Nothing has released an update for its ear (1) earbuds that adds support for voice assistants, but there's a catch. Nothing's ear (1) earbuds launched in 2021 and are one of the more affordable true wireless earbuds currently available. However, they are missing some features such as Bluetooth multipoint and support for LDAC.
In spite of missing some features, it is fairly common with truly wireless earbuds for new features to be added at a later time via a software update. Manufacturers typically push these new features and improvements to users via the companion app, thus improving the overall experience of the product. For example, the OnePlus Buds received a software update in January 2022 that allows users to connect the earbuds to two devices at the same time.
Nothing recently confirmed that the ear (1) earbuds have a new update that brings support for voice assistants, a feature users seem to have requested since the earbuds were announced in the third quarter of last year. With the new support, users will be able to call up a voice assistant on their connected devices, such as Amazon's Alexa, Apple's Siri, or Google Assistant, and issue a voice command. Unfortunately, the new feature is forcing users to make a sacrifice that affects how they use the earbuds.
Voice Assistant Or Playback Control?
To use the voice assistant feature on the Nothing ear (1) earbuds, users have to open the app and configure the gesture (triple tap) to call up the assistant. As it currently stands, Nothing's execution forces users to choose between having playback control, specifically the ability to change tracks, or calling up the voice assistant. Considering having playback control tied to a gesture is an important one, several Nothing ear (1) earbuds owners have already voiced their displeasure at how the new support has been implemented. Some users have suggested that Nothing should create a new gesture, such as “tap and hold,” to call up the voice assistant. This way, the triple tap gesture can remain tied to skipping between tracks.
Apart from adding support for voice assistants, Nothing says the update also strengthens the connection between the earbuds and third-party apps. The changelog does also mention that the battery display in the app is now more accurate and that in-ear detection has been improved in general. The update for Nothing's ear (1) earbuds is rolling out as version 0.6700.1.86, and is a little under 2MB in size.
Source: Nothing/Twitter