Settings. This tighter integration doesn't appear to work for the Galaxy Buds Live yet. When One UI 7 was released, it introduced a bevy of changes to Galaxy phones, including deeper Galaxy Buds integration to the Quick Settings panel. However, this integration only worked with the Galaxy Buds 3 and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro. Now it looks like this support is no longer exclusive to Samsung's latest earbuds with One UI 8. If you own a Galaxy S25 series device and are a part of the beta program, you should see the One UI 8 beta waiting for you. Samsung has now opened up testing in several countries, including the US. While checking out what changes One UI 8 brings to the table, we noticed the update adds deeper integration for older Galaxy Buds models. Instead of thumbing through layers of settings within the Galaxy Wearable app to adjust your sound modes, you can now access them by heading to the Quick Settings panel. Additionally, other controls have been added directly into your phone's Settings. Unfortunately, this support doesn't extend to all older models, as we have found that deeper integration has yet to be added for the Galaxy Buds Live. When the One UI 7 beta introduced audio controls to the revised Quick Settings panel, it was a surprise that there was only support for the Galaxy Buds 3 and Pro. It was assumed that Samsung would add support for older models in a later One UI 7 update. But it looks like we're finally getting the missing support in One UI 8. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
