Video calling was originally pitched as a key feature of the Nest Hub Max, but Google Meet and Zoom are dropping support at the end of September.
Update: Video calling will remain available on the Nest Hub Max using Google Duo — more on that here. Otherwise, Google issued the following statement this morning:
“As we continue to make Google Assistant even more helpful, we’re prioritizing the features people love and exploring new ways to build generative AI capabilities into their Assistant experience. As a result, some underutilized features will no longer be supported.”
“There is no change to making 1:1 and group video calls to friends, family and businesses with Google Meet. What’s changing at the end of September is the support for joining meetings via meeting codes and links in Meet.”
Google Spokesperson
In recent days, people have found that the Google Meet set-up process on the Nest Hub Max ends with the following message: “Joining meetings will no longer be available on this device starting September 28.”
Zoom made a similar announcement on July 19. The “Advance notice of end of support for Google Nest Hub Max” support articles explains how “All support for Zoom for Google Nest Hub Max will end on September 30th, 2023.”
The Zoom app will “stop functioning” and no longer receive updates, while “New installations or application sign-ins on Google Nest Hub Max will not be possible after the end of support.”
Top comment by Darren
Does this affect the Duo calling which is now a part of Meet (but still called Duo on the Max)? We use this all the time for our daughter to talk to her grandparents and this would be awful if they removed it.
It could be related to how Google in June ended support for third-party voice apps and games as it refocuses Assistant in light of LLMs. The move is not so surprising in that context, but video calling – originally with Google Duo – is a key functionality of the Nest Hub Max. The Assistant Smart Display is still on store shelves today for $229.
Without meetings, the 6.5 MP camera (127-degree FoV and auto-framing) is just used for Look and Talk to activate Assistant by gazing, media play/pause by holding up your hand, and as a Nest Cam.
The more expensive Nest Hub makes less sense now that we have the Pixel Tablet, which just uses the Android version of Google Meet and other video calling services, but it feels way too soon to be removing key functionality from the Max.
We’re reaching out to Google for more information.
More on Nest Hub:
- Nest Hub updates tweaks sleep tracking UI for respiration data
- Fuchsia version 12 rolling out to Nest Hub Preview Program, here’s what’s new
- Opinion: The Pixel Tablet is not a better Nest Hub
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