Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Audio / Video
  3. News

The excellent Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones have just got even better

Gemini Live and Audio Sharing through Fast Pair arrive on Sony's premium cans

By
Add as a preferred source on Google
Sony WH-1000XM6.
Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

What’s happened? Sony has begun rolling out a firmware update to its premium WH-1000XM6 headphones, with two new key features being added; support for Gemini Live and audio sharing through Fast Pair, according to a report by Android Authority.

  • Audio sharing through Fast Pair allows the headphones to connect to multiple devices linked to the same Google account simultaneously (so you could have them connected to your phone, tablet and laptop and seamlessly switch audio between them).
  • Gemini Live enables a naturalistic conversational experience with Gemini (Google’s generative AI), allowing users to chat back and forth in a natural ways.
  • The same features are also being added to the Sony WF-1000XM5 wireless earbuds.

Why is it important? The update is significant as it bridges audio experience and AI, with seamless listening between devices and AI assistance make audio listening an extraordinary experience.

  • With Fast Pair and shared-audio, Sony is making its best headphones and earbuds even more powerful.
  • Audio sharing allows for easier viewing, listening or enjoyment of media across your devices.
  • Gemini Live is an improvement in the assistant experience, providing voice interaction with a conversational tone.
Recommended Videos

Why should I care? Sony delivering new features to existing products is a positive step, giving you more value from your purchase, and potentially setting up the buds and cans for more upgrades in the future.

  • If you already own a pair of WH-1000XM6 or WF-1000XM5 then lucky you, your headphones are now more powerful.
  • You don’t have to pay anything enjoy these features; they come via free software updates.
  • Whether you’re watching a movie with a friend, sharing a podcast or just enjoying smarter voice assistance while driving, these updates bring more convenience.

What’s next? It’s time to update your headphones.

  • The update is now available. While this is a free over-the-air update which has been pushed to devices, it might take a while for it to rollout out to all users worldwide, so keep an eye out on the Sony Headphones Connect app (download it from your phone’s app store if you haven’t already).
Sony WF-1000XM5
$299 Dell.com
Sony WH-1000XM6
$448 Amazon
Kobe Patrick
Kobe Patrick
Former News Writer
Kobe Patrick is a content writer and multimedia journalist. He is experienced in writing articles that cover a variety of…
Topics
Sonos owners are finally getting a less frustrating app, but the rollout comes with a catch
Improved navigation, speaker sorting, and new iOS volume controls are arriving gradually and must initially be enabled manually
Furniture, Electronics, Speaker

The Sonos app is getting a substantial usability overhaul. Familiar bottom tabs should make it easier to move around, while customizable speaker ordering could take some friction out of managing a multiroom system.

Sonos community manager ShaunFromSonos announced that the release may take up to two weeks to reach everyone. Once it arrives, users must switch on Enable Improved Navigation in the app’s settings to unlock the new layout and sorting tools.

Read more
Skullcandy serves Bose tuning and some peppy colors on its new Crusher 1080 ANC headphones
Feel the bass, cancel the noise, Skullcandy's newest headphones do both at once.
Skullcandy-Crusher-1080-ANC

Skullcandy has released the Crusher 1080 ANC, and the company is calling it the most advanced headphone it has ever made. Priced at $279.99, this is the first time Skullcandy has paired its signature Crusher bass tech with Bose's audio technologies, something fans of the brand have been asking for.

What's new with the Crusher 1080 ANC?

Read more
Spotify’s new conversational AI can play tracks you request and answer your music questions
A ChatGPT-like AI feature is coming to Spotify for music requests and listening-history questions
spotify

Spotify is rolling out a new AI-powered conversational feature that lets Premium users talk directly to the app about what they want to hear. Users can type or speak a request and refine the results through follow-up questions instead of manually searching for a song, podcast, or audiobook.

The feature is available from Spotify’s Home and Now Playing screens and works much like a personal audio assistant. It can choose what plays, answer questions about the current track or album, recommend something new, and look through your listening history to provide more personalized responses.

Read more