Google Pixel Buds
Google’s ambition to push Google Assistant into everyone’s consciousness took another step forward with the announcement of its Pixel Buds, part of the company’s growing focus on consumer hardware.
The Pixel Buds are Google’s answer to Apple’s AirPods – the “wireless” earpieces are connected by a cable and designed to interact with Google’s services via voice controls.
Although navigating playlists, hearing messages and making calls without fiddling with handset controls might be appealing, the headline feature is the ability to connect the headset to Google’s Pixel devices for live translation of 40 languages. The microphone picks up the incoming dialogue and translates it in the user’s ear – and while UN-translator accuracy may take time, the feature could prove useful when travelling or hosting overseas colleagues.
To control the various services, a touch of a sensor in the right ear bud wakes the system and activates the buds’ microphone. The headset sends commands to the phone, where Assistant processes the request and responds.
To use the buds’ smart feature, consumers need an Assistant-enabled device running Android 6.0 or higher, as well as a Google account and data connection – although translation only works with Pixel handsets.
The pods charge via a case that itself carries a 24-hour charge, while the headset battery is touted as lasting up to six hours.