Do you own a Google Nest Hub? If so, you may find that you’re hardly interacting with it unless your phone isn’t in your hand, and even though you’re lounging around the house, the glanceable information is just that – glanceable. During Google’s hardware event today, the company discussed how it wants to help you […]
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Google Home redesign will combine all your Smart Home devices into a single-app experience
Believe it or not, the Google Home app we know today on Android has been around for ten years now. When it first launched, the average U.S. household had less than 3 smart home devices connected but this has risen to about 22 connected devices per home throughout the years. However, even with that staggering […]
Continue ReadingYour Nest speakers and Hubs can now detect your presence for automation
Nest presence sensing is getting an upgrade, and you’ll no longer need to rely solely on your thermostat, Nest Guard, Nest Protect, or Nest x Yale smart lock to let Google know if you’re at home. Traditionally, walking past your sensors built into these devices would cause the Home app to detect you and determine […]
Continue ReadingGoogle wants to set HDR video and 3D audio free from Dolby’s clutches with ‘Project Caviar’
The Alliance for Open Media – an organization that Google is a founding member of – is not stopping at the creation of the controversial AV1 codec. AV1, for those who are unfamiliar, is an open source, royalty-free video codec format meant to reduce the high cost of delivering online media to you, the consumer […]
Continue Reading5 great deals to get your smart home up and running
New Chromebooks aren’t the only thing on the way from Google’s ever-expanding hardware ecosystem. In less than two weeks, Google is set to announce the latest Pixel phone, a Pixel Watch and we believe a few products are being added to the Nest smart home family. Just a few months later, tech companies from around […]
Continue ReadingMatter demoed at IFA 2022 with Nest Hub controlling a HomeKit accessory
Aside from the usual tech revealed at IFA, like televisions and new laptops, another product showcased this year was cause for awe. This consisted of demo stations by the smart home accessory company Eve, which showed their Homekit-enabled smart plugs working with Homekit-incompatible devices like an Alexa speaker and a Google Nest Hub — all […]
Continue ReadingMade by Google reveals its seasonal Nest Doorbell ringtones
Do you own a Nest Doorbell? Are you a fan of its annual attempts to liven up the holidays around your home by offering custom, themed ringtones? Well, it’s that time of the year again, and Google is once again adding a new set of tones to the Google Home app so you can swap […]
Continue ReadingGoogle Home app is redesigning its controls for popular Smart Home devices
The Android Google Home app was redesigned in March, which implemented the rounded rectangular home controls present as quick settings tiles since Android 11. This redesign was well received, as the new control toggles made it easier to control connected devices with fewer taps and copied the look and feel of home controls on Nest […]
Continue ReadingYour Nest Hub Max should now officially be running Google Fuchsia
Google’s new operating system, “Fuchsia” remains mostly a mystery today. However, one thing is clear and that’s the fact that the company hopes to make it the driving force behind its smart display hardware. Back in June, the Nest Hub Max followed suit in offering a Preview Program for Fuchsia after the original Hub started […]
Continue ReadingStreaming services want to invade and ruin your YouTube experience, and Google may let them
I may be biased in saying this, but it seems like Google will do anything to force YouTube TV down your throat, even if it must mix it with a little bit of what you love in order to make it palatable. Now, I’m not talking about cable channels themselves, per se, but the incessant […]
Continue ReadingChromecast celebrates 9 years with Nest Cam and Doorbell streaming support for Google TV
While Google Play was busy celebrating its 10th anniversary, another Google all star crept up on a huge milestone. Chromecast is now 9 years old (I know, I know, the company couldn’t wait just one more year to round out to an even number?), and with it, a new Keyword Blog post celebrates all of […]
Continue ReadingYouTube TV celebrates reaching 5 million subs in 5 years
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 […]
Continue ReadingNew 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 […]
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