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This smart surge protector might be the best $33 you spend on Prime Day
It works with Apple Homekit, Google Assistant, Alexa, and more
Smart plugs and power strips like this one from Meross make it easy to connect "dumb" appliances to your smart home setup. They're also perfect for those who are dipping a toe into the smart home world. The Meross smart power strip highlighted in this deal is a great option to consider, especially for those who want something simple to get started and don't want to spend a lot of money chasing the best smart plugs out there. The Meross Wi-Fi-enabled smart plug, which usually goes for $41 on Amazon, is currently down to just $33 for a limited time. This surge protector would be a solid addition to your home, and it's also very easy to recommend at the discounted price of just $33 during Amazon Prime Day.
Google Home users can now add Room Lights to the Home panel and Favorites tab
A highly requested feature is now available to those using the Public Preview.
Google Home app has received a significant update, allowing users to add Room Lights to the Home panel and Favorites tab. This is a well-overdue feature that many users have been clamoring for, making it a much easier process to add lights. While convenient, this feature isn't rolling out to the public quite yet, only available to those in the Public Preview.
Google Home's new script editor will let users create powerful custom automations
A new way to customize automations in your home if you've got some coding skills.
Today, Google announced a new script editor for Google Home on web and also the Google Home Public Preview app. As far as what this means, users will now be able to harness the power of a scripting tool to bring powerful automations to smart home projects.
Google Home updates at I/O 2023 feature app redesign and new Pixel home panel
Google unveiled a slew of new Google Home features at I/O 2023, including a mobile app redesign, a Pixel home panel, and expanded Matter support.
Though much of the attention at Google I/O has been directed toward the expected release of the Google Pixel 7a and the Google Pixel Fold, the company also announced a slew of updates coming to the smart home. Google previewed its plans to support Matter, the smart home interoperability standard the company worked to develop, at last year's conference. This year, Google is expanding Matter support throughout Google Home and is even bringing Matter to iPhone users in the coming weeks. Plus, Google debuted a new mobile app and a Pixel-exclusive home panel.
Google Home app delivers improved controls for connected garage doors
The Google Home app is now offering a more streamlined experience when it comes to opening and closing connected garage doors.
The Google Home app has received a welcome update that brings physical onscreen controls for garage doors. This change is a big one, as users previously had to rely on voice command and Google Assistant, making the process a bit more convoluted. However, one thing to note is that the update looks to only available in the Public Preview version of the Google Home app.
Google Home app gains touch remote control feature for Xbox consoles
You can now add an Xbox console to the Google Home app to gain a touch remote control feature.
For most, controlling the Xbox consists of using the controller. But did you know that you have the option of using your voice too. If you weren't aware, Microsoft's Xbox console can accept voice controls from supported digital voice assistants. But now, it looks like Microsoft is introducing a new option, delivering a new touch remote control feature for Xbox consoles that can be utilized in the Google Home app.
How a security researcher turned a Google Home Mini into a wiretap
If you have a Google Home device but are worried about the always-on microphones, your worries are justified.
Having an always-listening device in your home is a pretty common occurrence nowadays, particularly with the proliferation of Amazon's Echo line of devices and the Google Home series. While they're incredibly useful pieces of technology, they're not without their privacy concerns. They have always-active microphones and an internet connection, which for some people, is too much of an invasion of privacy for them to be in the home. Security researcher Matt Kunze has proven that those fears may well be justified, as he was able to turn his Google Home Mini into what can essentially be described as a wiretap.
The Google Home app for Wear OS 3 gets updated with better navigation and performance
The Google Home Wear OS 3 app has been updated and includes a new list view and performance improvements.
Back in October, Google announced a Public Preview of its Google Home app for Wear OS smartwatches. The app was only compatible with Wear OS 3 smartwatches, and at the time, it was pretty bare-bones, lacking many advanced features. But at least it was something. Today, Google took to Twitter to announce that it had made some updates for the Public Preview.
You can now try out the revamped Google Home app
The Public Preview is live and you can sign-up from the app settings
Google gave us a preview of the upcoming Google Home app redesign early last month, showcasing its updated five-tab layout and highlighting some of its new features. While the app will roll out to users early next year, you can try it out early by signing up for the Public Preview program.
Samsung SmartThings and Google Home will offer seamless Matter device interoperability
Samsung has partnered with Google to offer users seamless Matter device interoperability between the SmartThings and Google Home platforms.
Samsung, Google, and over 170 different brands are gearing up to adopt the Matter smart home standard later this year. Although the new standard already promises seamless interoperability between hardware from various manufacturers, Google and Samsung are taking things a step further by offering interoperability between their smart home software platforms. Today, the companies announced an expanded partnership that will allow Galaxy smartphone and tablet users to easily onboard Matter-enabled devices on both the SmartThings and Google Home ecosystems and control them seamlessly through either app.
The Google Home app for Wear OS is now available on the Play Store
Google has rolled out the Google Home app for Wear OS on the Play Store, giving you access to smart home controls on your wrist. Read on to learn more.
At I/O this year, Google announced that it would roll out a Google Home app for Wear OS smartwatches to give users quick access to smart home controls. The company only gave us a quick preview of the app at the time and did not share a release timeline, but the app is now finally available to users.
Alongside the new Nest Wifi Pro and second-gen Nest Doorbell Wired, Google also showcased the revamped Google Home app today. Reimagined from the ground up, the new Google Home app aims to offer users a more customizable interface to control their connected smart home devices.
We recently learned that Google was prepping a Google Photos watch face integration for Wear OS devices. This new integration will likely debut with the Pixel Watch in a few days. But Google has already updated the Play Store listing of the Google Photos app for Wear OS with screenshots showcasing the new watch face.The screenshots reveal that the new watch face will show a circular crop of images from your Google Photos library with two configurations for the date and time. In addition, a screenshot of the on-device watch face picker showcases a new 'Pilot' watch face and reveals the names of two additional watch faces -- 'Ink' and 'Pacific.' Although the listing doesn't show how the new Google Photos watch face will work, strings from a recent Google Photos teardown suggest that it might allow users to select multiple images that cycle automatically.
Best smart plugs for Google Assistant and Google Home in 2023
Grabbing one of the best smart plugs is an easy, affordable way to introduce a little smartness into your home with your existing appliances.
There are a number of reasons to invest in smart plugs. Not only are they an easy way to connect 'dumb' appliances to your smart home setup, but they can also help you save money on your energy bills. The ability to set routines to turn things off and on as you require is extremely helpful. Because, let's face it, we all leave things on that we should turn off.
At its I/O developer conference last year, Google announced it would soon bring Matter support to Android and Nest smart home devices. However, the company did not share a definite timeline for the rollout. At this year's Google I/O, the company finally confirmed that Android 13 would provide support for Matter-enabled devices. Now that Android 13 has finally rolled out on the stable channel, Google seems to have started rolling out Matter device controls to some Android users.For the unaware, Matter is a new universal smart home standard that aims to offer interoperability between smart home devices from various OEMs, including Apple, Google, Amazon, Samsung, Philips, and more. With Matter support, smart home devices from these manufacturers would work together seamlessly, allowing users to control connected devices using a single app. Most of these OEMs plan to offer Matter support by the end of this year, but Google has reportedly started rolling out Matter device controls (via Android Police) to some users through Google Play Services.
What is Matter, and why the new smart home standard should matter to you
Matter is supposed to save the smart home from a mess of ecosystems and differing standards. It's one of those game changing moments.
Ecosystem lock-ins aren't always bad, but when it comes to smart homes, the landscape is messy. Currently, there are different standards, countless brands, and even platform plays like Alexa, Google Home, and HomeKit. It seems everyone wants a piece of your home, but rarely does all this tech play nicely together.
Best smart lights for Google Home and Google Assistant in 2023
If you power your smart home with Google and you're looking for the best smart lights to deck it out with, these are the ones to get.
If you have your smart home programmed through Google Home and you use a Google Assistant smart speaker, then you'll want some compatible lights. Smart lights are one of the most popular, easy-to-use pieces of smart home tech that anyone and everyone can set up. Smart lights are really accessible and a lot of fun to use. Who doesn't like the idea of using a simple voice command to turn on and off all the lights?
Google is recruiting testers for an upcoming Google Home app redesign
Google is reportedly working on a new Google Home app redesign and it's currently looking for testers to give it a spin. Read on to learn more.
Google rolled out an update for the Google Home app with a redesigned home tab earlier this year. The new home tab layout made it easier for users to control their connected smartphone devices, but it doesn't seem like Google is done redesigning the app. The company is reportedly working on a "next generation design of the Google Home app," and it's currently looking for testers to take it for a spin ahead of the final release.
Google Home extension for Visual Studio Code is now available
Developers building for Google Home have a new tool to play with thanks to the release of the Google Home Extension for Visual Studio Code.
Developers building for Google Home have a fancy new tool to play with as of Google I/O. It was first talked about in 2021, but now, the Google Home extension for Microsoft's Visual Studio Code is now available. Visual Studio Code is one of the most popular IDEs available on Windows, Mac, and Linux (including Chromebooks), and Google's new tool is the perfect companion to building for Google Home.
Google Home gets a fancy new homepage and 'works with' program
Google Home is getting some love at the annual I/O developer conference ahead of the big launch of Matter later this year.
There is a lot to digest from Google I/O, and one of the categories that's getting a lot of love is the smart home. Later in 2022 the long-awaited launch of Matter, the open smart home standard part-developed by Google, will finally launch. Ahead of this, Google Home is getting in order, starting with a refreshed "works with" program and a fancy new homepage to help budding smart home builders navigate their way through the space.