[ad_1]
For last week’s Gemini launch, Google focused on the smartphone form factor. It left Assistant on smart displays, speakers, TVs, cars, and Wear OS, although the “Gemini mobile app is coming to headphones.”
About APK Insight: In this “APK Insight” post, we decompile the latest version of an app that Google uploaded to the Play Store. When we decompile these files (called APKs, in the case of Android apps), we can see several lines of code within that hint at possible future features. Please note that Google may or may not offer these features, and our interpretation of what they are may be imperfect. However, we will try to enable those that are closer to being finished to show you what they will look like if they are shipped. With that in mind, read on.
This preview of the “bisto” form factor comes from the latest beta version of the Google app (15.6):
The Gemini mobile app is working to expand availability to be accessible on your headphones
It’s the most explicit sign of Gemini’s expansion plans, while Google emphasized last week that it is focusing on Android and iOS smartphones first.
Even if Gemini is enabled on your phone, the Pixel Buds Pro still activate Google Assistant (as you can see by the voice and what capabilities it has access to).
Gemini for headphones will presumably bring AI-powered generative responses to the audio-only medium. Taking it to headphones, which have the advantage of switching back to the connected phone if something goes wrong, could be a safer start than smart displays/speakers.
It will be interesting to see how Google optimizes Gemini for headphones, especially when it comes to response length. Longer answers can be read more easily on a screen than with headphones. (It would be nice if Google introduced a playback speed customization.)
Also worth noting in this version are the following error messages:
- “Too many requests in a short period of time. Try again later”
- “The Gemini mobile app is receiving more traffic than usual and is temporarily unavailable. Try again later”.
Meanwhile, work continues to add “Look and Talk” to the Pixel tablet, which we first saw in October. Once active, you’ll be able to enable the look-based alternative to “Hey Google” in the Hub mode settings.
- “Connect your device and set Hub Mode to enable Watch & Talk.”
Thanks to JEB decompilerwhich some APK Insight teardowns benefit from.
FTC: We use automatic affiliate links that generate income. Further.