If everything goes according to plan at Google, 2024 should be the year of Android 15, and the signs are that the upcoming successor to Android 14 will bring a big boost in Bluetooth functionality.
As noted by seasoned code finder Mishaal Rahman at Android Authority, the latest beta version of Android 14 comes with numerous mentions of audio sharing. This code is hidden for now, but is ready to be used.
The code describes a new page within Android where you get a toggle to enable or disable audio sharing, a QR code that allows other people to tune in, a list of nearby audio streams, and a button to pair the Bluetooth device. change what you listen to. .
In other words, it’s a lot like Bluetooth Auracast, the new Bluetooth LE Audio standard that lets you wirelessly share audio streams with those around you. Consider sharing a podcast with a friend on a bus ride, or listening to an album in sync with someone else while you’re at home.
It takes a long time
The clever thing about Bluetooth Auracast is that it doesn’t rely on the normal pairing process, making it much easier to run multiple streams simultaneously on multiple devices. In theory, an unlimited number of devices can connect, making it suitable for public broadcasting in waiting rooms, gyms, bars, airports and more.
Look back through the Ny Breaking archives and you’ll see that Bluetooth Auracast has been around for a while, although there are still only a relatively small number of products that actually have built-in support for it.
That could change if it’s baked in more prominently in Android 15. We got some hands-on experience with the technology at the CES 2024 expo earlier this month, and it clearly has a lot of potential in a range of different scenarios.
Chances are Google will list this as a major new feature of Android 15 when the first versions are announced in the coming months – and we’ve already heard how the software could include updates to how battery life is displayed and what you can do with the lock screen.