Android Adds Auracast Support, So Hearing Aids Can Connect Directly to Venue Audio

Google's adding Auracast support as part of an Android update announced Thursday, which will allow anyone who uses hearing aids to directly connect to audio streams in public venues. Auracast is a Bluetooth feature that lets venues create a broadcast network that hearing aids can tap into. This can be especially useful in noisy environments like concerts or train stations, where it can be hard to decipher audio coming from speakers. The update allows Android phones to link LE Audio-compatible hearing aids from companies like Starkey and GN Hearing to these audio broadcasts. To use Auracast, the hearing aid will need to be paired with a Samsung Galaxy device running One UI 7 and Android 15, or a Pixel 9 device running Android 16 beta. Then, tune into an Auracast broadcast from a public venue or TV streamer. To do this, go into your phone's Bluetooth settings or, if you're on a Pixel 9 device, you can connect to broadcasts by scanning a QR code. In recent years, companies like Google ... Read full article.