A new chapter for Google Home & Nest

[AnishKattukaran]

Hey folks,

Anish here, I lead the product teams for Google Home & Nest.

I want to start by saying thank you for being on this journey with us, especially as we kick off a new era for the smart home! We have our biggest update in years and I wanted to share it with you directly.

Today marks the start of a new chapter for us. Today, we talked about Gemini for Home, Google Home Premium, two new Cameras, a new doorbell, a reimagined Google Home app, and a first look at our new upcoming speaker and new partner devices. The blog posts have all of the details:

• Welcome to the next era of Google Home

• Gemini for Home: The helpful home gets an AI upgrade. A new AI, Gemini for Home, which replaces the Google Assistant and is far more capable

• A new Google Home app, redesigned for Gemini. Now faster, more reliable, and complete with all of your older Nest devices. It's been redesigned to be simpler and more fluid, and we've infused it with the power of Gemini.

• Our newest Google Home devices are built for Gemini.

• We’re introducing the new Google Home Premium subscription plus new benefits for AI Pro and Ultra su...

As we begin this next era of Google Home, we know that building a truly helpful home is a long-term commitment. That’s why we’re bringing Gemini for Home to every speaker, smart display, camera and doorbell we’ve made in the last decade, along with the new Google Home app. It will be available via an early access program because we want you to try all of these new features and continue giving us feedback as we work to perfect the experience. The early access rollout for these devices will begin this month (with speakers and smart displays starting towards the end of the month).

We know our journey with you hasn't always been smooth, and frankly, we haven't always gotten it right. We are committed to earning back your trust, and improving the products with you.

-Anish

P.S. For more updates you can follow me on https://x.com/AnishKattukaran or Threads https://www.threads.com/@anishk

[dale2306]

It's all just a scam and a money grab.  Cancel it.  Move to Home Assistant and integrate your devices with it.  I have the nest thermostat.  It works fine with HA.  I don't have the Nest cameras but if thy don't work replace them with something that will.  It will be less expensive & less frustrating in the long run.  Right now I have the Google devices acting as an interface with HA but I'm looking into using the Google devices to access HA without the Google cloud.  If I can't get that working I will be replacing all of the Google devices with HA tested ones.

[Krunked]

Hi. I am a Google home premium advanced subacriber and I'm in all of the preview programs on every device and at the home level ..including the Gemini early program...  I have 15 Google homes.. from hub Max's to nest audio's.. my app is on 4.2+.  I am absolutely sick of waiting and having zero control over it..  please rethink this roll out behavior..  it's obnoxious and frustrating 

[MikaelDevereux]

Couldn’t agree more. It’s ridiculous 

[dale2306]

It's not just ridiculous.  It left ridiculous at the starting gate.

[SmartHomeH-TAGS]

@dale2306 the new app isn't even at the starting gate yet. It's still in the Early Access (beta) phase. There was no ultimatum for you to opt-in to this new beta version of the Google Home app.

You can still use the previous version of the Automations.

Device control is the same as the previous version.

[dale2306]

I'm in Canada and the Gemini beta program isn't available to me yet.  I have been commenting on the issues that I have been having with Google Home for years.  I've noticed that those trying to use the Beta program are having issues and been sharing with them my ongoing issues to make a point.  That point is that they shouldn't expect anything from Google to work properly initially and they also shouldn't expect most of those issues to ever get fixed.

[alllan]

I tried Gemini for a few hours then decided to go back to google assistant-  But now the 'continued conversation' feature does not work, for any of my 3 google home speakers even after hours spent trying all  the suggestions.   Very disappointed.

[dale2306]

Hi.  I know you said you tried all the suggestions but have you tried a factory reset then adding them back to your Home account?

[alllan]

I just unplugged it.  Is there more to do.

[alllan]

I read about factory reset and did that on 1 of my 3 speakers.  Same issue.  Maybe I need to do on all? 

[dale2306]

I would probably do them all.  No guarantee.  I think I remember reading that once you go to Gemini you can't go back.  For your sake I hope that's not true.

[SmartHomeH-TAGS]

@dale2306 

I never wanted to go to Gemini if I didn't have to, but when I read that Gemini will be replacing the current Google Assistant I reluctantly signed up to the Google Home app Early Access.

You will have to continue to say "Hey Google" though.

[alllan]

Does the continue conversation feature work ?  Or do you need to say 'hey Google' to ask a follow up question?  

[JLN3527]

Is Google Nest Renew available in Ontario Canada?

[dale2306]

Google can't get the existing Home system working properly.  I have 12 devices and I have been using them for years.  Seldom does a day go by that I don't have an issue.  Wrong device responding,  works with Home devices interface needing to be relinked.  The Chromecast Audio debacle.  I could go on for hours listing all the issues.

I have been using Home Assistant for less than a year and it already does more than Google Home ever did and does it reliably.  Other than its interface with Google Home that currently requires the cloud everything functions locally....no Internet required.  As I stated before if I can't get my Google deices to interface directly with HA (locally) then my Google devices will be going away in favor of some that will.

So I have a couple of question for you and I hope you will consider it.  If after all these years of Google not being able to get the existing system working reliably how can you believe that they will get Gemini which is a much more complicated system working properly?

What ever happened to the old fool me once shame on you fool me twice shame on me world we used to live in?  Google fooled me once and they will never fool me again.

[TBCuthbert]

Point of interest.  There used to be 100s if not 1000s of Google Nest community interested users here.  Now only 12 kudos.  
Anish, for consideration, how do we get this group useful again if you are ramping up Google Home app? 

[SmartHomeH-TAGS]

@TBCuthbert 

I'm still learning new things about the old and new Google smart home.

The new Google Home app looks promising as long as the community doesn't become divided between the haves a new have-nots.

I read about Alexa as I use that too, but as soon as I see Alexa+ I switch right off. 

I just hope Gemini Live doesn't go too premium.

[Krunked]

dude its already published, well known, and advertised that gemini LIVE is behind google home premium advanced...  this isnt hidden information.  

[michaelchristia]

💯💯💯

[dale2306]

I was thinking the same thing.  Most people will only put up with the frustrations for so long.  I'm sure many of them have moved on because the novelty has worn off and the frustration is no longer worth it for them.

[TBCuthbert]

I am still hoping @AnishKattukaran will step up with resources here. The best marketing is done by current customers. It takes very little resourcing to make a substantial difference here. I think I see a couple of possible resources here periodically. 

[SmartHomeH-TAGS]

@TBCuthbert 

Point of interest...in the last 30 days 1473 users received at least one Kudo.

 

[TBCuthbert]

yes that reinforces my concern. Considering there are millions involved in Smart home usage

[Aaroneus]

Currently and for years, Google home is not capable of shuffle playing YouTube playlists via automation routine nor voice command.  It also cannot play on speaker groups via automation routine or voice command. It also cannot be set to not respond with voice feedback. These and other very basic functionality is still missing, so it's hard to be interested in you adding additional useless functions. 

[MikaelDevereux]

When will early access rollout begin for the UK?

[SmartHomeH-TAGS]

@MikaelDevereux 

Google Home app Early Access should be available to you now. I live in Australia and I've had it for about 3 weeks.

Look on Settings page.of Google Home app > Early Access > and sign up.

Next year for Gemini on smart speakers and Google Home app

[MikaelDevereux]

By early access I mean Gemini on my nest speaker. I’m already enrolled 

[The_WB]

It's not even pushing in the USA.  Been enrolled for quite a long while and nothing.  Looks and acts like another botched rollout.

[Jim1224]

How do I access my office Nest thermostat using Home from my home?  It used to be simple but now it seems impossible. 

[mshulman]

How do I get back the "continued conversation" feature that my Home/Nest smart speakers had before the switch to Gemini?
I

[SmartHomeH-TAGS]

@mshulman it should still be in Assistant Settings to enable, unless you're say it somehow disappeared.

Try a reboot from the Google Home app or contact support or give feedback from the Google Home app..

[alllan]

I had the same issue and was told that you cannot get it back  -and when Google Assistant finishes the forced transition to Gemini - even those folks who are still getting continued conversation will lose it

[Krunked]

It's behind the 10 dollar a month home premium advanced.  Gemini live.

[mshulman]

The "Gemini for Home voice assistant" settings in the Home app do not have a setting for "continued conversation." This feature went away when the assistant changed to Gemini.   One would think the new Gemini assistant would be very good at continued conversation as that is a thing it does in the Gemini app.
Out of habit I still say "Thank you" after I get an answer, but the devices are no longer listening, so even to ask a followup you have to say "Hey Google" again...

[Krunked]

It's there with Gemini live.....

[whattheactualF]

After what you guys did to the Gen1 and Gen2 Thermostats, I will never buy another Google Smarthome product again.  I have 4 thermostats across 3 houses that are all now in need of replacing and I will not be replacing them with Google products.

You lost a loyal customer, and I hope their are many more consumers like me who are NEVER going to support this kind of treachery.   Disgusting.

[Ch22]

Help me turn it on

[henryZ2563]

Haven't seen my update yet, as my Google Assistant becomes less effective by the day. When I have a real question, I go to the room in my house that has Alexa+. I followed the hype on all channels leading up to the Gemini for Home release.. put the date on my calendar in great anticipation. Now, nothing.. So I've ordered an Alexa display to hedge my bets... 

[SmartHomeH-TAGS]

@henryZ2563 

It's always worth having both assistants as there's advantages and disadvantages with each system.