GOOGLE HOME Posts on XDA

Google Home 2.30 rolls out with full Nest Thermostat controls

Google Home 2.30 rolls out with full Nest Thermostat controls

October 27, 2020
Google today began rolling out an update for its Google Home app that introduces support for the latest Nest Thermostat. Google previously said the Home app would be the primary way to control the company’s newest smart home thermostat. With the version 2.30 update, users will no longer need to rely on the Nest app, like...
Why the Google Nest Thermostat is a perfect way to start your smart home

Why the Google Nest Thermostat is a perfect way to start your smart home

October 13, 2020
Google is looking to a new generation of smart homes with the launch of its latest generation of Google Nest Thermostat. It marks ten years since the first (pre-Google) Nest Thermostat brought home automation to an audience beyond James Bond movie villains and offers more features at a lower price. Here’s everything you need to...
Google Home app rolls out presence sensing and Home & Away routines

Google Home app rolls out presence sensing and Home & Away routines

October 8, 2020
Back in September, we got an early look at the arrival of two Nest features coming to the Google Home app: setting up Home & Away Routines and activating home presence sensing. Now, these new features are rolling out widely to the Google Home app on Android (via 9to5Google). With Home & Away Routines enabled in...
[Update 2: New Lawsuit] Sonos is suing Google for allegedly stealing patented speaker technology

[Update 2: New Lawsuit] Sonos is suing Google for allegedly stealing patented speaker technology

September 29, 2020
The smart speaker space is one of the hottest battlegrounds in the tech world right now. These devices have slowly made their way into millions of homes across the globe, giving the companies behind them ecosystem lock-in power and access to tons of information. Google has become a major player in this market, but Sonos...
Google Home 2.28 corroborates that Android TV will be branded as Google TV on the new Chromecast

Google Home 2.28 corroborates that Android TV will be branded as Google TV on the new Chromecast

September 15, 2020
Google started rolling out version 2.28 of the Google Home app today. New strings within the APK strongly suggest that Android TV will be rebranded as Google TV, at least on Google's upcoming Chromecast dongle. The new strings, which are embedded below, reference "Google TV" in the description and "atv" (Android TV) in the titles. We...
[Updated] Google Home app adds a dark theme, expanded Android 11 controls, unified camera feed, and more

[Updated] Google Home app adds a dark theme, expanded Android 11 controls, unified camera feed, and more

September 1, 2020
Google Assistant users were treated to a slew of new features in the latest version of the Google Home app for Android. Version 2.27 of the app brings expanded support for Android 11's smart home power menu controls, the addition of a dark theme, a unified camera feed, and teases the ability to unlock Google...
[Update 2: Pricing & Launch Date] Here’s our first look at the Nest successor to the original Google Home speaker

[Update 2: Pricing & Launch Date] Here’s our first look at the Nest successor to the original Google Home speaker

August 6, 2020
The Nest Mini (formerly known as "Google Home Mini") has become an incredibly popular little smart speaker. However, Google's ambitions with Assistant-enabled speakers started with the original Google Home 4 years ago. That device is long overdue for a successor and it appears one is on the way. A new Google device recently passed through the...
Android 11’s power menu device controls finally bring the phone into the smart home

Android 11’s power menu device controls finally bring the phone into the smart home

June 14, 2020
Android 11 Beta 1 was released this week and it includes a bevy of great features. One that has stuck out to me ever since we first spotted it in earlier Developer Previews is the Device Controls in the Power Menu. As someone who has invested in smart home devices, this is a very exciting...
Google brings more Assistant features to Sonos and Bose smart speakers

Google brings more Assistant features to Sonos and Bose smart speakers

June 11, 2020
When most people think about Google Assistant smart speakers and displays, they think of Google's own devices. There's no question that Google's Nest Mini and Nest Hub are hot-sellers, but there are also many non-Google-made Assistant devices out there as well. These devices have typically lagged a bit behind in getting the same features as...
Google Home is the first app to support Android 11’s new Device Controls feature

Google Home is the first app to support Android 11’s new Device Controls feature

June 2, 2020
Google released the first Android 11 developer preview in February and one of the new features we noticed was the "Controls API." The API allows developers to put home automation shortcuts in the power menu. We were able to get these "Quick Controls" partially working in Android 11 DP2, but in DP4 the feature was...
Android TV devices can now be added to speaker groups in the Google Home app

Android TV devices can now be added to speaker groups in the Google Home app

May 3, 2020
The Google Cast protocol is one of Google's most useful services as it enables you to quickly play music, videos, podcasts, and more on your compatible smart speaker, smart display, TV, and more devices after finding the content you want to play on your Android device. Android TV devices are compatible with Google Cast, and...
Google Home app may soon let you set a separate volume level for the Google Assistant

Google Home app may soon let you set a separate volume level for the Google Assistant

April 29, 2020
Google Home and Google Nest devices are more than just smart speakers and displays. They also serve as hubs where you can communicate with the Google Assistant and control your home to have them help you throughout the day. But one longstanding issue with these devices is the fact that the volume for spoken Assistant...