Google Pixel Buds show up in Find My Device app

Small earbuds like the Google Pixel Buds tend to get lost. Thankfully, it looks like you might be able to keep track of them soon. The second-generation wireless earphones show up on the Find My Device app for a lot of Pixel Buds owners. According to 9to5Google, logging into Find My Device on Android or the web will list connected Pixel Buds. 

As it exists now, the integration shows what phone they were "last seen connected to" and the time and date. It's shown against a map with a pin showing a generic headphones icon against a gray background. If you wanted to try the "find device" query on Google Search, it doesn't work right now. Location integration isn't showing up in the Pixel Buds app under the Find device menu, either. 

An upcoming update might bring these features all together soon. For now, we're getting a taste of what to expect. And as far as functions go, this integration is a useful one.

Pixel Buds 2: Google's first truly wireless earbuds

One of the new products unveiled at Google's recent event is the second-generation Pixel Buds. This time, it can genuinely be called a wireless set that promises hands-free access to Google Assistant. It's set to land in the Spring of 2020 for US$179 (around CA$235). But we have no confirmation yet if these earbuds will make their way here. 

The Pixel Buds join a continually growing market with the likes of the Apple AirPods 2, Microsoft Surface Earbuds, and Amazon Echo Buds, to name a few. But what Google hopes to offer with the Pixel Buds 2 is better integration with Google Assistant. 

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Real-time Google Translate coming to all Google Assistant-enabled headphones

One of the nifty Google Pixel exclusives is coming to more Android devices. Google updated the support page for the Pixel Buds to say that the real-time translation, which was an exclusive for the Pixel Buds paired with a Google Pixel phone, is coming to all Google Assistant-enabled headphones and Android devices. According to Droid Life, the change doesn’t seem surprising as the LG Tone SE and the Type-C Pixel earbuds that come with the Pixel 3 both have support for the feature.

Right now, there aren’t a lot of Google Assistant-optimized headphones. But if you have the Pixel Buds, Bose Quiet Control 35 II, Sony WI-1000X, Sony WH-1000XM2, Sony WH-1000XM3 and a couple more models by JBL, you can try out to see if it works. Just say “Hey Google, help me speak X” and see if it responds.

Source: XDA-Developers

Google Pixel Buds update adds new gesture controls

Google has just updated the Pixel Buds to bring some new highly-requested features to the Bluetooth earbuds. One is being able to turn the Pixel Buds on or off by triple tapping on the right earbud. Another is using the double tap option to skip tracks. This gesture currently prompts your notifications to be read out loud. You can switch to this new gesture in the Pixel Buds setting on the Google Assistant app on your phone. Lastly, it’s easier to switch Pixel Buds between the devices it’s connected to by selecting it from the Bluetooth menu on a paired device. This will disconnect it from whatever else device it’s connected to.

Source: Android Central