I still remember back in 2020 when Google added a “Gaming Preferred” option to the Home app for Nest Wifi users. I was so stoked that they were giving special Stadia-focused attention to non-Stadia apps in an effort to support its cloud gaming initiative. While just a quick flick toggle that prioritized your bandwidth to […]
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The next Nest Speaker will reportedly ship with Google Fuchsia out of the box
According to a recent report by 9to5Google who laid eyes on one of Google’s documents before it was hidden, one of the tech giant’s upcoming smart home devices will ship with Fuchsia OS from day one. In recent memory, we’ve discussed how a third-generation Nest Audio or Mini speaker may be in the works. At […]
Continue ReadingGoogle Pixel Tablet may get a notetaking feature for quickly jotting things down around the house
As someone who loves the Nest Hub despite its flaws and limitations, I’m pretty darn excited for the Pixel Tablet that’s meant to replace it as the next multi-function Hub in smart homes. Being able to control my lights, television, speakers, and more from the comfort of my couch with a device that sits on […]
Continue ReadingAcer reveals a new waterproof Assistant-enabled smart speaker at CES called the Halo Swing
Announced at CES this year as a follow-up to its predecessor – the Halo Smart Speaker – Acer has now announced the “Halo Swing”. The Swing is a wireless, waterproof (IPX5 rated), Bluetooth (and Wi-Fi 6) speaker with a handle for, well, swinging or hanging! While the name does seem to come from the fact […]
Continue ReadingGoogle Assistant just removed the end time for music sleep timers without telling anyone
Many people who use Google Assistant around the home (those who aren’t completely and utterly frustrated and done with it by now) often play music on their Nest Hub, Nest Mini, or other Assistant-enabled devices to fall asleep faster. Putting on your favorite lo-fi or relaxing music as opposed to rain sounds can be a […]
Continue ReadingThe Google Home app public preview redesign now features a smart TV remote
Thanks to a heads-up from Reddit user PhilStation (kudos 9to5Google) new screenshots of a smart TV remote control UI have appeared online. This remote isn’t just anywhere though – it’s in the new Google Home app! That’s right, the new and improved redesign that’s now in beta for some users now features a smart TV […]
Continue ReadingIf you have a love-hate relationship with Google Assistant, an open-source alternative is coming
Did you know that there was an open-source smart home platform called Home Assistant? Me either! News of it comes at just the right time though, because recently, I expressed my frustrations with Google Assistant and its competitors. Instead of being the future we were promised, these AI assistants have largely fallen on hard times […]
Continue ReadingBrinks stops offering professional home monitoring to its remaining Nest Secure customers
Anyone who invested in a Nest Secure for its ease of use and setup process has been without a replacement for the past two years. After being discontinued in 2020, the company promised that it would continue updates until further notice. While it’s kept its word, that doesn’t mean that those of us clinging onto […]
Continue ReadingFor $25, this Lenovo Smart Clock with wireless charging is the perfect stocking stuffer
Earlier this month, the Assistant-enabled Lenovo Smart Clock 2 went on sale for roughly half off its normal retail price of $89.99. For around $48, it’s a solid deal on the perfect bedside Assistant smart device. Not only do you get a great alarm clock, you get all the home controls you love from the […]
Continue ReadingGoogle Nest and Android devices will now work with Matter
We have covered “Matter” and the effects it will have on the Smart Home industry quite extensively on this site. Basically, Matter is a new standard for smart home platforms, apps, and devices that makes it possible to connect smart home devices from different brands with one hub that is compatible across mobile operating systems. […]
Continue ReadingNest Audio update to continue Google’s smart home trend of replacing CastOS with Fuchsia
You may already be aware that Google’s Nest Hub and Nest Hub Max are now running on the company’s mysterious (or not so mysterious, depending on who you ask), new operating system. However, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. There were talks of an upcoming Chromecast Audio refresh or a new Nest smart home […]
Continue ReadingGoogle Home app redesign rolls out as optional Public Preview
Last month, Google announced a redesign of the Home app that promised to bring more device compatibility, courtesy of the Matter standard, and customization options that will allow each user to personalize their experience further. This announcement came with a timeline tied to a Public Preview that was to become available for users to sign […]
Continue ReadingGoogle Home app’s “Household routines” rolling out more widely
Nearly three weeks into the official announcement of the Google Home app’s redesign to roll in the new “Matter” connectivity standard and to make it more customizable, it appears that some of the updates on “Routines” are starting to roll out. According to reporting from 9to5Google, some users are already starting to see the new […]
Continue ReadingThe Google Home web app finally goes live next week so you can view your Nest cameras online
At long last, the PWA, or “Progressive Web Application” for Google Home is set to go live! Detailed last week during the Android app’s major visual refresh, Google states now on the Nest Community Blog that you’ll be able to access it with nothing but a web browser! I actually talked in the past about […]
Continue ReadingA 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 […]
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