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mardi 23 juin 2026

Leaked Google Pixel 'Audio Memory' poised to remember what you've heard

What you need to know

  • A recent leak suggests Google is working on a new memory-based feature for Pixel phones, known as "Audio Memory."
  • While reports claim it would capture music you've heard, it might also keep its ears open for "important conversations" and transcribe them.
  • Google has a few "memory" features for its AI, such as Personal Intelligence and "personal context" in the Gemini app.

A report states that, after some digging, a new Pixel feature was spotted, which could let your phone "remember" what you've heard.

The report was posted by 9to5Google, stating Google is working on an "Audio Memory" feature for its Pixels. One major Audio Memory function that was discovered is "Music Recognition." This isn't a new capability for Pixels. Many of Google's phones can keep their "ears" open for music, so it can have its name available for the user. Think of it like Shazam, but it's always on.

For Audio Memory, it will function mostly the same, as it'll provide "info about songs playing nearby displays on your device's lock screen," per the leaked description. Users can tap these logged titles to bring them to Pixel's Now Playing app. However, 9to5 kept digging and found that the latest version of Android System Intelligence for the Pixel 10 held breadcrumbs about additional uses.

Reportedly, Google plans for Audio Memory to "keep track of what you hear throughout your day." This could include "your important conversations." There wasn't much else about this rumor, as it's still early. However, the publication assumes this feature (if enabled) would transcribe conversations you're having to "generate notes."

How broad its coverage will be is still unknown. As the post notes, there's a chance that this could only apply to phone calls.

Pixel "Memory"

Pixel Journal on a Google Pixel 10 Pro

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

"Remembering" has become commonplace for Google and its AI services. Last year, the company updated Gemini with "memory" that leveraged the user's "personal context." The latter concerns old chats you've had with the AI. If you were talking about new shoes or a place to travel to this summer, and you're asking about it again, Gemini would "remember" old conversations for better answers.

What joined this was "Temporary Chats," which let users ask quick, one-time questions that it doesn't want affecting Gemini in any way. Users can turn off Gemini's memory for your personal context. It seems wise to believe Google would produce something similar for Audio Memory, especially since having your phone "always listening"—or remembering—might not sit well. On the other hand, we have Personal Intelligence.

This has been talked about quite a bit these past few months. Gemini can use the user's photos, emails, and more to understand their interests. When you ask a specific question about a date you need to remember, Gemini would, for example, dip into your emails for you. We still need to see Google's true intentions with Audio Memory, but it might sit on a "useful" front like these other memory-based features.

Android Central's Take

I could really see Audio Memory useful for people who frequent meetings or for reporters. It's like always having your Recorder app active. If I were to hazard a guess, I'd figure Google would go this route. Transcriptions and all. It's still early, so maybe I'm way off base.



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This might be the only Android phone deal worth your Prime Day budget

It's getting harder and harder to find a genuinely good mid-range Android phone, but Amazon's Prime Day sale has arrived at exactly the right time. Right now, the Google Pixel 10a is down by $75, making one of the best budget Android phones even easier to recommend.

With memory prices continuing to rise across the tech industry, budget and mid-range smartphones have been hit especially hard. Companies already operate on thinner margins in this segment, which means meaningful discounts on the best mid-range Android phones are becoming increasingly rare.

Thankfully, Google doesn't seem too concerned about that. The company has knocked 15% off the Pixel 10a during Prime Day, and after using the phone for nearly three months, I can confidently say it's about as good as it gets if you're looking for a clean Android experience without spending flagship money.

Amazon has knocked $75 off the Google Pixel 10a, making one of the best mid-range Android phones even more affordable. With Android 17, seven years of support, a 5,100mAh battery, and satellite emergency SOS, it's a great pick for anyone who values longevity over raw performance.View Deal

✅Recommended if: you want a mid-range Android phone with long software support, fast Android updates, a compact design, and excellent battery life.

❌Skip this deal if: you want built-in Qi2 magnets, thinner display bezels, or top-tier gaming performance.

The Pixel 10a may not look dramatically different from the Pixel 9a, but Google has made enough improvements to keep it competitive. One of my favorite things about the phone is that it's still the only Android phone around with virtually no camera bump. The cameras sit flush with the back, which means you can comfortably use it without a case and not worry about the camera housing sticking out.

Google Pixel 10a in mint color in front of green leaves

(Image credit: Sanuj Bhatia / Android Central)

Google has also added a slightly larger 5,100mAh battery and bumped wired charging speeds up to 30W. And if you're someone who keeps phones for years, another important addition is Emergency SOS via satellite. That means you can still contact emergency services even if you're somewhere without cellular coverage or Wi-Fi.

Of course, it's not perfect. Some AI features available on the flagship Pixel 10 lineup are missing here. You also don't get the built-in Qi2 magnets found on the rest of the Pixel 10 family. And while the Tensor G4 remains perfectly fine for everyday use, it isn't the most powerful chip if gaming is a priority.

Still, if you're looking for a phone that gets Android updates quickly, already runs Android 17, and should remain supported for years to come, the Pixel 10a is one of the easiest Prime Day deals to recommend.



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Ready to take control of your digital life? These Prime Day NAS deals are the answer

Digital clutter is a real problem, and consolidating all of your digital media — including valuable photos, videos, and documents — in one location can be a hassle. Maybe you've got photos and videos in Google Photos, documents in Drive, and saved older media in a few external drives.

This is where a network attached storage (NAS) server comes in handy. A NAS is basically a hard drive that sits in an enclosure, and it connects to your home network, so you can access it from all devices — TVs, phones, tablets, Windows and macOS machines, and so on. UGREEN's DH2300 and the DH4300 Plus are the models I recommend if you're just getting started with organizing your digital life; they're designed to be easy to set up and use, and the idea is to make it as convenient as possible for you to start locally storing your data instead of relying on a cloud storage service like Google Drive or iCloud.

Why should you trust me? I tested dozens of NAS servers over the last 12 years — including all budget and high-end models released by mainstream brands in this category — and maintain over 500TB of data across several servers at home. I know what I'm talking about when it comes to local data storage, and after testing the 2-bay DH2300 and 4-bay DH4300 Plus over the course of the last year, it's clear to me that these are the ideal beginner NAS models.

The 2-bay DH2300 usually retails for $219, but it is down to just $175 on Amazon. The DH4300 Plus is a bigger model that has the ability to house four drives; it usually costs $439 but is now available for $351 on Amazon, making it a terrific deal.

The DH2300 is my recommendation if you just need a reliable way to store your data within your home. It's aimed at beginners, has meaningful features, and doesn't cost a lot of money. View Deal

The DH4300 Plus has three advantages over the DH2300: it comes with 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet connectivity, you get double the amount of memory, and you can install twice as many hard drives. Otherwise, you get identical software. View Deal

✅Recommended if: You want an easy-to-use NAS to store your data and centralize your media collection. The DH2300 is designed to be user-friendly, and you still get plenty of great features.

❌Skip this deal if: You need container management. If you need advanced features, you should consider getting the DXP2800 NAS instead.

The DH2300 and DH4300 Plus are beginner models, but you're not getting shortchanged when it comes to the hardware. Both NAS models have powerful internals, and in the case of the DH4300 Plus, you get four drive bays, 8GB of RAM out of the box, and 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet connectivity. This gives you greater bandwidth if you want to transfer data to and from the NAS, but you'll also need a multi-Gigabit network. If you don't, that's not an issue at all — you can still use the standard Gigabit Ethernet networking.

The DH2300 has Gigabit Ethernet and 4GB of RAM, and it has two drive bays, allowing you to slot in two hard drives. Neither model includes hard drives, so you'll need to buy those separately. I suggest getting WD Red Plus or Seagate's IronWolf drives; they are designed to run 24/7 within a NAS.

With the drives sorted out, you can get started with configuring the DH2300 and DH4300 Plus. The built-in software is easy to use, and you can easily connect your phone to the NAS via NFC, and start transferring photos, videos, and any other data. You can also consolidate your media collection by transferring all the data to the NAS, and use a service like Plex or Jellyfin to stream media to connected devices in your home — like your phone, TV, or tablets.

In short, these models are the ideal way to start organizing and storing all your data locally in a single location. If I had to choose one, I'd get the DH4300 Plus; it has better hardware, and as you get four total drive bays, you can add additional storage down the line (which you'll need to). And while $351 is a lot, that's more than what you'll shell out to public cloud storage over the course of three years, and at least with a NAS, you're guaranteed the privacy of your data.



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lundi 22 juin 2026

Android 17 brings a surprisingly big upgrade for wireless earbuds

Android 17 improves wireless audio quality with support for the LHDC v5 codec.

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Is the government listening to you through your phone? Here's what a former CIA officer says

A former intelligence officer explains what governments can and cannot do with modern devices.

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Tribit QuietPlus 81 hands-on: Is $50 a fair price for these over-ear headphones?

The Tribit QuietPlus 81 over-ear headphones fall under a cutthroat price segment. Is $50 a fair price tag for these cheap Bluetooth headphones?

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dimanche 21 juin 2026

I changed one Android 17 setting and made my Pixel home screen so much cleaner

Google upgraded Pixel home screen customization tools with Android 17, and you can now simplify how your apps appear. Here's how to do it.

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