TL; DR
- Amazon is rolling out a free Echo Hub update with a redesigned interface and deeper smart home customization.
- Users can now fully customize the home screen by choosing which devices, groups, automations, weather and calendar widgets appear.
- Dashboard organization becomes smarter with support for room and function-based groups that can be edited or controlled with one touch.
If you’re tired of static smart home displays, Amazon is finally breathing new life into them. The company is starting to roll out a free software update Echo Hub bringing customers a completely redesigned interface.
Early smart home hubs often had rigid plans that locked you into software, but Amazon finally wants to hand over the keys. You now have complete control over which devices, groups, and automations are placed on the home screen. This means you can organize your smart home dashboard to reflect how you manage your smart home (with weather and calendar information always nearby).
You can easily resize and customize interface sections with simple drag and drop actions. There’s also the ability to resize individual device tiles, making your most-used keys and cameras significantly larger.
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Owners can also sort their dashboard by room or function, such as “Bedroom,” “Downstairs,” or “Climate,” for their tools. Just search for your existing groups in the bottom panel and tap one to select, then tap and hold to edit. Here you can add or remove devices, drag them to reorder them, and manage everything in that group with one tap. If you want to create a new cluster from scratch, just click the “Add Cluster” button in the bottom panel, choose a name and enter your devices. It will be immediately available via voice control and a mobile app.
Improved device controls are also heavily improved in this update. You can directly press the power button on any plate for instant on/off. Tap the three dots on the connected device for granular settings. You get precise 0-100% dimming controls and full access to the color wheel for compatible smart bulbs. If you rely on Macros, you can access your most used Modes directly from the main screen or the automation tab and launch them with one touch.
However, unlocking deeper integrations is possible with a Ring Al Pro subscription. Alexa Plus Gives you a smart summary of detected camera events, such as package deliveries or dog walkers, right on your home screen. It plugs right into Ring’s Video Search so you can ask hyper-specific questions like “Show me the wildlife in the backyard this week.” You can also easily set Modes with Alexa+ using just your voice and chat with the assistant to control multiple devices at the same time.
No need to hunt for this download. Existing Echo Hub owners will see an “Update Available” notification at the top of their device when the app is ready. One click confirms it and the device goes straight to the new experience.
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