Google caves to user backlash, fixes Assistant’s white noise ambient sound
There’s tons thatGoogle Assistantcan do to keep you entertained throughout your day, but it’s also there for you when you’re looking to wind down. When it’s time to decompress, Assistant hasa selection of soothing soundsto help lull you off to sleep. But if you’ve been relying on those while you snooze away, you may be in for some bad news — Google has changed the “white noise” sound, and users are understandably so very pissed about it.
Between theGoogle Nest CommunityandReddit, a lot of people are complaining that the new white noise is “much quieter” and “muffled,” and that it now loops every 10 minutes instead of every hour (which is kind of a problem as these ambient sounds can play for up to 12 hours on Nest speakers). There area lotof complaints, so it’s safe to say that this is definitely a noticeable change (per9to5Google). The new sound was first reported last Wednesday and has seemingly already rolled out to everyone.
If you or a loved one depend on these ambient sounds to sleep and don’t find the new white noise recording as satisfying as the one, you still have a few options. For one, someoneuploaded the original sound to Google Drive, so if you really want to you can grab that, upload it to YouTube Music, and cast it to your speakers when bedtime closes in. You can also try the same thing withany other white noise video on YouTube.
Still not satisfied? you may make your distaste for the new sound heardon the Community forumsor by leaving feedback through the Google Home app — maybe the company will have a change of heart and bring back the old sound?
UPDATE: 2022/01/19 11:02 EST BY AROL WRIGHT
The old sound is back
After user backlash, Google has brought back the old white noise sound. In a statement provided to9to5Google, the company said that the new sound was actually the result of an issue, but that it has now been addressed.
There was an issue impacting our white noise experience. It’s fixed now and working as it previously did.
The old sound, complete with the original 1-hour duration, should be rolling out to everyone within the next few days.
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