Google just announced a slew of features coming to Google Home, and one of them will come in particularly handy for Google TV users with Nest Cams guarding their households.
Coming soon, Nest Cam feeds will get picture-in-picture support on Google TV devices, perfect for keeping eyes on your home while streaming your favorite shows.
The long-awaited feature will make it easy to see who’s at your door while in the middle of a binge-watching session, and you’ll also be able to check the backyard or other Nest Cam-monitored areas without pausing the video.
Google TV devices will soon get picture-in-picture support for live Nest Cam feeds.
The new picture-in-picture mode is coming first to the Google TV Streamer, and you’ll need to be in Google’s public preview program. You can sign up for the Google Home public preview right here.
Support for picture-in-picture Nest Cam feeds isn’t the only feature coming to Google Home this spring, with Google ticking off a laundry list of new items.
For starters, Google Home on the web is getting new functionality; namely, you’ll be able to control a wider range of smart devices from a browser, including smart lights, thermostats, and smart locks. Again, you’ll need to be part of the Google Home public preview to test Google Home’s new web features, at least initially.
Favorites in the Google Home app are also getting a facelift, complete with new and pinnable tiles for indoor temperatures, Wi-Fi actions, and whole-home lights on or off.
Automations will be getting easier too, with Google adding new starters and conditions to the Google Home app that should allow for more specific smart routines. You’ll also be able to employ presence sensing to trigger automations, perfect for setting smart routines to begin when someone’s home or when everyone’s away.
Returning to security cameras, Google says it’s boosted performance for the Google Home app’s video timeline for smoother scrolling, while adding the ability to quickly jump forward or backward 10 seconds by double-tapping the left- or right-hand side of the screen.
Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms will also get more attention in the Google Home app, with the addition of a revamped “experience” that offers “critical” alerts and heads-up alerts, along with the ability to run safety checks and hush a blaring alarm. The recently discontinued Nest Protect smoke alarm will get those features first.
This news story is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best security cameras.
Then there’s smart locks (I did say Google gave us a laundry list of features), with the Google Home app adding support for Matter-enabled locks from third-party manufacturers. That means you’ll be able to manage who can unlock your door, edit existing passcodes, and get lock notifications via the Google Home app. For now, support for Matter smart locks is in public preview.
Finally, a Home Summary widget that offers a “bite-sized” summary of your smart home—complete with events and “insights,” along with access to “relevant” controls—is coming soon, on an invite-only basis.