Google Nest

Google appears to be preparing a next-generation Nest smart speaker with support for ultra-wideband (UWB) connectivity, likely matching the “Handoff” feature of Apple’s HomePod.

The Google Home app started off as a solid way to manage your smart home devices, but as it has been flooded with new hardware and taken on the legacy of Nest, it hasn’t felt as though it was keeping up. Now, Google is moving toward a new Google Home app that makes some big promises, and we’ve spent a couple of days gathering a few first impressions.

The Nest brand has long been known for providing easy to use hardware and software for building out a smarter home. But that’s a reputation that Google’s takeover and reboot of the brand has somewhat tarnished, and one area that’s easily felt is when comparing feature parity. One example that’s exceptionally frustrating to me is that the new Nest Cam, Doorbell, and other products require a full reset for something as simple as changing Wi-Fi networks.

It’s taken well over a year, but Google’s new Nest cameras finally have a Google Home web app. The experience is still rolling out, but here’s a quick look at what you can expect.

As part of announcing the rebuilt Home app, Google reiterated that the website to view camera feeds was coming “in a few weeks.” “Google Home for web” is now rolling out this week and should be widely available by the next one.

Over the past few years, video doorbells have become commonplace, and Google’s Nest Doorbell lineup has long been among the best of the best. Following its brand new battery-powered doorbell last year, the new Nest Doorbell (wired) replaces Nest Hello. Is it worth the upgrade? Let’s talk.

Google Nest services are experiencing a partial outage this afternoon as many users are seeing live feeds from their cameras go down.

I’ve been all-in on Google’s smart home ecosystem for the past several years, but with the soft reboot in 2021, things started falling apart, and frankly, I was getting tired of it. Over the past couple of months, I’ve been prepared to throw out my entire Nest ecosystem and move on to something else. But with new hardware and a revamped app that shows the company is actually listening to customers, Google just earned a second chance.

Google is expanding support for its initiative to help you save money and use renewable energy with the Nest Thermostat, as Nest Renew is now available to anyone in the US.

Matter is a new standard for smart home devices that’s making huge promises for the future, and Google is a core part of that. Alongside the announcement of its revamped Google Home app, the company is also confirming this week that it will update its Nest speakers, smart displays, and routers to help control Matter devices. It’s also showing off how you’ll be able to set up Matter devices from Android.

Ahead of the launch of Matter and its smart home reinvention later this year, Google has some big new announcements for the Google Home app, including support for a website where you’ll be able to view live feeds for Nest cameras, and unlock more powerful script editor automation in the future.

If you’ve purchased any of Google’s new Nest cameras in the past year, you’re probably familiar with the awful experience that comes with trying to view recordings. With its redesigned Google Home app, the company is finally fixing the problem by stealing the history page from the old Nest app.

In addition to the Nest Wifi Pro and new Doorbell (wired), the expected Google Home app redesign was officially announced with “customization and personalization a core principle”. It’s a big overhaul, and you can sign up now for the preview program starting today. 

Back in September, the Google Home app leaked the new wired Nest Doorbell that the company pre-announced last year. It’s already showing up in stores with availability as soon as this week.

The beauty of smart home systems like Google Home is that you can connect tons of different devices from a plethora of different manufacturers. How well those devices work with Google Home is a complicated matter, however. We’ll go over cameras that work well with the Google Home app and how to take advantage of any Google Home device.

Back in June, we reported that Google was working on a new Wi-Fi 6 router, and it has now leaked as the “Nest Wifi Pro.”

Working with The National Asian/Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce and Entrepreneurship (National ACE) and the Asian American Federation, Google wants to “provide security devices and resources to AAPI-owned small businesses” in the form of Nest Cam Kits. 

Just under a year ago, Google announced that it will be “launching a 2nd generation of Nest Doorbell (wired) in 2022.” Ahead of the October 6 event, which will feature smart home products, the latest version of the Google Home app reveals the new wired Nest Doorbell in its (visual) entirety.

In August of 2020, Google announced a $450 million partnership with ADT and is now committing another $150 million. Meanwhile, the security company is now partnering with insurance provider State Farm.