I’ve got big news for anyone wearing the Philips HearLink 9050s from Costco: Auracast is finally here. In this video I show you the new firmware update (it jumps from 1.2.1 to 1.3.0), what it adds, and why this is one of the most important updates you can get on these hearing aids. The release notes are basically the “big three”: Auracast broadcast support, Google Fast Pair for Bluetooth LE Audio devices, plus general connectivity/performance improvements. And yes—I tested it and verified Auracast is working. The confusing part is the Philips HearLink 2 app will still tell a lot of you that you’re “up to date” on 1.2.1. That’s not true if you want Auracast. Right now, most people are going to need to schedule an appointment (no walk-ins) and have Costco run the update, because the app isn’t reliably pushing it yet. For the DIY crowd, I also walk through updating the Philips HearSuite software first (so the firmware shows up), then running the firmware manager safely—plus my warning to not wear the aids during an update. After the update, the HearLink 2 app gets an Auracast Broadcast menu where you can scan and connect to nearby broadcasts. It’s a huge step forward for LE Audio stability and future Bluetooth compatibility—and it puts the Philips 9050 right up there with the other Auracast-capable options.