What you need to know.
- Google Home’s public preview environment is preparing to deliver an update that expands support, features, and device control.
- Enrolled testers will soon experience third-party meter support for smart locks and the addition of Nest Protect CO/smoke alarms.
- A recent public preview test brought “Gemini in Assistant” to Google’s speakers, which lets users call the AI for answers.
Google is pushing the launch of another public preview update that opens the door to more device support and content.
As detailed in a Community PostGoogle Home Public Preview is preparing to roll out CO/smoke alarms, smart locks by Matter, and control settings. Starting with Meter support, Google says it will soon open its doors to “new partners” with “more compatibility” in the Home app. Of course, this is thanks to the new smart home standard, the meter.
More specifically, the post states that those who enroll in the app’s public preview will start seeing “feature enhancements” for third-party meter smart locks. These new features include “passcode management”.
Home managers will soon have a complete, comprehensive view of who has a lock’s passcode and their access status. Additionally, the company says that, as a manager, you’ll have the ability to set personal automations and view a “robust” history of events. Additionally, managers can create “guest passcodes” for people who need temporary access.
The feature is said to launch “this week” for public preview users on Android. Those on iOS will have to wait a little longer.
Next, Google is expanding the scope of its included Nest Protect devices to its CO and smoke alarms. As soon as it arrives “this week,” testers will find a new view for their alarm that includes a general overview of the room’s condition. More importantly, if there is a situation and a camera is present, users can view the room directly to see where the fire or emergency is and take action.
Other Nest Protect support includes:
- Receive emergency and advance notifications for smoke and carbon monoxide.
- Get important status alerts like battery health or device issues.
- Edit your configuration: Change system-wide and alarm-specific settings.
- Calling E911 for Nest Aware subscribers (US only) – If you’re a Nest Aware subscriber in the US, you can use the Google Home app to quickly contact an emergency call center near you, even if you’re not at home. I am
The upcoming addition of improved control settings in the public preview app is mostly quality of life changes for “One Tap Entry” and “Automatic Locking”. For the former, Google says users can choose this option, which will eliminate the need to enter a passcode. Instead, users will need to tap on Lock or Unlock using the app. Automatic locking will let users set a timer for a specific lock, and tell it how long it should stay open before locking down (literally).
Push notifications for lock events are also included, as well as a “vacation mode” to give your smart lock even more security.
A recent public preview update for Google Home from December included a robust look at “Assistant in Gemini.” AI belongs to the company’s smart Nest devices such as Nest Audio or Nest Speaker Mini 2nd Gen. Testers can talk to the AI through these devices and get answers about various topics. Basically, it works like the Gemini experience on your phone.
Another Gemini update for Public Preview users includes bringing it into the fold for your smart home accessories. Users can ask Gemini to close their blinds in a specific room and more, which sees the new AI model gradually Replacing the brand’s assistant.