Google released an update to the Home app in October 2022 that revamped the program’s UI and introduced a few useful new capabilities.
During the initial phase of preview testing among a limited number of users, the Home app had constraints.
Google Announcements at I/O 2023 Event
However, at the I/O 2023 event, Google announced that it is now widely accessible to all users. With more than 50 enhancements and new features, the revamped Home app aims to simplify the lives of Nest camera owners, specifically.
Starting with the app’s design, it undergoes a transformation with a fresh five-tab layout for larger screens and an impressive mini-player system. Google also optimizes the app for both landscape and portrait viewing, ensuring that elements such as event lists and camera timeline view seamlessly adapt to the screen orientation.
This functionality will become available on Android devices in June, while iOS support is planned for later this summer.
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Improved User Experience with Matter-Certified Devices
Additionally, the app will expand its compatibility to include first-generation Nest Cam models in the same month. This highly anticipated development benefits owners of older devices by enabling them to access all their IoT gadgets through a single app.
Moreover, a new Google Home panel will provide key features of the app directly on the lock screen. For owners of the new Google Pixel Tablet, this feature will be accessible even when the tablet is mounted on the speaker hub.
Furthermore, the company is extending Matter support to the iOS version of the app with the release of iOS 16.5 in the upcoming weeks.
This update will allow users to set up their Matter-certified devices using their iPhones, eliminating the need to rely solely on the Samsung SmartThings or Apple Home apps for configuring Matter and Works with Google Home-compatible smart home devices.
From a functional perspective, the Google Home app introduces a new Favorites tab, enabling users to group their most frequently used devices in a dedicated cluster.
Google has also enhanced the speed of certain tasks related to Nest cameras, such as a 34% improvement in launching the camera feed and a 22% increase in locating camera clips.
In terms of clips, the updated Google app introduces new event labels categorized by person, animal, vehicle, delivery, and more.
Actionable notifications are now consolidated in the Inbox section, while the Activity Tab hosts all events and camera history, organized chronologically.
