After disabling touch input functionality owing to privacy concerns, Google is bringing back play and pause tap buttons to its compact smart speaker Home Mini.
According to a report in The Verge on Saturday, Home Mini users will now be able to long press the volume buttons on either side of the device to control music, news, alarms and phone calls.
Google launched 'Home Mini' on October 4 for $49 at an event in San Francisco.
In October, Google disabled the feature after a privacy issue was reported in which the Mini was registering "phantom" touches and recording more often than intended, said CNET.
With the top touch function, you could also wake up the Google Assistant built into Mini and issue a voice command.
When launched, the 'Home Mini' shipped with a feature that let owners activate the Google Assistant and control music by tapping the top of the speaker.
Some units had an issue that led the speaker register touches even when no one was around, leading the units to start recording repeatedly.
"The Google Home team is aware of an issue impacting a small number of Google Home Mini devices that could cause the touch control mechanism to behave incorrectly. We immediately rolled out a software update on October 7 to mitigate the issue," Google said at the time.
With the top button gone, 'Home Mini' could be activated only by voice. The volume rockers would work for adjusting the volume.
The company removed activity/queries that were created by long pressing the top of a 'Google Home Mini' between October 4 and October 7 with a software update.
The latest update is being rolling out to Home Mini units that are enrolled in Google's software preview programme.
Google recently rolled out an update that will allow you to use Home speakers as intercom systems in your house.
People can broadcast their voice from Google Assistant on smartphones or voice-activated speakers like Google Home.