A new audio-focused Nest smart home device running Google Fuchsia could drop next year

The secret-ish, new operating system from Google that we’re entirely convinced is meant to eventually replace Android, ChromeOS, WearOS and really everything else the company offers from a software standpoint is quickly rolling out to smart home devices.

Back in August, the Nest Hub Max was updated to Google Fuchsia and before that, first-generation Nest Hub displays received it. Now, it would seem that the company’s Nest speakers may be next in line to upgrade to the new OS which will likely change absolutely nothing about your experience.

According to 9to5Google, CastOS – the Linux operating system currently on board many of Google’s smart home devices – is being swapped out for Fuchsia which they think is the 2019 Nest Mini and the 2020 Nest Audio. What’s more interesting is that they think they’ve spotted a new Nest speaker code-named “Clover” that could run Fuchsia out of the box and that may drop at some point next year.

This unit may actually be a third-generation Nest Mini, but there’s also a possibility that we’re looking at a new Chromecast Audio (R.I.P.). If the latter, this corroborates earlier reports and I think a lot of you audiophiles reading this will be extremely excited. Regardless, if it’s just a Nest Mini running Fuchsia, it could simply mean that Google is looking to “cast” CastOS out of the smart home and give Fuchsia a work-from-home job.

I’d be interested in hearing your thoughts – do you think Google should be more transparent and forthcoming in these early stages of Fuchsia’s development, or would you rather wait and see what comes of it? It’s clear that the company has huge plans for it as an all-in-one scalable operating system for all of its hardware, but I hate how it’s remained a mystery for so long.

Regardless, with it still being at least years off from becoming the end-all-be-all of mobile operating systems, it’s understandable that they’re keeping things on the down low. At least there’s no change in functionality or the user experience for the end user while they do so!