Google working on loud sound alerts for Pixel phones in At a Glance

Pixel phones already offer cough and snore detection when you sleep, as well as always-on Now Playing song detection, and Google is now planning to add loud sound alerts in At a Glance.

About APK Insight: In this “APK Insight” post, we’ve decompiled the latest version of an application that Google uploaded to the Play Store. When we decompile these files (called APKs, in the case of Android apps), we’re able to see various lines of code within that hint at possible future features. Keep in mind that Google may or may not ever ship these features, and our interpretation of what they are may be imperfect. We’ll try to enable those that are closer to being finished, however, to show you how they’ll look in case that they do ship. With that in mind, read on.

The latest version (T.23) of Android System Intelligence for the Pixel 7 reveals a “Loud sound alert” capability that will warn you “when [a] hearing-damaging loud sound [is] detected.” 

<string name=”echo_smartspace_loud_sound_alert_toggle_title”>Loud sound alert</string>

This warning will presumably appear in At a Glance on your lockscreen and at the top of the Pixel Launcher to encourage you to step away or lower the volume (if possible). The Apple Watch has offered a similar capability for the past several years.

The health capability builds on Google’s other audio features. Pixel phones already offer a Now Playing feature that works in the background to detect songs that are playing in the background using an on-device database. In the Google Clock app, you can have your Pixel listen for coughs and snores over the course of a night. Meanwhile, the Recorder app can tag speech, music, and other sounds.

After updating to T.23 of ASI, the Loud sound alert feature is not yet live.

This version also reveals work on more Pixel Launcher search shortcuts to join Google, YouTube, Maps, Play Store, Settings, and Contacts.

• <string name=”search_chrome_title”>Search Chrome</string>
• <string name=”search_files_title”>Search Files</string>
• <string name=”search_photos_title”>Search Photos</string>

In terms of changes that are live, Google has reordered the At a Glance settings list and introduced new icons. 

Thanks to JEB Decompiler, from which some APK Insight teardowns benefit.

Dylan Roussel contributed to this article.