Google is working on the next Android version – Android 15, which is expected to be unveiled in late 2024, is likely gearing up to allow users to share media audio with nearby phones, TVs, and other devices through Auracast.
This new audio-sharing feature enables users to either listen in on or initiate the broadcast of an audio stream over Bluetooth.
What is Auracast?
It is basically a simple Bluetooth feature that aims to tackle the challenge of sharing audio within a group seamlessly. This feature facilitates the broadcasting of audio to nearby devices, such as a TV or phone, using Bluetooth Low Energy.
It likely simplifies the process by eliminating the need for intricate pairing procedures. However, the effectiveness of Auracast relies on both the broadcasting and receiving devices supporting this functionality.
Auracast on Android 15
The Pixel smartphone maker Google is planning to bring a dedicated “audio sharing” page in Android 15, allowing users to share or connect to nearby LE Audio streams.
The report mentions that in the exploration of the Android 14 QPR2 Beta 3 release, various strings within the Settings app related to audio sharing were discovered. These strings provide insight into a new page within the settings (shown above), equipped with a toggle switch for audio sharing, a QR code scanning button for connecting to nearby audio streams, an option to choose the Bluetooth device for listening, and a section listing nearby audio streams.
This upcoming audio streams page is anticipated to be located in the Settings menu under Connected devices, and then Connection preferences. However, despite being able to manually access the page for a preview, the discoverer faced limitations in initiating or connecting to a nearby audio stream due to the absence of a device capable of starting an Auracast broadcast.
