In a recent Made by Google Podcast interview with Kristi Bradford, a product manager on the Pixel Essential Apps team, it was revealed that the majority of sessions conducted using the Pixel Recorder app last for three minutes or less. While the app boasts transcription capabilities and is positioned as a valuable tool for meetings, lectures, band practices, and capturing family memories, it appears that Pixel owners predominantly utilize it for brief memos.
During the interview, Bradford addressed the perception that the app may serve as a mere grocery list maker, stating that it is not the case. Instead, users employ the app in bite-size chunks for brainstorming rap lyrics and engaging in voiceovers. Actors, in particular, find the app useful for recording content they create or producing samples.
Interestingly, this finding contrasts with the Voice Memos app available on iOS. The nomenclature of Apple’s app aligns more closely with the short-form nature of its usage, which could explain why Apple has yet to introduce voice transcription capabilities.
The interview also shed light on the approach taken by the Pixel Essential Apps team in incorporating user feedback. According to Bradford, the team draws inspiration for new features not only from Google Research and audio-related advancements but also directly from user feedback. Regular reviews of user experience research (UXR) and feedback submissions are conducted, enabling the team to consider user needs and preferences in their roadmap planning.
When it comes to adding new features, Google follows a balanced approach that combines direct user requests with an overarching vision for advancing audio technology. One of the recent additions to the app is Speaker Labels, which further enhances its utility for long-form use cases.