Google has now released a more complete list of devices that will be receiving its ‘Fast Pair’ features as well as an outline of innovative new features that will be arriving for the platform to allow better Bluetooth device management.
According to a recently reported blog post from the search giant, the list of supported devices includes Anker’s Spirit Pro GVA and SoundCore Flare+ Speaker, Cleer Ally Plus, and 1More Dual Driver BT ANC. Aside from the Jaybird Tarah which Fast Pair initially debuted for, JBL has a slew of devices being supported as well, including four from its “Live” series under models 220BT, 400BT, 500BT, and 650BT. LG’s devices that are supported include model numbers HBS-SL5, HBS-PL6S, HBS-SL6S, and HBS-PL5.
“Dozens of other OEMs, ODMs, and silicon partners” are currently working with Google to push the spread of the features found in Fast Pair further afield too.
This goes well beyond rapidly pairing devices and has been a long time coming
Aside from the list of supported headphones and speakers, the company has also outlined a detailed list of supported specs and chipsets for Fast Pair that should prove useful for third-party OEMs in terms of creating new products. Given how useful the upcoming new features are going to be, that should equate to fairly rapid expansion to the list of supported devices.
Fast Pairing for those gadgets is not the only information from Google that’s newsworthy, however.
Google also plans to launch a set of three new features for Fast Pair throughout 2019, including one that will be Android Q-specific.
The most impactful new feature, however, is going to be the addition of Fast Pair devices to a user’s “Find My Device” registry. Summarily, the change means that users won’t need to worry so much about losing their true wireless headphones or Bluetooth speaker since the last known location and time of use for those will now show up in Google’s device finding and wiping tool.
If the gadgets are within a set range, those can also be rung to make them easier to locate. They can be unpaired through the tool after the change too, just like a smartphone can, to prevent would-be bad actors from using their lost Bluetooth device to exploit any vulnerabilities.
Last but not least, Google plans to implement changes that will allow Fast Pair devices to broadcast more battery information. In the case of truly wireless earbuds, that means the headphones will be able to not only give users a heads up about each earbuds’ battery level, but also the battery level of the portable charging case those often ship with.
One for Android Q only
That Android Q-only feature likely won’t hit too many devices for the year since not very many devices are likely to be updated to the new version of Android quickly.
Regardless, once a device is running the next-gen variation of Android, Fast Pair devices will gain their own “enhanced Bluetooth device details page” in the UI. That will act as a central hub for managing connected Fast Pair devices, as well as a place to adjust settings — including those associated with the other new features and Google Assistant where applicable. Moreover, it will provide users with an easy way to get into the device-specific third-party app, if there’s one associated with the Fast Pair device.