nest hub
Latest
Podcast: Samsung's A-series event and Google's sleep-tracking display
This week, we discuss Samsung's cringeworthy Unpacked event, Google's intriguing but possibly creepy sleep-tracking smart display and PC hardware news.
Google's latest Nest Hub smart display detects motion to track your sleep
With the second Nest Hub, Google has added a surprise feature: a Soli radar sensor that detects motion and uses that data to determine if you're asleep.
Google’s next Nest Hub could use the Pixel 4’s Soli chip for sleep tracking
Google will reportedly release a new version of the Nest Hub that features its Soli radar sensor for sleep tracking.
Google adds new word and puzzle games to smart displays
Google is adding new games to Assistant-enabled smart displays like the Nest Hub to give people something new to play.
Google is giving its smart displays new touch controls
Smart displays are a unique type of product. The company is announcing a new set of features for its smart displays, including an “improved visual experience,” a dark theme, relaxing sounds, gentle alarm and Meet improvements. Instead of sticking to a one-page layout with all your notifications and cards lined up horizontally, Google’s smart displays will now have five tabs at the top the following sections: Your Day, Home Control, Media, Communicate and Discover.
Google Assistant can control Disney+ on Google smart displays
You can now navigate Disney+ with voice controls on Google Assistant smart displays.
Netflix comes to Google's Nest Hub devices
From today, Netflix is available to stream to Google’s Nest Hub and its Nest Hub Max, enabling you to catch up on your favorite shows wherever you’ve connected those devices. As with any Nest setup, you simply need to connect your account inside the Google Home or Assistant app.
Get a free Nest Hub when you buy a Nest Hub Max
Get a free Google Nest Hub when you buy a Nest Hub Max for $229.
Google offers a free Nest Hub to some Aware subscribers
Until July 31st, Google is offering some Nest Aware subscribers in the US a free Nest Hub. Check your email to see if you qualify.
The kitchen gear that's worth your money
We’ve outlined the kitchen gadgets that are worth your cash as well as those you can safely skip.
Google's whole-home Nest Aware subscription is available now
Google's simpler, unified Nest Aware security service is rolling out to users now.
Get two Google Nest Hubs for the price of one, again
QVC is selling two-packs of Google's Nest Hub smart display for $100.
Now is the time to grab a cheap Google-powered smart display
Google-powered smart displays can be handy during the COVID-19 lockdown for not only music and information chores, but letting you communicate with loved ones. As it happens, a couple of the models are on sale today, including Google’s Nest Hub Smart Assistant and Lenovo’s Smart Clock.
Get two Google Nest Hubs for the price of one
If you've wanted to outfit your home with smart displays, Best Buy just made it relatively trivial. The big-box retailer is running a promotion that offers two Google Nest Hubs for $100 -- that's less than the $129 it would normally cost to buy just one. A previous deal like this lasted only one day in December, so you'll want to act quickly if you like the thought of Google Assistant screens serving as alarm clocks or kitchen helpers.
Google disables Xiaomi link to Assistant and Google Home (updated)
Over the last day or so, a poster on Reddit has reported that trying to view the feed from his Xiaomi Mijia 1080p camera on a Google Nest Hub resulted in a feed that included still images, apparently showing cameras in stranger's homes. Android Police picked up on /r/Dio-V's situation, as he posted video that flashed stills of someone's porch, and a man sleeping in a chair. The poster reports he purchased his camera new on AliExpress. In a statement, a Google spokesperson responded by saying "We're aware of the issue and are in contact with Xiaomi to work on a fix," without explaining what it needed to fix. Right now Xiaomi's integrations with Assistant and Google Home have been disabled, and it's unclear when they might get access again. We've reached out to Google and Xiaomi for more information, and will update this post if there is more information. Update (1/3 3:30 AM ET): Xiaomi has responded, stating that the issue occurred due to a cache update, which made the stills pop up if a user had that camera and that display under poor network conditions. According to the company, only 1,044 users had this setup with a "few" experiencing the poor network connection that would make it appear, and they have fixed the issue on their end. The full statement is below.
Google Assistant can now stream Hulu to your Chromecast and Nest Hub
If you own a Chromecast, TV with Chromecast built-in or Google smart display, you'll soon be able to ask Assistant to play and control content from Hulu. The update, first spotted by Android Police, is currently rolling out to the Google Home app, according to a statement from the search giant.
Google Nest Hub and WiFi are on sale for the holidays
If you're still trying to finish your holiday shopping, Best Buy has an intriguing offer. The retailer is currently offering a Nest Hub two-pack for $100. Normally, if you were to buy two of them separately, they would cost you $260.
Nest Hubs will use ultrasonic sensing to display reminders and appointments
Last month Google updated the Nest Hub and Nest Hub Max so that they could use ultrasonic sensing to tell when a person is nearby. While the Hub Max includes a camera that it could already use to surface Proactive Notifications when people are around, the original Hub doesn't have one at all. By sending out a high frequency chirp and listening to the echoes on embedded microphones, the smart displays can detect a person-sized object in the room without pulling in a video feed. In a new blog post, a team member explained more about how the technology works, and that it changes the available information based on distance. When someone's further away, it features larger text, as they move closer it can shift to include more details and touch controls. So far the technology has been used for timers, commute times and weather, but over the next week an update will add "reminders, appointments and alerts."
Sling TV now streams on Nest Hub and Nest Hub Max
Sling TV users now have another way to stream their content. Beginning today, Sling TV is available on Nest Hub and Nest Hub Max. Users can control Sling with built-in voice controls on those devices, and on Nest Hub Max, they can pause and resume content on Sling using gesture controls -- hold up your hand and look at the device to pause.
Google is putting the Pixel 4 and Stadia on sale for Black Friday
Black Friday is just around the corner, and Google is sharing a sneak peek of the sales it will offer. We've rounded up the tech deals to look out for. Most start on November 28th, but a few sales will go live on November 24th.
