Pixel Buds/ Google Assistant-powered headphones

sesevans

sesevans

sesevans

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What do you think of the idea of Google Assistant-powered headphones?

In the April release of version 7.0, there was a reference to Bisto, assumed to be a code-name for a new device. With the latest version 7.10, there is reference to Bisto as a device that runs as an Assistant- powered headphone. Could this headphone be launched at the same time as the Pixel 2s? Most believe the Pixel 2s will remove the 3.5 inch headphone jack, so the idea of a smarter device than an Apple AirPod may not seem too wild.

Details so far are scarce. I note some references to a button (to activate Assistant) on a headphones's left earcup suggest an over-the-head (probably wireless) device. Pressing the button would presumably allow you to hear and reply to notifications using your voice.

So the Google "Fall" hardware event may be shaping up to release:

Two Pixel 2s
A new Pixel Chromebook (it has been two years since the first Pixel Chromebook)
A miniature Google Home
An Assistant-powered Headphone

Bottom line: Artificial Intelligence in everything Google introduces now.

https://www.slashgear.com/google-assistant-headphones-revealed-in-code-21496088/
 
I like the idea of Google Assistant-powered headphones, esp if the reported Bluetooth problems are truly fixed in Oreo. With Google made headphones and software, I just see no scope for them to produce a product that does not work spot on.

I was not aware but read today that for Apple AirPods, there is a delay between order and delivery. Until today it was six weeks, then four weeks but has been reduced now to two to three weeks. Clearly the idea of wireless headphones is very popular with the iPhone crowd.
 
They will be rubbish.

Wirelesss headphones are popular on iPhones because they've removed the jack already. Bluetooth is still crappy on Android tbh.
 
Does it actually say they will be bluetooth? :confused: I skimmed but couldn't see it. Anyway, totally not interested. Talking on your phone through headphones already makes you look like a crazy person in public, can you imagine just randomly saying commands whilst on the bus etc? lol.. :o
 
Scam said:
Does it actually say they will be bluetooth? :confused: I skimmed but couldn't see it. Anyway, totally not interested. Talking on your phone through headphones already makes you look like a crazy person in public, can you imagine just randomly saying commands whilst on the bus etc? lol.. :o
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They will be bluetooth especially with the next Pixel dropping the jack.
 
Scam said:
Does it actually say they will be bluetooth? :confused: I skimmed but couldn't see it. Anyway, totally not interested. Talking on your phone through headphones already makes you look like a crazy person in public, can you imagine just randomly saying commands whilst on the bus etc? lol.. :o
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As I mentioned, details are still scarce but early indication of a button on the left earcup of the wireless headphone might indicate that you have the option to issue commands via the headphone bluetooth but you are not obligated to use it? If so that might overcome the problem you describe of looking "like a crazy person in public." FYI, that is becoming less of a problem for many people, in my opinion. Last year, for example, Google announced that more than 20% of all searches now come in to them via voice activation. Since then I imagine that percentage has risen, esp with the arrival of such voice activated devices like Google Home and certainly Google Assistant being available on more than 100 million Android devices globally (and accepting many languages).

According to the code of the 7.10 app, the code reads: "Your headphones have the Google Assistant. Ask it questions. Tell it to do things. It’s your own personal Google, always ready to help."

And according to BGR, "Bisto will let you read your notifications aloud as they come in, and even reply to them without touching your phone." They add:

"The device features at least a couple of buttons, including one that activates Google Assistant: “To talk to me or ask me a question, press and hold the Google Assistant button on the left earcup while talking,” the code says. Bisto can also receive firmware updates, and it comes with an Assistant pairing and setup process."

Seems to me that this would be a really different approach to a Bluetooth headphone that Apple's AirPod and any competing voice assistants from Amazon, Samsung, etc. It is clear that Google is becoming a leading voice activated device architect.
 
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Matteysan said:
They will be rubbish.

Wirelesss headphones are popular on iPhones because they've removed the jack already. Bluetooth is still crappy on Android tbh.
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It absolutely is not. Android 8 finally introduces HD audio over bluetooth, something OEM Android phones have had for many years. Regardless, bluetooth audio has been really good with or without aptX on Android. It's all down to the headphones you have and the phone configuration you have.
 
And?

You said Bluetooth audio on Android is "still crappy", which is is not and there is no evidence to support that it is crappy on Android. There may be some bugs on some Pixel/Nexus handsets, but that doesn't apply to Android as a whole.

I have multiple Android phones from various brands and none of them have any issues with bluetooth.
 
mrk said:
And?

You said Bluetooth audio on Android is "still crappy", which is is not and there is no evidence to support that it is crappy on Android. There may be some bugs on some Pixel/Nexus handsets, but that doesn't apply to Android as a whole.

I have multiple Android phones from various brands and none of them have any issues with bluetooth.
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https://us.community.samsung.com/t5...ers/Galaxy-S8-Bluetooth-Connection/td-p/91240

I can keep linking different sites. But there is issues with bluetooth. Just because you don't experience issues doesn't mean other people don't.

But nope bluetooth is totally fine no issues whatsoever.
 
If there are issues when connecting to certain devices, then sure there may be a compatibility issue between those two devices. That doesn't mean to say the issue is with Android as you point out.The fact that the vast majority have no issues means they are pairing with devices that don't have a compatibility bug.

The way your post sounded, you made it seem like Android as a whole has bluetooth issues that affects everyone, which it does not.
 
I'm sorry but compatibility bugs are issues.

It should just work. My phone doesn't decide not to play audio through my headphones with the jack because there is a compatibility bug with my headphones or crackle & cut out. Having to fart around changing codecs hoping that one of them works, To me that is an issue.

Especially when they are trying to push everyone away from using jacks to Bluetooth. It doesn't affect everyone & I didn't mean it like that at all. But to say there isn't any issues is wrong also.
 
Whilst I empathise, you can't compare the analogue signal of a headphone jack which is standardised and identical on every device, to the pairing/codec/driver issues of Bluetooth which is different for every device involved.

Oreo now supports Aptx so I'll be intrigued to read some peoples experiences with compatible devices, but in terms of the OP, "google-assistant enabled" headphones don't excite me and I doubt they will be particularly high audio quality but I'm happy to be convinced otherwise.
 
Sp00n said:
Whilst I empathise, you can't compare the analogue signal of a headphone jack which is standardised and identical on every device, to the pairing/codec/driver issues of Bluetooth which is different for every device involved.

Oreo now supports Aptx so I'll be intrigued to read some peoples experiences with compatible devices, but in terms of the OP, "google-assistant enabled" headphones don't excite me and I doubt they will be particularly high audio quality but I'm happy to be convinced otherwise.
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I may be way out in front on this one, but I found the news overnight that Walmart, the largest store retailer in the US has decided to join Google Express to combat Amazon, to be intriguing and I wonder if Google voice-assisted shopping will come soon to the UK. As you may know, Google Express is US based only now so for a UK launch, it would involve a big investment here and/or teaming up with other partners. Google must know that voice-assisted shopping on Google Home is a big opportunity and a must-have to combat the one area that Amazon Echo surely beats them currently.

Google is becoming a huge player in voice assistance devices---Google Home, Google Assistant on hundreds of millions of smartphones and perhaps soon Google headphones. So while today we are discussing the main use of headphones (music streaming), I think Google must surely see the potential for another major use--voice assisted shopping.

I expect developments in this space.
 
useful but not vital and i expect it will be way over priced. however in 5 yers time when cheap ones get it.
would be good being able to just say pause/skip/play - change to audible or music and other such things. Or call xxxx
 
Glaucus said:
useful but not vital and i expect it will be way over priced. however in 5 yers time when cheap ones get it.
would be good being able to just say pause/skip/play - change to audible or music and other such things. Or call xxxx
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A few thoughts to share:

1. I use Google Home for music and I can today say pause/skip/play on my music streaming or I can listen to a podcast and say pause/skip/play.
2. Google Home has introduced phone calls in the US and Canada recently and would expect it to arrive here at some point. Unlike Echo which allows you to call only other Echo owners, GH allows you to call anyone on your contact list or local businesses, etc, without using your call data allowance (still prevalent on some packages).
3. Many other new features have arrived on Google Home recently (eg up to 6 different people can train a single GH device to recognise their individual voices so that the calendar events, music collection, etc is for a particular user.
4. Google is expected to introduce a miniature Google Home soon, presumably at a lower price point. One recent poster here said they could buy a Google Home from their company for £ 75 vs the £ 129 list price. A mini-GH might be cheaper and easier to spread more units around your office or home.

Google clearly believes voice activation is coming big-time. More than 20% of all searches on Google are now voice activated. Google Assistant will be built in to many more Google devices---eg reports of a Google Assistant-powered Bluetooth headphone surfaced this week, probably in time for the new Pixel 2s expected to be launched in October.

Voice activated ordering is a small but rapidly growing share of online sales and is one of the major uses, according to press reports I have read, of Alexa used on Amazon Echo devices. Walmart is joining Google's online market place, Google Express, next month, adding hundreds of thousands of products to order. It is a win for both Walmart and Google. Walmart gets access to voice ordering that its customers make on Google Assistant on phones, Google Home and perhaps via the new Google headphone, something it does not have today. Customers will see no difference as Walmart will fulfill orders made through Google Express.

What is in it for Google? Getting voice activation devices rapidly scaled up but more importantly this: Wal-Mart said it will share consumers' purchase history with Google to enable users to quickly reorder items, a primary function of voice-controlled orders for commodity shopping--eg, your staples like paper towels, toilet paper, soap, detergent, nappies, etc. All of a sudden, Amazon will have some real competition.

Bottom line: I expect big changes in this space in much less than the 5 years you suggest.
 
sesevans said:
Bottom line: I expect big changes in this space in much less than the 5 years you suggest.
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thats not what i said, i said that in 5 years the cost of such a head phone would be far cheaper. look how expensive the pixels are a google built headphone will also be insanely expensive.
 
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