Results of a query to identify a song on a Samsung and Pixel phone | Image credit: Phone Arena
Song identification alternatives on Android: Google search widget (left) and “Now Playing” history (right) | Image credit: Phone Arena
It should be noted that I am currently subscribed to the AI Premium plan, which grants me access to Gemini Advanced, which is supposed to be more advanced than the standard free version. At this time, I am on the free two month trial that the company offered at launch, however, that free trial expires in April, at which point everyone who opted to give Gemini Advanced a chance will be charged $20 a month if not cancelled.
The question remains if Google will get Gemini to work in a way that will make a monthly paid subscription worth keeping. While the lack of song identification doesn’t personally bother me as much, this might not be the case for others who use this functionality on a regular basis. Gemini has already had its share of issues since launch, including the now paused human image generation feature due to the intense backlash it underwent.
At this point, Gemini does feel like a rushed product, lacking the polish and fundamental features of its predecessor. While innovation is certainly welcomed, Gemini currently feels like a beta test. Hopefully, Google swiftly addresses these shortcomings, but for now, it’s tough to recommend Gemini as a true Google Assistant replacement on Android.
