The second beta release of Android 15 last week included some exciting features for Pixel users. One notable feature was the return of speaker group volume controls during streaming, which had been previously disabled due to a legal dispute with Sonos. This control allows users to adjust the volume of a group of speakers collectively when streaming audio from their phone to multiple Assistant-enabled devices. This feature was reinstated after a California judge overturned a jury verdict in favor of Sonos, allowing Google to restore the ability to add Nest devices to multiple speaker groups.
Google had introduced a flag in 2021 to control platform-level volume adjustments for grouped devices, but this feature was disabled for Pixel devices. However, with the release of Android 15 Beta 2, this functionality has now been restored for Pixel phones. The update brings back the speaker group volume control feature that had been missing for Pixel users for a while.
While this change is welcomed by Pixel users, there is still one streaming-related feature missing: streaming expansion. This feature allows users to add more devices to the cast using the media output switch, but it is not yet available on Pixel phones, even those running Android 15 Beta 2. The return of this feature is expected in the future, but the timeline for its implementation remains uncertain.
Overall, the latest beta release of Android 15 has brought back the speaker group volume control feature for Pixel users, providing more control over audio playback on multiple devices. This update addresses a previous issue that arose from a legal dispute with Sonos and demonstrates Google’s commitment to improving the user experience on its mobile platform. Despite some features still missing, such as streaming expansion, Pixel users can look forward to further enhancements as the software continues to evolve.
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https://www.phonearena.com/news/google-brings-back-volume-controls-for-speaker-groups-to-pixels-with-android-15-beta-2_id158541