The latest set of Google Home app updates is rolling out, including new “Suggested Automations” to make it easier to automate your smart home.
Rolling out with Google Home v4.20, Google is rolling out a pretty big update to automations. New “Suggested Automations” will appear in the app, giving users a jumping off point to create new systems in their smart home. Examples from Google include turning on cameras at night, automatically turning off lights when Home detects no one is home, or automatically playing music at a certain time.
Google explains:
Suggested automations: Get inspired by suggested automations or start your home automation journey. Instead of starting with a blank canvas, you’ll now see ready-made automations tailored to real-life tasks like home security, morning chores, or energy conservation. Look for the new offers section at the top of your automations tab or below your scheduled automations. It will roll out globally to all Google Home app users on Android and iOS in the coming weeks.
You can use these suggestions as a starting point and tailor them to best suit your needs. The idea is really to give users a place to start rather than a completely blank canvas.
This latest update also brings some improvements to the Google Home app, especially the cameras sold by Walmart. The seller is new Ten Outdoor and Onn Floodlight cameras both have built-in lights, and the Home app now has a dedicated button that lets you interact with the light or adjust the brightness. There is no mention of whether or not Nest Cam is supported with Floodlight.
Camera setup should also be faster now, while a range of bug fixes include optimizing live view for longer viewing sessions and making live view more reliable overall to launch.
Google says:
- More reliable camera live streaming: We fixed an issue that could cause your camera’s live feed to not update or resume after unlocking your mobile device. This ensures that your live feed is always ready and secure when you sign up.
- Optimized camera live view: We’ve optimized the camera’s live view to avoid sluggish performance during extended viewing sessions.
- Avoid accidental lockups: We’ve fixed the status screen of smart door locks to ensure they’re never displayed with incorrect offline icons. This allows you to see exactly the security status of your home.
- Face Match installation reliability: We fixed an issue where the Face Match setup stream could suddenly exit during short network outages. This ensures a more reliable and frustration-free installation experience.
- Flicker-free fan controls: We fixed an issue where the fan control flickers when you manually turn your thermostat fan on and off.
- Fixed favorites ranking views: Fixed a crash that could occur when rotating your screen while arranging your favorite tiles. This prevents unexpected app exits while customizing your favorite apps.
- Polished Google TV previews: We fixed a visual issue where the offline doorbell camera displayed an unexpected black border on Google TV.
These updates are rolling out, and early access members can also look for new graphics cards in the Nest Hub, as well as continued Gemini for Home improvements.
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