GOOGLE has a plan for alerting regular earbud users to the risks of listening to music too loudly. This will involve a new type of notification on Android 14 and even special encouragement for Pixel Buds owners to clean their devices.
One of the new features expected to arrive with Android 14 is the introduction of volume alerts to prevent hearing problems, according to Android Police. Using headphones at too high a volume for too long can damage your hearing. This is why Google is committed to alerting Android smartphone users when they expose themselves for too long to excessive volumes.
Until now, a warning appeared when the sound exceeded 85 dB. But the listener is free to increase the volume, up to 100 dB, with the threat of receiving another warning 20 hours later. Under Android 14, however, alerts are set to be better targeted, in cases of overexposure to loud and prolonged listening sessions. In concrete terms, there should be several forms of warning, such as "headphone volume has exceeded the safe limit for this week," depending on the time of exposure and the volume level recorded. Each time, the volume will be automatically turned down, but it will of course still be possible to turn it up again, at your own risk.
But that's not the only development in the matter of better earbud use. Google will also soon be reminding you to clean your dirty earbuds, according to a report on 9to5Google. In fact, this will exclusively concern Google's Pixel Buds and will take the form of a reminder, like "Time to clean your earbuds," appearing on the smartphone's screen every 120 hours of use. Of course, you can always clean them more often. In fact, it's recommended.
To clean earphones, use a clean, soft, dry cloth. Before cleaning, remove the ear tips. If necessary, a slightly damp cotton bud can help remove deposits. Be careful not to use harsh cleaning products, and don't undertake this operation while the earphones are charging.
As every year, this autumn will see the roll-out of the latest version of Android, and as usual, Pixel smartphone owners will be the first to benefit. The manufacturers (Samsung, Xiaomi, etc.) will then be announcing their schedule for compatible models and the dates of the switchover to Android 14. – ETX Daily Up, August 23, 2023
