With distance learning in effect for the upcoming school season, at least in the US, Google Assistant is adding a handful of features to ease the transition. This includes Family Bell, precise Broadcasting, and other whimsical features aimed at kids.
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From smart home controls to setting reminders and asking questions, you’re mostly interacting with Google when using a Nest Hub. That said, third-party apps do exist, and Google is making a big push for Smart Display games this year.
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The interface for Nest Hubs and other Assistant Smart Displays have remained mostly unchanged since launching in 2018. Google is now rolling out a tweak to the Nest Hub Max where system elements switch from a dark theme to a light one.
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Smart Displays and Android TV sets double as fantastic picture frames when not actively being used. Both platforms are now in the process of picking up a new “Captured on Pixel” background collection.
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Video calls are booming in 2020, and dedicated home devices are particularly suited for casual conversations. Smart Displays, including the Nest Hub Max, are now adding support for Google Duo and Google Meet group calling.
Like Android, Google Assistant is also a platform for third-party developers creating apps. Google today is making it easier to build Assistant Actions with new development tools and core platform features, like Continuous Match Mode.
Google Assistant is a powerful tool that makes the company’s Nest Hub and Nest Hub Max smart displays so great. Now, though, Google is testing out new smart displays designed to be “easy” for customers who aren’t as tech-savvy.
Audio adjustments on Google’s smart speakers and Smart Displays are quite straightforward. The company is now testing the ability to set a separate Google Assistant volume level in the Home companion app.
Assistant Smart Displays provide an easy way to control all the connected devices in your home. Google is today improving the entertainment experience with a new Media View for Nest Hubs.
When you’re not using the Nest Hub for household smarts, it’s designed to blend into the background of any setting. This naturally comes with the option for users to choose how they want their idle Hub to present itself, and the device’s ‘Word Clock’ screen tends to be a popular choice. It would seem that Google has pushed an update to the Word Clock that alters its color scheme, bringing a more vibrant appearance to the previously black-and-white layout.
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Kids are naturally attracted to smart speakers given their ease of use. Recognizing that, Google over the past several years has built out family-friendly features and is continuing that at CES 2020 with Smart Display sticky notes and a speed dial.
Back in May, Google started rolling out a revamped homescreen for all Smart Displays. A small addition on the Photo Frame/Ambient mode now adds a simple home button to load Assistant cards.
Today is the big launch of the Disney+ streaming service in the United States, combining the best of Disney, Marvel, Fox, National Geographic, and more. Already, on day one, Disney has an interesting advantage over their direct competitor, Netflix, in that Disney+ can be played on a Nest Hub and other Google Assistant smart displays.
Exactly one month ago, we reported on a speed test feature being developed for Nest Hub and Nest Hub Max. According to a Reddit post on r/googlehome, one user has noticed the feature appear after adding their first generation Google Wifi device to the new Home app.
Earlier this month, Google announced a slew of Photos features, including in-store prints and story-like Memories. We first got wind of that latter feature in July, along with another called “Photo frames.” That ability to control what Google Photos content appears on your Smart Display is now beginning to roll out.
Last week, reminders in Google Assistant were redesigned on Android, while the functionality was entirely removed for G Suite accounts. Google today announced that Assistant reminders can now be assigned to members of your family or household.
Compared to speakers, Smart Displays open up a world of possibility for selecting and controlling what’s currently playing. Google is now testing a “Move to” ability on the Nest Hub to transfer what’s currently Casting to other Assistant devices in your home.
While talking to your smart home is intuitive, there are instances when voice commands can be quite disruptive. One notorious example is telling Assistant to turn off lights at night and getting back a verbal confirmation. Google is now replacing that loud response with a simple “chime” reply.
A fairly common complaint with Smart Displays and Home speakers is how the Google Assistant voice is tied to the standard media volume. This can result in search results and responses being too loud or too quiet. Google is now readying a solution with “Custom TTS Volume” in the Home app.
With the Nest Hub Max in May, Google introduced a new homescreen for Smart Displays. Already available on the Nest Hub, this revamped — and somewhat controversial — redesign is now rolling out to Lenovo Smart Displays.
Smart Displays in recent weeks have gained a number of new features like a “stop” command for alarms and more clock faces. Google is now letting you create on-demand speaker groups right from Smart Displays even when music is already playing.
One of Google’s highlight announcements at CES 2019 was the Lenovo Smart Clock. The compact-sized Smart Display optimized for a bedroom nightstand is now available for preorder at retailers like Walmart and Home Depot.
At I/O 2019 last week, Google announced a handful of new Smart Display features and the Nest Hub Max. Over the past few days, the Assistant devices have seen additional clocks and a new Routines shortcut. Google is now rolling out a new Smart Display UI with revamped homescreen.
Google announced several months ago that it would be adding “Character Alarms” to its Assistant smart displays, and over the weekend that feature has finally made its debut. Character Alarms are now available on Nest Hub and other Google Assistant smart displays.
