Google is enhancing its "Now Playing" song recognition feature for Pixel phones. This update, found within Android System Intelligence (ASI) v.13, aims to improve song identification and add album artwork to recognized tracks.
Enhanced Now Playing
The existing "Show search button on lock screen" setting is being renamed to "Enhance Now Playing." This enhanced feature will leverage Google services to display album art alongside song titles and artists, replacing the current generic music note icon. It's unclear whether this will apply retroactively to the entire Now Playing history or only to newly recognized songs. Check out premium audio options.
Cloud Search Integration
The updated Now Playing will utilize Google Search to identify songs not recognized locally on the device. This cloud-based search functionality will likely incorporate existing song recognition technologies from the Google app, such as "Hum to Search." Explore new earbuds.
Privacy Considerations
Google emphasizes the privacy-preserving nature of Now Playing. While the standard feature relies on an on-device song database, the enhanced version sends a short audio fingerprint to Google for identification. This process occurs within Android's Private Compute Core, ensuring no audio or background conversations are transmitted. Consequently, no microphone indicator will be displayed, and the activity won't appear in the Privacy dashboard. Find earbuds deals.
Availability
The "Enhance Now Playing" setting isn't yet live in the Settings app, suggesting a server-side component to the rollout. However, the app shortcut has been renamed from "Now Playing history" to simply "Now Playing," streamlining its appearance.