Here’s a closer look at the Pixel Tablet’s apps and experiences including Assistant and Discover

Everyone is excited for Google’s new Nest Hub because, well, it’s more than just a Nest Hub. It’s actually a two-in-one device featuring the same power and features of an Android tablet with the convenience and smart home focus of a docked smart display. Google first showed it off during the 2022 hardware event that just occurred this month, and quite honestly, it’s just gorgeous.

Google Assistant and Discover rework

While you can see all of our previous coverage on it, I wanted to use today to take a closer look at the apps and experiences that will come with the new device – more specifically, Google Assistant and Discover, which were just uncovered by 9to5Google via their APK Insights report of the latest Search update for Android.

Unlike a Chromebook and its ‘Everything button‘, which does include Google Assistant, the new Pixel Tablet will feature a right-aligned Assistant pop-up that protrudes from the bottom navigation. However, before calling it up in full, activating it via a hotword will reveal that Assistant has retained its colorful lightbar while listening for vocal input.

Additionally, being that the Tablet is running Android as its primary operating system, it has something that Chromebooks still don’t – Google Discover! As you can see in the image above, a full-width layout for Discover news articles and information is present and takes up the entire display.

The Nest Hub has some major limitations

I would say that using this unit in your home – either casually on the couch or while it’s connected to its wirelessly charging speaker dock – will provide a natural and seamless experience where the Nest Hub has failed to do so. The original and even the second generation Hub were created with ‘glanceable’ information, but if we’re honest, so much of what’s on offer, even with the new app launcher, is just pitiful if you’re like me and keep this thing within arm’s reach on your workspace desk.

YouTube hardly lets you browse new videos in an accessible manner, YouTube music feels like it hardly offers you much variety compared to the Android version, and Google Calendar and Tasks are basically useless compared to their full-fledged counterparts. While this is to be expected, it doesn’t make it pleasant to use for those of us who aren’t just walking past it as it sits on the kitchen counter.

A renewed dedication to Android app experiences

Luckily, Google has completely revamped its focus on tablet-focused Android app experiences, redesigning many of its offerings in the process. It’s also working with third parties to do the same. The screenshots in the gallery below, which come from Google’s hardware event on YouTube, make this evident. The newest addition to the Pixel Family is not only gorgeous but functional as well.

By creating Android 13 to take full advantage of the extra space a tablet display offers and by disallowing experiences to simply stretch out a phone app horizontally, Google is giving the Pixel Tablet and foldables a great chance at a future.

With Android 13’s quick settings being turned into large, square tiles, Google’s widgets being built from the ground up for the modern age, and overall just the gorgeous Material You redesign that the company has injected into its mobile operating system, I believe that Android has become the best choice not only for in-depth interaction but also for quick, glanceable information on a smart home display. It sure is better than CastOS, that’s for sure!

The Pixel Tablet fills an important gap

Over the years, I’ve realized that I’m one of those types of people who truly does benefit from a tablet as a device that fills the gap between my phone and Chromebook, and if I’m honest, we just haven’t had a great solution for that in years. I mean, I could have bought a Samsung Galaxy tablet, but as a Google hardware fanboy, it’s exciting to see the Pixel Tablet making its debut! Let me know in the comments if you’re picking up the new Tablet when it launches next year and if so, how will you use it most – as a tablet or as a smart display docked?