Google Assistant might be coming to your non-Pixel device sooner rather than later

By Lulu Chang Published February 12, 2017

You don’t have to go out and get a Google Pixel in order to get Google Assistant — rather, it would appear that the AI tool is beginning to make its way onto non-Pixel hardware. As first reported by Android Police, it looks as though an alpha version of the Google app has appeared in the wild by way of the version 6.13 update, and while it’s rather buggy, it’s the first time we’re able to see Assistant on a phone that isn’t a Pixel or Pixel XL.

As Android Police noted, both a Nexus 6P (running Android 7.1.1) and a Samsung Galaxy Note5 (running Android 6.0.1) were able to launch Google Assistant with the user simply holding the Home button. After a few moments, a dialogue with the message “New! You just got the Google Assistant” popped up, and allowed for users to set up voice training.

Recommended Videos

Be warned, however, that given that this is still an alpha version of the newest software, it’s working better for some than it is for others. It doesn’t seem to be linked to device type (some Nexus 6Ps got Assistant to work, while others didn’t), though it could be contingent on phone settings or other app versions. Regardless, the very presence of Google Assistant on v6.13 could mean exciting things for folks who have been waiting to get Google Assistant on their existing Android devices.

While we’re not rushing to any conclusions, it could be the case that Assistant will be made available to everyone when v6.13 becomes officially available. However, it’s also possible that some devices got Assistant as an error when mistakenly identified as a Pixel handset in settings (that said, the introductory messages that new users received suggest that this was not an error).

Regardless, we’ll have to wait a bit longer to see exactly when Google Assistant becomes more widely available, but perhaps not as long as previously thought.

Former Contributor

Fascinated by the effects of technology on human interaction, Lulu believes that if her parents can use your new app…

Topics

Phones

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8: Everything we know about the upcoming clamshell folding phone

Of the three phones expected to arrive at Galaxy Unpacked, the Flip 8 is shaping up to be the most underwhelming.

Three Galaxy Z Flip 7 models next to each other

The Fold 8 Ultra could get a sharper display, a more powerful chipset, a new camera, and a larger battery. Samsung’s purported wider foldable, the Fold 8, is expected to solve the most common problem with tall-body, narrow cover screens by adopting a new aspect ratio. The Flip 8, on the other hand, could only debut with a new chip, and not a Snapdragon one.

The Flip 7 wasn’t a bad clamshell by any measure. However, it's been one year, and the memory crisis has already hit the smartphone market hard. In a tricky cost-to-margin situation, the Flip 8 could end up getting a price hike without any major improvements, and that might not sit well with potential buyers.

Phones

Google Contacts borrows a handy iPhone trick to make sharing your number easier

google-contacts-app

Google is rolling out a small but useful update to the Contacts app on Android that makes it much easier to find and share your own contact details. Instead of digging through settings or creating a separate contact for yourself, you'll now see a dedicated 'Your Info' card at the very top of your contacts list.

The feature gives you quick access to your phone number, email addresses, and other personal details while also adding a faster way to share them with others. The update is arriving with Google Contacts version 4.83.13.940538822 and is rolling out widely (via 9to5Google).

Phones

Another Apple price hike just landed, this time on Apple One

Family and Premier Apple One subscribers will now pay $24 more each year.

Apple One

Apple has raised the monthly price of its Family and Premier Apple One bundles in the US. The Family plan now costs $27.95 per month, up from $25.95, while Premier has climbed from $37.95 to $39.95. Both plans are now $2 more expensive each month, adding another $24 to the annual bill. The Individual plan remains unchanged at $19.95 per month.

The increase arrives shortly after Apple raised subscription prices for Apple Music across its student, individual, and family plans. New AppleCare+ customers buying coverage for Macs and iPads have also been hit by higher prices recently.