Google might make 2017's Pixel Buds a little bit better than before.
In the near future, owners of the earbuds could be able to call Google Assistant by just saying the "Hey Google" hotword.
Pixel Buds Update
As reported by 9to5Google, users have been seeing a new "Say 'Hey Google'" option for the Pixel Buds in the latest version of the Google app.
Needless to say, when it's enabled, it should allow Pixel Buds wearers to say, "Hey Google," when they want to invoke Assistant. Going by its description, it uses Voice Match as well, meaning that it'll know whether the wearer of the buds is saying the hotword or not. From the look of things, users can also trigger the virtual assistant even if the phone is locked.
"Use Voice Match to access your Assistant with your voice, even when your phone is locked," it reads.
While all that sounds nice, the feature unfortunately doesn't seem to be working just yet.
Accident?
It's unclear what exactly is going on, but it's believed that the toggle was rolled out ahead of schedule or that this could simply be the work of a bug in the app. Case in point, users say that when they turn it on and exit the app, they'll see that it doesn't work and that it's set to off when they return to the settings menu. It's possible that this was meant for another device as well, though, namely the next-generation Pixel Buds 2.
At any rate, the fact that the option turned up in the Google app could be taken as a sign that the Mountain View company still plans on supporting its earbuds from 2017.
For now, if users want to call Assistant through their Pixel Buds, they'll have to tap and hold on the right bud.
Google is expected to take the wraps off the Pixel Buds 2 alongside the new Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL at Made by Google event on Oct. 15, where it could also go into detail about the original Pixel Buds getting support for the "Hey Google" hotword.
