Latest news with #FastPair
Mint
7 days ago
- Mint
Google working on Fast Pair UI fix to improve TWS Bluetooth pairing on Android
It is evident that Fast Pair has come a long way since it first arrived on Android in 2017. It's one of those background features that usually just works until something goes wrong. Pairing Bluetooth earbuds has become faster over the years, but the user interface still falls short at times, especially when it comes to showing battery levels clearly. If you use Fast Pair-enabled earbuds, you've likely noticed that each time you open the case, a notification appears showing the battery levels of the left bud, right bud, and the case. You also get notified when any of these components are running low, reminding you to charge them before heading out. These alerts are helpful, but the overall experience has stayed mostly the same. That might be changing soon. According to findings from a recent Play Services beta v25.28.31, Google appears to be working on a new Fast Pair UI that brings better visibility, smarter labels, and more intuitive battery indicators when connecting true wireless earbuds. Right now, Fast Pair in its current form does a decent job of connecting your earbuds quickly and showing their battery levels. But for many earbud users, especially during a quick glance, it's really hard to understand which indicator belongs to which earbud or the charging case. The new UI aims to fix that. Google is working on adding small but useful changes, including clearer labels and colour cues, to make these pop ups more informative and easier to understand. A recent APK teardown of Google Play Services v25.28.31 confirms that Google is testing a new Fast Pair UI designed to improve how battery levels are displayed. Circular indicators, repositioned icons, and clear L R C labels reduce confusion and make the interface easier to understand at a glance. A circular progress bar now represents the battery percentage, with the numerical value still listed at the bottom of each component. Battery icons have been repositioned to the top. Each section is labeled clearly with L, R, and C, removing the guesswork. Green indicates the battery is fine, yellow shows it's below 50 percent, and red signals it has dropped under 20 percent. These visuals make it easier to quickly assess how much charge remains in each earbud and the case. Bluetooth pairing doesn't usually stand out until it fails right when you need it. Let's put it this way: you're heading out, earbuds in hand, and the battery levels shown are unclear. One bud dies halfway through your call. That's the problem Google's latest Fast Pair UI update is trying to fix. Clearer labels and visual battery indicators make it much simpler to check charge levels instantly. It's a small change, but one that directly addresses a common issue most of us are dealing with. In daily use, it's a small but meaningful update that improves how users interact with TWS earbuds. The new Fast Pair UI has started appearing in beta versions of Google Play Services, though Google hasn't announced an official rollout date yet. Google usually tests these changes quietly before releasing them more widely. With clearer labels and better battery visuals, the update aims to make everyday earbud use more convenient for Android users.
Android Authority
21-07-2025
- Android Authority
Google could soon make a helpful change to Fast Pair UI for TWS earbuds (APK teardown)
Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority TL;DR Google is updating the Fast Pair notification UI for TWS earbuds to make battery status easier to read at a glance. The redesigned notifications include circular battery progress bars, repositioned battery icons, and clear labels for each component. Battery changes trigger color changes for the new progress bars for a better visual impact. A few years ago, Google introduced a useful Fast Pair feature that allows users to check the battery status of their true wireless earbuds quickly. If you're using Fast Pair-enabled earbuds, you may have noticed that every time you open the case, a notification pops up showing the battery levels of each component: the left bud, right bud, and the case. You also receive a notification when the battery on any of these components is running low, prompting you to recharge them in time. Now, Google is refining the user interface of these battery notifications to make battery status easier to understand at a glance. You're reading an Authority Insights story. Discover Authority Insights for more exclusive reports, app teardowns, leaks, and in-depth tech coverage you won't find anywhere else. You're reading an Authority Insights story. Discover Authority Insights for more exclusive reports, app teardowns, leaks, and in-depth tech coverage you won't find anywhere else. An APK teardown helps predict features that may arrive on a service in the future based on work-in-progress code. However, it is possible that such predicted features may not make it to a public release. Currently, the notification displays an image of both earbuds and their case, with the battery percentages listed at the bottom in a simple, minimal layout. While it works just fine, the design offers limited visual cues. Google is now working on introducing certain handy tweaks and color changes to make these notifications more informative and engaging. During our teardown of the latest beta version of Google Play Services (version 25.28.31), we discovered that Google is testing a revamped UI for Fast Pair battery notifications. The most noticeable change is the addition of a circular progress bar to represent battery percentage, in addition to the numerical value still listed at the bottom of each component. Battery icons have also been repositioned to the top of the components. These new visual elements make it easier to quickly assess how much charge remains in each earbud and the case. Current UI New UI New UI: Low Battery Additionally, the notification now includes clear labels — L (Left), R (Right), and C (Case) — next to each icon, making it much easier to distinguish which battery level belongs to which component. This is an improvement over the current design, which lacks any labeling. Moreover, Google is also updating notifications for low battery levels. The circular battery indicators change color based on the charge level: yellow when the battery falls below 50%, and red when it drops under 20%. While this color-coding isn't entirely new (the current UI also changes the color of the battery icon), the new implementation makes the change more noticeable and tied directly to the visual progress bar. While this isn't a major UI overhaul, it makes battery status much easier to interpret. It's unclear when the new UI will roll out, but it should happen soon. We'll keep an eye out and let you know when the change goes mainstream. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
Android Authority
17-07-2025
- Android Authority
Bluetooth pairing sucks on most Google TV devices, but Google wants to change that
Damien Wilde / Android Authority TL;DR Google's Fast Pair, meant to simplify Bluetooth pairing, is still not widely available on Google TV devices a year after its initial rollout. Despite a prior announcement suggesting a broad release, the feature is currently only supported on four devices, including the Chromecast models. Device makers must choose to enable Fast Pair on their TVs, and Google says it's working with partners to bring the feature to more devices. Pairing a new Bluetooth accessory with your phone can feel slow and clunky, but imagine doing it on a TV using just a remote. You have to put your Bluetooth device in pairing mode, open your TV's settings menu, navigate to the Bluetooth page, scan for nearby devices, select your accessory, and finally confirm the pairing request. To make this process less of a hassle, Google brought its Fast Pair service to TVs in 2024. Unfortunately, a year later, Fast Pair is still not widely available on Google TV devices, leaving most users stuck with the old tedious pairing process. Fast Pair simplifies the process of connecting Bluetooth devices like speakers, earbuds, headphones, and controllers to your phone, tablet, or laptop. When a Fast Pair-enabled accessory enters pairing mode, a pop-up appears on nearby compatible devices. This pop-up lets you connect the accessory with a single tap, saving you from having to dig through Bluetooth settings. Google first introduced Fast Pair for Android phones and tablets back in 2017. In January 2022, the company announced plans to expand the feature to Chromebooks in the 'coming weeks' and to Google TV and Android TV OS devices in the 'coming months.' However, these timelines proved to be optimistic. Fast Pair didn't actually begin rolling out to Chrome OS until March 2023, over a year later. The wait for Google TV was even longer, with the feature finally making its first appearance in February 2024 — a full two years after the initial announcement. To add to the confusion, the official 'Made by Google' account posted on X in March 2024 that Fast Pair was rolling out to all Google TV devices running Android 12 or newer. As we later discovered, however, this wasn't actually the case. A few weeks ago, I spotted a feature flag named — a flag I believed is exclusive to devices with Fast Pair support. When I searched the Google Play Console for devices declaring this feature, only four appeared: the two Chromecast with Google TV models (HD and 4K), the Google TV Streamer, and the Onn 4K Plus. Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority Given Google's prior statement, I was puzzled by the fact that only four devices were listed, so to confirm my findings, I reached out to Google. A company spokesperson verified this list is accurate, adding that any OEM can choose to enable Fast Pair and that Google is actively working with partners to bring the feature to more devices. It's unclear why OEMs must specifically add support for Fast Pair on Google TV, especially since it's part of Google Play Services and was rolled out widely on mobile and Chrome OS without needing device-specific support. Perhaps it has something to do with the quirky nature of the Bluetooth protocol. Whatever the case, it's encouraging that Google is working to expand this capability. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Yahoo
Grab the perfect portable Bluetooth speaker for your summer adventure as it plummets to just $38
Summer is just around the corner, which means spending more time doing the things you love with friends and family. Of course, it never hurts to have some music in the background, and a portable Bluetooth speaker is the ideal accessory, especially when you need something that's loud and durable. While you can spend a few hundred dollars on something like the Sonos Move 2, that isn't always going to be necessary, especially when you have fantastic budget options like the Sony SRS-XB100. This portable Bluetooth speaker is one of the best that you can buy, and now comes in at its lowest price thanks to a discount that drops it down to just $38. This is the speaker to get if you're looking for something that isn't going to break the bank but won't also be a let-down. You're getting a compact and durable design, along with an IP67 rating that can keep it protected from dust and moisture, making it perfect to take outdoors. You can feel confident using it near the pool, or just taking it with you on camping trips or even to the beach. And there's even a built-in carrying strap that makes it easier to carry around. Despite its small size, you're still going to get plenty of volume here, with up to 16 hours of battery life as well. Furthermore, you can even combine two of these speakers for an even better sound if needed. The speaker also has a built-in microphone, making it possible to take and make calls, and the best part is that the audio will sound crystal clear thanks to echo-cancelling tech that will keep the conversation fluid without any clipping or bad distortion. There's even support for Google's Fast Pair technology, which makes connecting to compatible devices even easier. The speaker also has physical controls, allowing you to play and pause music, with buttons to increase and decrease the volume. Overall, not a bad Bluetooth speaker for just $38. You get something compact, powerful, and feature-packed for a great price. Grab it now, or if you're still on the fence, check out some other options that we recommend.
