Google believes phone app sound effects are a good use of development time

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Google is working on a new feature called Audiomojis that will let you add sound effects to your calls. The attention to this new feature only proves that Google’s priorities are wrong. Users already face a lot of product dissatisfaction, so focusing on features that lack practical use seems counterproductive. Why doesn’t Google focus its resources on making Android better instead of creating useless gimmicks?

the absurdity of hearing

Need a breather? There’s an app for that!

We recently reported on Audiomojis, Google’s upcoming call sound effects feature. With it you can insert his 6 sound effects with animation into your calls. These effects include applause and a sad sound (think of it as the sound of a gentle sob). These effects could be useful against telemarketers and scammers, but Pixel smartphones have even more powerful features built into them. It’s called Call Screen, and it works like a charm to answer unwanted phone calls.

Audiomoji is coming to Android smartphones

Voice-based reactions are currently in development for the phone app

According to the report, Audiomoji allows associated animations to pop up on the screen apart from the sound, adding another layer of performance to the feature. This is exactly what I need when I’m on the phone with my elderly aunt.

unresolved issues

Google has a lot of other things it needs to fix first

The Play Store is like a trash can filled with clones. Its algorithms barely work and reviews are spammed by AI. Meanwhile, Android updates continue to be inconsistent across his OEMs, with some devices not receiving core OS updates.

Additionally, Chrome lacks many features found in other browsers. For example, the ability to move the search bar to the bottom of the screen may seem unimportant, but most other browsers allow this. It’s not chrome. Reader-friendly mode is another option included in all other browsers. Chrome doesn’t have it, but Google recently rolled out a complex reader view toggle in a separate app that sticks out from the side of the screen when needed.

Google TV will be ignored. The menu is laggy and slow, and there’s no customization at all that locks you into an ad-filled space. The extensive list of things Google could do better is long.

Pixel smartphones are great, but they suffer from issues like overheating, modem issues, and a general mismatch with the Tensor chip series. Then there’s Google Gemini. It recently sparked a storm of controversy when its AI refused to generate images of entire groups of people in historical context, forcing the company to pause image generation for all people.

Still, Google decided that the best way forward was Audiomojis.

Although it sounds unrealistic,

Who wants to use their cell phone during a conversation?

Let’s say you’re on the phone and suddenly realize that this is the perfect place to insert a drumroll sound into your conversation. The sounds may add a bit of levity to the conversation, but operating the mechanism may prove a bit cumbersome before the moment is over.

Just like pulling out the dialer during a call, you have to take the phone away from your ear, look for the Audiomoji app/feature, find the appropriate menu, find the appropriate sound and accompanying emoji, and select it. The exact mechanism is not yet clear, but if we were to take the risk of speculating, we’d probably be in for a lot of trouble with little reward.

limited resources

Google should focus its resources

Android mascot in front of a sign that says

Google has a lot of money, but a limited amount of time and engineers. Instead of tying up resources on gimmicks designed to excite executives, the company should focus on making his Android great. It’s okay to have some quirks here and there, but Google is held to a higher standard, and they’re failing to deliver.

First, Google needs to address the issues with the Play Store and Chrome. In particular, the Play Store needs to be revamped and its UX completely reworked. Chrome on Android should also be a top focus for Google. At least make it on par with Chrome on iOS, which is a sophisticated browser packed with useful features. Chrome’s dropdown for refreshing and opening new tabs on iOS is a great feature, so it should be implemented on Android as well.

Google also needs to introduce stricter quality controls for its Pixel line. There’s no reason for your phone to have so many problems with modems, overheating, and crashes that other flagships solved years ago.

Google could fix these issues and focus on pleasing customers instead of spending time and engineering resources developing gimmicks.

Let’s hope Google listens.

Fix your existing product first

The audio emoji highlights Google’s worrying tendency to prioritize flashy gimmicks over important fundamental fixes. Chrome on Android needs feature parity with other browsers, the Play Store needs a complete overhaul, and Gemini AI may need some serious tweaks. Google needs to put its resources back into making great technology instead of something as impractical as audio mods.