I’ve been a YouTube TV customer from the start, and during that time, I’ve had a love/hate relationship with the service. From its beginnings as a promising alternative for those who wanted to cut the cord to later disappointments as certain RSNs (Regional Sports Networks) started dropping off, though somehow the price kept increasing. One […]
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New Chromecast with Google TV update rolling out
If you have a Chromecast with Google TV, the updated streaming device that replaces the original Chromecast and delivers an Android TV-like experience is finally getting an update this year. As 9to5Google noted, the update comes a full seven months since the last update in December, which improved Dolby Vision playback and freed up some […]
Continue ReadingA new Chromecast Audio could be in the works, even amidst Google’s legal battles with Sonos
The Chromecast Audio, while not as popular as the standard Chromecast, was still quite popular with niche users, and especially with audiophiles. I remember back when I worked at Best Buy as a Google Expert, there were many people who came in and bought several of them at a time just to have them for […]
Continue ReadingNvidia Shield ‘night listening’ feature balances audio while watching movies after hours
Have you ever had to play “sound control” late at night while watching an action flick because the characters whisper and explosions are as loud as the commercials in between? Oh yeah? Me too. Unfortunately, on my Chromecast with Google TV, I find myself constantly pressing the up and down volume buttons as I watch […]
Continue ReadingA decluttered feed redesign for the Google Home app is finally rolling out to users
Back in March, Google’s Community Specialist, Leticia, posted on the Nest Help forum that the company was going to completely revamp the Home app’s “Feed” section. This area shows news and updates or notifications about your smart home devices, but until now, it’s been a hot mess. Lots of information came at the user from […]
Continue ReadingNest Hub Max gets Fuchsia update in Preview Program
The Fuchsia operating system is now making its way to the Nest Hub Max, roughly a year after it launched on the first-generation Nest Hub (originally called the Home Hub), except with a caveat — your Google Assistant smart display needs to be enrolled in the Preview Program. However, the program is available to all […]
Continue ReadingGoogle TV Profiles have arrived, will allow each user to have their own personalized experience
Happy Monday! I want to get up, head over to your Google TV, and click the profile image at the top right of the screen. Now, click “Switch account”. Today marks the first day where massive amounts of people are actually seeing the update for Google TV Profiles, as reported by 9to5Google. Originally, Google stated […]
Continue ReadingPopular Linux Distro Ubuntu spotted running on a second-generation Google Nest Hub
We’ve already seen plenty of instances where gamers have run Google Stadia on the wildest devices – even on an Android Auto head unit. The level of modding and customization that fans of a piece of hardware will go to is truly inspiring. Today in my Google Discover feed, I happened upon a guy who […]
Continue ReadingNest Hub Max to lose bridging and range extension support for Nest x Yale locks
Google is hard at work making sure all their smart home devices are ready for the launch of the upcoming “Matter” smart home industry standard that will be leveraging the next-gen connectivity protocol. This new standard was developed in collaboration with Amazon, Apple, Samsung SmartThings, and Zigbee as a way to reduce fragmentation and achieve […]
Continue ReadingPixel users may have trouble setting up their smart home devices thanks to that Sonos fiasco
Remember that whole big Sonos patent infringement situation back in January that Google found itself in the midst of? Remember how Google also had to make changes to how speaker groups worked and how they were even set up? Well, now, more side effects are going to be affecting users – specifically those with Pixel […]
Continue ReadingXbox game streaming device coming, Chromecast may need to fight for your HDMI
As a diehard PlayStation gamer since my youth, I can confidently say that watching the trajectory Microsoft has chosen to take with the Xbox ecosystem, I never expected to kind of sort of like it. Growing up, it was the Halo console – the FPS box or racing game hardware in my eyes. Truth be […]
Continue ReadingYour Nest Hub will now show the date, time, and weather all at once on the standby screen
Appearing on version 46.32.13.418036576 and Cast firmware version 1.56.290464 of the second-generation Google Nest Hub, as well as on the JBL Link View as per 9to5Google, the time, date, and weather will all now appear simultaneously on the bottom-left of the device homescreen! As you can see in the image above, all three are present […]
Continue ReadingThis is not a drill: Google TV Profiles are actually rolling out this time
After being delayed once already and after several false starts including one accidental slip up which revealed them to the world early, Google TV profiles are actually rolling out this time. All the way back in December, Google made the decision to push back the launch of a feature the Chromecast with Google TV should […]
Continue ReadingGoogle begins offering suggestions for which smart home device you may want to cast to
While not something particularly mind blowing, a small, new tweak to the Google Cast UI on Android seeks to get your music or videos up and running on your smart home devices with less effort. In the past, tapping the Cast icon at the top right of YouTube or YouTube Music among other cast-enabled apps […]
Continue ReadingHow to use Google Assistant’s Family Bell feature to keep your family on track throughout the day
Google Assistant has a neat little feature that I feel often goes overlooked – at least in my circles. Everytime I tell a friend or a family member that they can automate bells that announce upcoming activities on their Home devices, they look at me with a blank face. This mostly has to do with […]
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