topic Re: Microphone not always working in XZ Series

Microphone not always working

Pentagen — Fri, 07 Jul 2017 20:44:35 GMT

I say, "OK Google," and my Xperia XZ Premium does nothing.

Well, sometimes it takes me to Google Assistant, and sometimes it does nothing. Sometimes telling Google Assistant picks up what I say and sometimes it doesn't; sometimes it starts picking up my voice and stops. Even when it does pick up my voice, it doesn't always convert it into the correct text.

This is not limited to Google Assistant. My microphone has been inconsistent in all apps that I have tried. (Those apps are Google Assistant, Google app, Google voice typing, Amazon Underground, Bing, Cortana and OneNote.)

This first happened a few weeks ago. I had been using the microphone in the Cortana app and then said, "OK Google," with no result. I thought that it might have been Cortana holding onto control of the microphone, so I restarted my phone and the microphone worked properly again.

Today, the problem occurred again. Far worse than the last time. Restarting my phone made no difference. The microphone remained as inconsistent as it was before restarting the phone.

My guess is that this is either a faulty microphone or some app taking control of the microphone when it should not. Whatever the reason, I would like to hear potential solutions to this problem that I hope do not involve sending my phone to a repair center.

Re: Microphone not always working

Pentagen — Sun, 09 Jul 2017 20:29:32 GMT

It appears that the problem was Cortana. I removed Cortana from my phone and the microphone has been acting properly since.

I suggest that Sony Mobile engineers look into this and, if necessary, work with Cortana developer Microsoft to fix this issue.

Re: Microphone not always working

najodleglejszy — Sun, 09 Jul 2017 21:42:39 GMT

you could try contacting Microsoft about the issue. scroll down on the Play Store entry for Cortana and choose "send email". describe the problem that you've experienced and mention your phone's model and Android version.

Re: Microphone not always working

Lord_viridis — Mon, 10 Jul 2017 01:16:05 GMT

You have, it seems, a self created issue.

You have two apps both fighting for control of microphone during normal off-app use waiting for voice commands.

Ok Google and hey cortana won't mix well as in android only one app has access to microphone at any one time. Having both command listening in background will always end in a few missed phrases.

Re: Microphone not always working

Pentagen — Mon, 10 Jul 2017 06:20:06 GMT

It's not supposed to be doing this. About a year-and-a-half ago, Microsoft removed the option to access Cortana from anywhere on an Android device by saying "Hey Cortana" because the option was causing microphone-related tasks to fail.

Just why Cortana is apparently doing this now even though it should only be listening when Cortana is the frontmost app is a mystery to me. I hope that Sony Mobile and/or Microsoft can fix whatever is causing this.

Re: Microphone not always working

Lord_viridis — Mon, 10 Jul 2017 06:37:02 GMT

I honestly don't think sony mobile will have any say or inclination to fix Microsofts app tbh.

Re: Microphone not always working

Pentagen — Mon, 10 Jul 2017 06:52:47 GMT

I'm not fully convinced that this is entirely Microsoft's fault. (I'm mostly convinced, but not entirely.)

Re: Microphone not always working

najodleglejszy — Mon, 10 Jul 2017 08:05:55 GMT

again, you could try contacting Microsoft and let them know about the issue. it's much more likely that they'll fix it rather than Sony, as it's Microsoft's app after all.