Google has officially confirmed the removal of the tap-for-notifications function on Pixel Buds, indicating a shift in how users interact with notifications on their wireless earbuds. Previously, users could simply press and hold on the earbud to have Google Assistant read unread notifications and even respond to them. This change, however, now necessitates users to actively invoke Google Assistant by saying "Read my notifications" to access their notifications.
Google attributes this change to user feedback, which is an interesting revelation as requests for feature removal aren't commonplace. Over the past few days, several Redditusers have reported this loss of functionality, further confirming the change is intentional and not a mere bug. Some users have even mentioned hearing an audio prompt acknowledging the change.
While Google is yet to fully explain the nature of the feedback that led to this decision, it is likely tied to the broader integration of Google Assistant into the Pixel Buds experience. This could signify a move towards a more voice-centric interaction model, where touch gestures are reserved for basic controls like volume adjustment and playback control.