Up to date, September 17, 2024 (03:54 PM ET): It’s been just a few days now since we checked in with Google about this disappearing function, and we’ve acquired some dangerous information when you have been holding out hope that this modification may be a glitch (despite the proof on the contrary). Google has now formally introduced the tip of tap-for-notifications performance:

Primarily based in your suggestions, we’re right here to announce that we’ll be making the next adjustments to your Google Assistant notifications on Pixel Buds whereas we consider additional adjustments to notifications. Assistant will not learn unread notifications when utilizing the press Assistant function. Assistant can even not learn unread notifications robotically and will let you reply.

With a view to hear notifications, you may activate Google Assistant and say “Learn my notifications.”

We’re nonetheless curious what that suggestions may need regarded like, because it’s not typically that we hear about customers requesting the elimination of extant options.

Authentic article, September 12, 2024 (01:21 PM ET):  Fashionable earbuds are a lot extra than simply tiny audio system perched in our ears, and the great ones supply quite a few methods to straight work together with our telephones, from music playback controls, to these related to digital assistants. The unique Pixel Buds Professional are a pair years outdated at this level, however have nonetheless been holding up nice — at the least, thus far. However now it appears to be like like Google could possibly be eradicating one of many key methods these earbuds let customers management their telephones.

Over the previous couple days, Reddit customers like hintze85 and fakeaccountt12345 have been sharing studies that their Buds have misplaced the power to learn notifications by urgent and holding on the earbud’s facet (through 9to5Google). And lest we write this off as a glitch, a few of these customers report listening to an audio message informing them that “contact and maintain wont learn notifications anymore.”

What’s weird is that you just’re nonetheless in a position to hear your notifications, however simply not in a position to entry them on this method. As a substitute, affected customers want to talk their request aloud to Assistant. And whereas that works in a pinch, it’s a heck of so much much less sleek while you’re attempting to be barely extra discreet.

We’ve heard some theories for why Google could possibly be altering this habits, and the very best guesses for the time being are tied to the forthcoming launch of the Pixel Buds Professional 2 and Google’s rising give attention to Gemini. Even with that in thoughts, this modification nonetheless seems like a step backward, and not one of the Pixel Buds customers we’ve seen speaking about it on-line appear more than happy with the choice.