AllYouCanTech

Gemini’s Latest Android Function Quickly Recognizes Song Lyrics

Ever find yourself curious about the song playing in a cafe or on the radio? Your Android device, equipped with Gemini, can now help with that.

What you should know

– Android users now have the capability to use Gemini for identifying songs through playing, singing, or even humming.
– However, instead of providing answers directly in the chat, Gemini redirects you to a Google Search page, interrupting the flow.
– Moreover, iOS users are currently left out, although a broader rollout is likely on the horizon.

Google has been refining Gemini on Android, and it can now finally recognize that elusive song for you—a highly requested feature that enhances its everyday utility.

Initially, when Gemini debuted, it lacked some beloved functionalities from Google Assistant, such as identifying currently playing songs. Asking it back then would simply direct you to another app.

But as reported by 9to5Google, this has evolved. In recent weeks, Gemini has subtly acquired built-in song identification, effectively bridging a significant gap with its predecessor and enhancing its capability as a comprehensive assistant for Android users.

Just ask and play

To test out Gemini’s new song identification feature, simply say, “What song is this?” It will then switch to a full-screen mode and request you to play, sing, or hum the melody. While it’s listening, you’ll observe that iconic pulsing sphere as it seeks the closest match using Google’s intelligence.

Gemini’s music recognition capabilities function universally, meaning it can detect songs playing in the vicinity, from your playlists, or even those you hum.

Still a bit clunky

Although Gemini on Android can now identify songs, it’s not fully integrated into the Gemini experience just yet. When you ask it to recognize a song, it actually transfers the task to the full-screen listening mode of the Google app.

It works, but it’s not as fluid or integrated as something like Pixel’s built-in Now Playing feature, which continues to excel in seamless song identification. You can activate it with a simple voice command or by tapping the lock screen shortcut, providing results directly in the interface. Additionally, it functions offline, which is a significant advantage.

Another distinction of Gemini’s song identification compared to a fully integrated system is that it displays results on a Google Search page instead of keeping it within the chat. Thus, instead of a smooth, inline response as you would receive from Google Assistant, you’re redirected from the conversation flow, making the experience feel somewhat fragmented.

At present, Song Search is exclusively available in Gemini on Android. Google has not officially announced when (or if) it will arrive on iOS, but it’s likely just a staggered rollout.

Comparison of Two Smartwatches in a Spartan Race: Assessing Performance Without a Definitive Champion

This year, my goal is to compete in three Spartan races to elevate my fitness journey. It’s a process that has taken me five years to reach, and while I’ve gradually progressed among my fellow Spartans over that time, I still have a significant distance to cover before I entertain any thoughts of reaching the podium.

However, regardless of whether I ever secure a podium finish, the secret to advancement lies in training. Monitoring my performance with a smartwatch has been incredibly beneficial, but given the diverse obstacles and fitness types encountered in a Spartan race, which watch is optimal for tracking my progress?

I revisited two of my favorites from last year, the OnePlus Watch 3 and Google Pixel Watch 3, both of which I frequently rely on due to their precise fitness-tracking capabilities and comprehensive statistics. While I favor the compact size of the 41mm Pixel Watch 3, the battery longevity of the OnePlus Watch 3 stands out even more.

After completing the race, I analyzed my stats using various tools. Strava extracted the information from my OnePlus Watch 3, whereas Google’s Fitbit managed the data for the Pixel. All of this data was compiled into a web-based tool known as Quantified Self, which simplifies the process of directly comparing statistics and GPS-tracked maps at a glance. Now, let’s review the results.

Let’s get Spartan

If you have never participated in a Spartan Race, here’s a brief overview. Spartan Races are offered in three distances: Sprint (5K, 20+ obstacles), Super (10K, 25+ obstacles), Beast (21K, 30+ obstacles), and Ultra (50K, 60+ obstacles). The obstacles consist of a variety of challenges including rope ascents, crawling under barbed wire, navigating angled walls, and even carrying heavy objects for a specified distance.

Up to now, I’ve only completed Sprints and have no plans to go longer. I’m not Michael Hicks, and I can’t handle 20-mile races, but I have taken part in Ninja Warrior competitions previously, so obstacles play to my strengths. The varied demands of a Spartan Race make it challenging to gauge with a watch designed strictly for running, but they still offer a good amount of data for comparison.

Typically, I participate in Spartan Races in my home state of North Carolina, known for its hilly terrain, but I opted to try one while vacationing in the much flatter (and hotter) state of Florida.

Post-run 20-mile stats from four fitness watches

| Category | OnePlus Watch 3 | Google Pixel Watch 3 |
|——————————|—————–|———————-|
| Distance | 5.26 Km | 5.33 Km |
| Pace | 11:37 min/km | 11:05 min/km |
| Ascent / Decent | 0 m / 0 m | 35 m / 50 m |
| Avg. / max heart rate | 177 bpm / 195 bpm| 177 bpm / 200 bpm |
| Running power average / max | 93 W / 532 W | N/A |
| Calories | 852 kcal | 864 kcal |
| Steps | 7,049 | 7,042 |
| Cadence | 117 spm | 112 spm |
| Stride length | 0.74m | 0.74m |
| Vertical oscillation | 7.7cm | 8.1cm |

While both watches are quite even in their overall performance, a few statistics caught my attention. The elevation change, for example, indicated that the OnePlus Watch 3 perceived Florida as much flatter than it truly is.

Although much of the course at Burt Aaronson South County Regional Park in Boca Raton is indeed very flat by my North Carolina expectations, several obstacles were positioned above or below the general elevation of the majority of the route.

The bucket carry, for example, required me to trek up a constructed hill that was several dozen feet tall, while another obstacle had us traversing through a pond that we needed to navigate down a slope to access.

Examining the graph reveals a malfunction with the OnePlus Watch 3. Whether this was a glitch or something else entirely, I’m not sure, but it’s clear that I didn’t receive accurate altitude readings from the OnePlus Watch 3. This anomaly is unusual, as I’ve never experienced this outside of this specific race (naturally), and I’ve taken it hiking multiple times.

I recognize this was an anomaly since when I analyze the remaining data, both watches show remarkably comparable results. This impresses me as it affirms my initial impressions regarding the OnePlus Watch 3.