All articles tagged with #google home
Google's Home app update (v4.8+) fixes 'Video not available' playback when opening from notifications and adds more automation options, including lighting with specific colors/temperatures and new starters/conditions such as humidity, robot vacuum docking, and battery status.
Google confirms an ongoing outage that makes a range of Google Home–compatible devices appear offline in the Home app (bulbs, switches, outlets, etc.), even though some still respond to voice via Gemini; cameras and speakers may be less affected. The company is working on a fix but has not provided a timeline. Downdetector shows a spike in reports, and users have suggested temporary workarounds like VPN or removing/re-adding devices, though the exact cause remains unconfirmed.
IKEA showcased its new affordable smart home products at CES 2026, supporting Matter and working well in real-world tests, but currently face compatibility issues with Google Home, especially with generic devices like buttons. The lineup includes smart lights, plugs, sensors, and new Bluetooth speakers like the KALLSUP, which is budget-friendly and easy to connect, though sound quality is modest. These products are available in the US, with some launching in April, promising to enhance smart home integration despite current ecosystem limitations.
A Reddit user discovered a simple URL trick to force-enable Gemini on Google Home devices, potentially unlocking full Gemini features, though results are inconsistent and may require multiple attempts and patience.
A Reddit trick allows users to access and change to the new Gemini voices on Google Home by entering a specific URL, enabling immediate experience of the new voices without full Gemini assistant activation, though it does not upgrade the entire assistant to Gemini.
Google's rollout of its new Gemini voice assistant for Google Home devices is progressing slowly and with some issues, particularly in understanding queries and controlling smart home devices, despite Google's optimistic public statements. The new assistant aims to offer more natural conversations and better smart home control, but early user feedback indicates it is not yet fully reliable, and the full rollout is expected to take until next spring.
Gemini for Google Home introduces advanced AI features like event search and daily summaries, but struggles with accuracy and overconfidence, leading to occasional mislabeling and slow responses, highlighting the current limitations of AI in smart home applications.
Google is opening early access for Gemini, its new AI assistant for Google Home, which offers advanced contextual commands, music recognition, and image/video analysis, but users must sign up through Google Groups and the Google Home app to participate.
Google is gradually rolling out Gemini for Home, its renewed smart home effort, starting with app updates and new features in select countries, with voice assistant and camera features expanding globally through early 2026, and the Google Home Speaker expected in most countries by spring 2026.
Google is revamping its smart home ecosystem with the introduction of Gemini, a new AI-powered platform that will enhance Google Home devices, Nest cameras, and the Home app, promising better updates, more affordable hardware collaborations, and improved functionality, signaling a strong future for Google's smart home ambitions.
Google is rolling out Gemini for Home, a new voice assistant feature, initially through an Early Access program in select countries, starting in the US on October 28, with plans to expand globally by early 2026. The program allows users to test new features and provide feedback, with partnerships underway to bring Gemini to more third-party devices. The rollout includes compatibility with various Nest cameras and doorbells, and requires users to activate their Google AI Pro benefits if they have existing subscriptions.
Google is gradually rolling out Gemini for Home, a comprehensive smart home update including app redesign, new voice assistant features, and AI-enhanced camera capabilities, starting now in select countries with broader availability planned through early 2026.
Google is expanding its Gemini features to third-party cameras, starting with Walmart's affordable Onn brand, offering Nest-level integration and features at a fraction of the cost, including cameras and doorbells, with more partnerships expected.
Walmart has launched new affordable Onn security cameras and a video doorbell, developed in partnership with Google, that work with Google Home and Gemini features, offering HD video, smart alerts, and basic free recording, with optional paid storage plans.
Google has introduced its new Gemini chatbot into the Google Home ecosystem, replacing Google Assistant with enhanced conversational capabilities, new devices including a smart speaker, upgraded Nest cameras, and a redesigned app, all aimed at creating a more proactive and integrated smart home experience.