Over the previous 12 months or so, Google has been shopping for up a number of audio {hardware} startups, in line with a latest report from Protocol. The truth that Google’s estimated to have spent tens of tens of millions on startups and patent portfolios of firms engaged on audio {hardware}, 3D audio, noise cancellation, and Bluetooth tech may trace that it’s planning on increasing its lineup of audio merchandise. In lots of circumstances, it’s reportedly introduced on staff from the businesses as properly.
Google is not any stranger to the world of audio merchandise. It’s offered a number of fashions and generations of wi-fi earbuds, and it manufacturers its Nest Audio sensible speaker as being “all about sound.” However in the meanwhile, it doesn’t have the identical vary of choices as rivals like Apple or Bose — the acquisitions may assist put Google in a greater place to create merchandise like on-ear headphones or extra feature-rich earbuds.
Google appears to be trying into customized audio chips
A number of the hires and job listings that the report talks about level in the direction of the concept that Google is also constructing customized silicon for audio merchandise. That strategy may make sense. Apple’s headphones use a customized chip, and Google has a historical past of making specialised {hardware}, designing its personal chips for issues like safety and photograph processing. It even created its personal SoC for the Pixel 6.
As Protocol notes, a few of the offers have appeared extra centered on netting patents relatively than tech or expertise. The string acquisitions began after Sonos sued Google (twice) for patent infringement regarding sensible speaker tech. Google just lately needed to take away some options from sure sensible residence units, due to a choose’s ruling that it had certainly infringed on Sonos’ patents — it’s laborious to think about that Google desires to maintain making present or future merchandise worse due to mental property disputes. Having a set of its personal audio patents may assist forestall that sooner or later.
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