Google recently released the second beta for Android 15, unveiling new features like app pairs and Private space. Alongside this update, Google also reintroduced a volume control feature for Pixel phones that allows users to adjust the volume of Google Home speaker groups made up of Google products while streaming content.
This feature was initially removed in 2021 due to a lawsuit from Sonos, but now it has made a comeback, giving users the ability to control the output of each speaker in a group without needing to be in the app from which they are streaming. This update enhances the user experience and provides more convenience when using Google speakers connected to a Pixel device through Google Home.
Following a California judge’s decision to overturn a verdict favoring Sonos in a legal battle with Google, the tech giant re-enabled the option to add Nest speakers, Chromecast devices, and Nest displays to multiple speaker groups in Google Home. This was a welcome return for users with multiple speakers within the Google ecosystem, bringing back a feature that was previously missing.
Before the release of Android 15 Beta 2, users had to remain within the streaming app on their Pixel device in order to control the volume of speaker groups consisting of Nest or Google Home devices. This limitation required users to stay in the app they were streaming from, without opening any others, in order to adjust the volume using the phone’s side volume rocker. If they switched to another app, they would need to reopen the streaming app to regain control over the speaker group, creating a somewhat cumbersome user experience.
While this feature has been available on other phones for years, such as those utilizing Android AOSP, the base level of Android utilized by manufacturers to build their versions, it is now back on Google’s flagship Pixel device with the latest update. This enhancement allows users to have more seamless control over their speaker groups, even when not directly within the streaming app.
Overall, the reintroduction of the volume control feature for Google Home speaker groups on Pixel phones reflects Google’s commitment to improving the user experience and providing more functionality for users within its ecosystem. The return of this feature will be welcomed by Pixel device owners who utilize multiple Google speakers and seek a more streamlined and convenient way to control their speaker groups while streaming content.
Article Source
https://lifehacker.com/tech/google-home-pixel-phones-speaker-group-volume-controls-return
