Google Home App Adds 9 Exciting New Features
▼ Summary
– Google has introduced picture-in-picture support for Nest Cams on Google TV, allowing users to view camera feeds on their TV screen (currently in public preview).
– Gemini now offers expanded smart home controls, including broadcasting through speakers and searching camera history via text queries, though voice dictation isn’t available yet.
– The Google Home app now lets users navigate recorded camera footage in 10-second intervals by double-tapping the screen, similar to YouTube’s mobile controls.
– New customization features include streamlined automations with presence sensing (using phone location or Nest sensors) and expanded Favorites tiles for temperature, Wi-Fi, and light controls.
– The Home app now supports Nest Protect safety alerts, third-party Matter-enabled locks, and web controls for lights, temperature, and door locks, with more features in public preview.
Google’s latest Home app update introduces nine powerful new features designed to enhance smart home control and customization. The standout addition enables Nest Cam feeds to appear in picture-in-picture mode on Google TV devices, letting users monitor their cameras without leaving whatever they’re watching. This functionality, currently in public preview, addresses a long-anticipated need for seamless home surveillance integration.
Gemini’s expanded smart home capabilities represent another major leap forward. Users can now broadcast announcements across connected speakers or search camera footage using natural language queries directly in the Gemini app. While voice commands aren’t supported yet, this update signals Google’s strategic shift toward consolidating smart home controls under its AI platform rather than relying solely on Google Assistant.
Video playback controls receive meaningful upgrades too. Viewers can now scrub through Nest camera recordings with intuitive double-tap gestures, mirroring YouTube’s mobile navigation. This makes locating specific moments in footage significantly more efficient compared to previous implementations.
Customization options have grown substantially with streamlined automation creation tools. Presence detection now combines phone location data with Soli radar technology in select Nest devices to trigger actions more accurately. The update also brings Nest Protect smoke and CO detector management into the Home app, eliminating the need for a separate Nest application to handle critical safety alerts and diagnostics.
For smart lock owners, Matter compatibility expands with granular control options including guest access management, passcode editing, and real-time notifications. The Favorites section becomes more versatile with new tile types like whole-home lighting controls, Wi-Fi quick actions, and temperature dashboards. These preferences can sync across multiple devices including smartwatches and tablets.
Browser-based control through Google Home for web now allows basic adjustments like lighting, thermostat changes, and door locks when away from mobile devices. Early testers can also experiment with the new Home Summary widget for Pixel phones, though access remains invitation-only for now.
These enhancements collectively push Google’s ecosystem toward tighter integration and more intuitive operation. From safety monitoring to everyday automation, the updates demonstrate how Google continues refining its smart home platform with both practical improvements and forward-looking AI integration.
(Source: The Verge)
