Amidst all the exciting new first-party hardware announced at Google's smart home event today, one of the most strategically important pieces of news was a fundamental shift in philosophy. Google has announced that it is opening up its Nest camera platform and all of its new Gemini features to … [Read more...] about Google opens up the Nest camera platform to third parties, starting with a $23 Walmart camera
Smart Home
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The new Google Home app is finally here: faster, smarter, and redesigned for Gemini
Alongside all the new hardware and the powerful new Gemini for Home intelligence, Google is rolling out the final, crucial piece of its smart home revitalization: a completely rebuilt and redesigned Google Home app. Based on user feedback, Google rebuilt the app from the ground up with three primary … [Read more...] about The new Google Home app is finally here: faster, smarter, and redesigned for Gemini
Google’s new Gemini for Home is a brilliant AI upgrade, but the best features will cost you
While the new hardware was the star of today's Google smart home event, the real story is the software that powers it all. Google has officially detailed Gemini for Home, a new "foundational intelligence" that will replace the Google Assistant and fundamentally upgrade the smarts of your entire home … [Read more...] about Google’s new Gemini for Home is a brilliant AI upgrade, but the best features will cost you
Google unveils new 2K Nest Cams and the ‘Google Home Speaker’ built for Gemini
Today, Google made good on its promise to reinvest in the Nest ecosystem. The company just unveiled a whole new portfolio of devices built from the ground up for the new Gemini for Home experience, including three new 2K Nest Cams and a Doorbell, and the brand-new Google Home Speaker. New Nest … [Read more...] about Google unveils new 2K Nest Cams and the ‘Google Home Speaker’ built for Gemini
In a win for the web, Google Home finally gets device controls from the browser
The Google Home web app at home.google.com has been a fantastic addition for smart home users, finally giving us a way to view all of our camera feeds on a large desktop or laptop screen. But since its launch, it has had one massive, glaring omission: the ability to actually control the rest of our … [Read more...] about In a win for the web, Google Home finally gets device controls from the browser
Google’s entire smart home lineup is about to get a huge upgrade
It looks like Google's entire smart home hardware lineup is about to get a big refresh. A new report from Android Headlines has detailed what appears to be the next generation of Nest Cams, a new Nest Doorbell, and the mysterious new smart speaker Google teased at Made by Google earlier this month. … [Read more...] about Google’s entire smart home lineup is about to get a huge upgrade
Google totally teased a new Gemini-powered smart speaker during the Pixel 10 event
Yesterday's Made by Google event was a whirlwind of celebrity appearances, a new talk-show format, and a massive slate of hardware announcements. Between the new Pixel 10s, the Pixel Watch 4, and the debut of Pixelsnap, it would be easy to miss some of the smaller details. But if you were paying … [Read more...] about Google totally teased a new Gemini-powered smart speaker during the Pixel 10 event
Google Assistant gets the boot as ‘Gemini for Home’ arrives to upgrade your smart speakers
For nearly a decade, the Google Assistant has been the voice of our smart homes. But yesterday as a part of the Made by Google 2025 event, Google announced the beginning of a new era. The Google Assistant as we know it is being replaced by an all-new, far more powerful voice assistant for the next … [Read more...] about Google Assistant gets the boot as ‘Gemini for Home’ arrives to upgrade your smart speakers
Matter’s new update looks to fix the often-tricky smart home setup experience
The Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA), the group behind the Matter smart home standard, just announced the latest specification update: Matter 1.4.1. If that ".1" designation gives you pause, you're right – this isn't a huge leap forward with tons of new device categories. Instead, this "minor … [Read more...] about Matter’s new update looks to fix the often-tricky smart home setup experience
Ditch the Nest app: Google Home scheduling for Gen 3 & E thermostats is coming
Amidst news about support ending for its oldest thermostats, Google delivered some incredibly welcome news for owners of its most popular models this week. After years of users asking (and complaining), Google has finally confirmed that scheduling functions for the Nest Learning Thermostat (3rd gen) … [Read more...] about Ditch the Nest app: Google Home scheduling for Gen 3 & E thermostats is coming
Your old Nest Thermostat is going to lose app control later this year
Google dropped some sad news for owners of its earliest smart thermostats this week. Citing the increasing difficulty of updating hardware that's well over a decade old, the company announced it will officially end support for its Nest Learning Thermostat (1st gen, released 2011), Nest Learning … [Read more...] about Your old Nest Thermostat is going to lose app control later this year
Get Google’s battery-powered Nest Cam for just $130
If you've been considering adding a smart security camera, Walmart has a Flash Deal that might just push you over the edge. Google’s latest battery-powered Nest Cam is currently down to just $129.99, a solid $50 discount from its usual $180 price. We actually use one of these in the Chrome Unboxed … [Read more...] about Get Google’s battery-powered Nest Cam for just $130
