Recap: Introducing the new Google Home app and Nest devices!

[GoogleNestTeam]

Drumroll please…

We know how important the ability to build a helpful smart home is to our community, especially one that fits you and your family’s unique needs. We recently announced a comprehensive Home app remodel with a new design, improved camera views, expanded home automation capabilities, and so much more. We’re creating a more unified and organized smart home, and we can’t wait for you to experience it. And, we are also launching  several new devices that you can try the new app with. 

Now, let’s get into all the updates that will be rolling out soon!

Google Home app remodel

The Google Home app is getting a makeover that you’ll be able to preview soon to make it more intuitive and helpful than ever. It includes a five-tab layout and  a completely refreshed camera experience that combines the best of the Nest app and the best of Home app. We’ve outlined some features below that you’ll soon be able to preview, and you can learn more about them in this community blog post.

• Favorites: The new Favorites tab is designed to help you control your home as quickly as possible. You’ll be able to pin devices, actions, and automations that matter most to see them as soon as you open the app. You’ll also have easy access to spaces that group important devices like cameras, thermostats, and lights in one simple view. Next year you’ll be able to personalize your app further with custom spaces. Plus, the new media mini player shows you what’s playing in your home and lets you quickly pause, turn up the volume, or access the full remote. 

• Camera Live Views: We’ve listened to your feedback and are happy to share that Favorites will also include a beloved feature from the Nest App, the ability to favorite your cameras to see live streams right when you open the app, no additional clicks required. 

• New Camera Controller: Compatible with our latest Nest cameras and doorbells, you can enjoy a refreshed camera controller that includes beloved Nest app features including vertical video history scrubbing, quick switching between event and Sightline views, and fine-level video scrubbing to help you quickly find the footage that matters to you.

• Public Preview: All of these Home App features will be coming first to our users in Public Preview, before they are made broadly available. 

Google Home for web

Watch your compatible Nest cams live from most web browsers via the new Google Home for web interface. Keep an eye out for more details on a preview version in the coming weeks.

Google Home for Wear OS 

Turn on compatible lights, adjust the Nest thermostat, or get an alert when there’s a person or a package at your front door – all from your watch, with the new Google Home app for Wear OS. If you need help getting started with the preview version, visit the Wear OS Community.

Home Automation

As part of the Google Home app updates we’re introducing a new Automation tab and expanding Household Routines so you can better automate your smart home. With new starters, conditions, and actions, you can now easily create customized and more powerful home automations in the Google Home app that can make your home safer, your life easier, and your day more fun.

Learn about home automation updates in our community blog post.

Matter & Thread

Soon, your Android phone will automatically detect a Matter device and help you securely set it up quickly. Matter setup and app linking will be available by default on billions of Android devices with Google’s launch of Matter support later this year. We’re also ​​updating our existing Google Nest smart speakers, smart displays and routers to control Matter devices.. 

Check out this post in our Keyword Blog  for more info about Matter & Thread coming soon.

New products you just can’t miss:

Chromecast with Google TV (HD)

Did you see? Chromecast with Google TV (HD) is now available! Our recent community blog post has all the details in case you missed it. 

Google Nest Wifi Pro

We also announced the Google Nest Wifi Pro, a next generation Wi-Fi 6E mesh network system for your home. Learn more about Nest Wifi Pro and the mesh system in our community blog post. 

Nest Doorbell (wired, 2nd gen)

We’ve updated our camera portfolio with the addition of Nest Doorbell wired, 2nd generation. An upgrade of our 1st generation wired Doorbell, the new Nest Doorbell includes our smartest alerts and always-on power for reliable video security– all in an elegant, simple design that blends in with your home. 

Catch a first look in our community blog post.

Nest Renew

We’re excited to announce Nest Renew is now available for all owners of qualified Nest Thermostats. Nest Renew from Google makes it easy to support clean energy, right from your home. Get the latest info in our recent community blog post. 

What’s next? 

So many exciting announcements, so many pre-orders to prepare for! Make sure to follow us on Twitter @MadeByGoogle and check back here on our community for the latest news and updates. You can subscribe to our blog in 3 easy steps. 

1. Visit our community blog home page
2. Open the Options menu in the top right corner
3. Select Subscribe

Which new feature or product are you most excited for? Let us know in the comments below. 

The Google Nest team

[MplsCustomer]

This is encouraging, especially with those of us with older Google Nest cameras and doorbells!

[EmptyNester]

Yes, I am super happy to see this announcement.  But i'm not sure it will work with our older cameras.  In the announcement is says:  "

• New Camera Controller: Compatible with our latest Nest cameras and doorbells, you can enjoy a refreshed camera controller that includes beloved Nest app features including vertical video history scrubbing, quick switching between event and Sightline views, and fine-level video scrubbing to help you quickly find the footage that matters to you."

I'm especially happy that the web interface is coming soon.

[MplsCustomer]

When Google Nest says they are providing "a more unified and organized smart home" that "combines the best of the Nest app and the best of Home app", "bring[s] the best of the Nest and Google Home apps into one experience", "bring[s] some of our most highly requested features to the Google Home app", "bring[s] over the best of the Nest app into the Home app", and has "a refreshed camera controller that includes beloved Nest app features...", will our older Google Nest cameras and doorbells that currently work fully only in the Google Nest app be able to use this "more unified smart home", this "one experience", or will we have to continue to use the Google Nest app?

And when Google Nest says "Watch your compatible Nest cams live from most web browsers via the new Google Home for web interface", will will our older Google Nest cameras and doorbells be able to use this new web interface, or will our older cameras and doorbells continue to use the separate home.nest.com website?

[JPBark]

Can you just make everything work in the Nest app and website....

[Tulanesum]

It’s completely absurd that Google didn’t lead off all of today’s blog announcements with what the plan is to address the disaster of legacy Nest camera users being integrated into the Home app with full features. Complete slap in the face to the most loyal and early adopters of Google products. It’s clear the focus is on catering to newer customers.  I’ve been a Nest customer since 2014 and have seven nest cameras, 5 hubs, thermostat, and Google WiFi.  We’re done waiting for attention to the legacy nest issue. Never again purchasing a Google device. 

[qapnguyen]

Great news that web interface live viewing is coming.

There is still issue with Samsung / Android 12 combination across the forum on how thumbnail event views at grey and ! icon. Seems to be happening alot as you'll see from forum posts. Not even factory reset works.

Works fine on iPhones.

Skip event notification if familiar face detected would be welcomed, so at least you can leave cameras turned on indoors and not be notified if family member walks past.

By some weird magic, with night vision turned off. My camera has developed colour night vision without ambient light. Interesting!

[CFH2022]

Fantastic! We just started installing Cameras, Thermostats, and Doorbells but were surprised to find that automations were unavailable as previously unavailable.  We were going to return everything and look elsewhere, but now that automations are coming, we will keep it all.  

Is there a way to sign up early to try out the updates?  

Thanks again, 

[EmptyNester]

@MplsCustomer  Hello,  I was just wondering if you are running the new 'preview' version of the app and do the old Gen 1 cams show up WITH Event History and the ability to scroll thru the 24/7 footage?

I received the invite but unfortunately it was for the wrong Gmail account and I can't try it.

Thanks

[MplsCustomer]

@EmptyNester 

I am NOT running the new "preview" version of the Google Home app; I didn't receive an invite.   But I've noticed that when checking history for our old Gen 1 cameras in the Google Home app, there is now a calendar option to select the day for which you want to see events.  But nothing yet on scrolling through 24/7 footage.

[Manav112]

this is a great platform

[Manav112]

testing for bugs

[EmptyNester]

@MplsCustomer   Wow,  out of all the people on this forum I would think you would be at the top of the list to get the invite to preview the new app.

[UKPete]

 

When will this bug in the Nest Thermostat App, get resolved? It's been going on for years.

[ArunS]

Just wanted to see if with all these redesigns, GSuite/Workspace accounts can now use Google Nest cameras?

I keep trying and hoping Google will stop forcing the use of Gmail accounts and allow GSuite accounts to use their cameras.

If you are still snubbing your paid subscribers, that's really disappointing.

[pwps]

Are there any more details, aside from the support document, about how to sign up for the Public Preview for the new Home app?

[MplsCustomer]

@pwps 

The "Public Preview" link they provided a week ago still says "Sign up for Public Preview will be available in the coming weeks." So it seems we can't sign up yet.

[EmptyNester]

Do we have 100% confirmation that the old Gen 1 cams will NOT be fully working in the update Google Home app?  And by fully I mean can we see the 24/7 video and scroll thru it?

[DrTek]

Which sucks if you’re unable to integrate your older products into the new system.

For whatever reason, it says that I already have a Nest account linked with Google.

Even though, I exclusively use sign in with Nest.

They are unable to link it, and I’m not going to make a new email address. That is a failure on their end.

I ordered the gen 2 wired doorbell cam, and sent it back. You can’t even view video on the PC, and the basic nest aware sub only covers event recording for $60 a year.
To get video recording you have to pony up $120.
 My first gen is $50 a year for 24/7. Kept for 5 days. And I can use my browser to view video.

Google dropped the ball. 

[PokerDamo]

Very excited to see the new home app updates! When is the public preview for this going to be accessible? And how do I sign up? 

[DrTek]

I’ll believe it once the app supports the first gen. With me having the Nest Hello, and unable to migrate into the new architecture, I’m inclined to keep it on the Nest architecture. I wonder if tue Hello will support the Matter protocol.

Regarding Nest Aware. Since I get 24/7 5 day retention video recording for $50 a year.

I’d have to spend $120 to get the same with the 2nd gen.  

[MplsCustomer]

This separate Oct. 4 Google Nest blog ("Reimagining the future of Google Home" - https://blog.google/products/google-nest/google-home-app/) cited by another customer says the following (emphasis added):

"In a few weeks we’ll also be rolling out a new camera experience on Google Home for the web that lets you view all your Nest camera and doorbell feeds. On home.google.com you’ll be able to easily check in on live views in full screen, zoom in to see more details, view camera status, and more all from your web browser."

Let's hope they mean what they say.

[Burdzysa]

Can anyone confirm if the update will include the ability to set schedules and notifications for cameras? I just bought the battery outdoor cams and Gen 2 wired doorbell and I am extremely disappointed to see I can set schedules or adjust when I get notifications for alerts. 

[Maickon]

Maickon Junior 

[PaulRo]

It’s almost been a full year since this blog post. 

Still waiting for video scrubbing. 
Still waiting for feature parity between Nest App and Home app. 

[EmptyNester]

Hi PaulRo,  I couldn't agree with you more.  Since we have seen close to zero improvements to the nest cameras in the Google Home app I would say it feels like Google has put this WAY on the back burner.   I remember earlier in the year Google had a big lay off and maybe this division got hit hard.  But I don't know anyone in Google that can confirm this.  Maybe someone out there knows someone that knows someone.   

If also feels like every feedback issue and feature request I make is going into an inbox that is  being ignored and unseen.  I even click the little box saying it is okay to contact me for more information and in the 2+ years I have been doing this I have never ever received a request for more info.  Not even a 'thank you for your feedback' follow-up message. 

[MarkP58]

So when will scrubbing finally arrive in Google Home App? Its stopped me buying more Nest camera products as despite paying for continuous recording its only event based !

[EmptyNester]

@MarkP58   Hi Mark,  I'm an end user like you.  Just clarifying,  are your cameras running on battery only?  If so they will never have 24/7 recording as the battery would drain in less than a day.   To get 24/7 recording and  scrubbing you have to have the cameras plugged in to power.

[MarkP58]

@EmptyNester No. All but one are either old or new battery and wired. Tks

[oldkid6]

Any updates on user's that have migrated from the Nest to Google Home app?

I'm very leery of doing any migration until I know my 1st gen. IQ cams will work in that app. 

[MplsCustomer]

@oldkid6 

To be clear, the migration is from a Nest Account to a Google Account.

After migration, you will continue to use the Google Nest app and the home.nest.com website as before for all 1st gen cameras and doorbells, including the IQ cameras, but you will also have access to them in the Google Home app (but with limited functionality) and on the home.google.com website (live-streaming only).

For us, there were and are two advantages:

1) With multiple cameras and doorbells, a Nest Aware Plus subscription, which covers ALL cameras and doorbells in the same Google Nest "home/structure", is cheaper for us than the older 1st gen Nest Aware subscriptions.

2) We can view all of our cameras (one at a time) from our Nest Hubs, and receive "Visitor announcements" on our Nest Hubs when a doorbell is pressed.