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GoogleNestTeam
Community Manager (Admin)
Community Manager (Admin)

Hey Google Nest Community,

 

You may have heard our recent announcements about the future of the Google Home app, including an announcement that there will be a Public Preview to try new features early, before they become widely available. We are happy to share that we’re starting rollout today, and you will soon be able to request an invite to Public Preview in the Google Home app. 

 

We know that many of you in our community are highly invested in the Google Home ecosystem and that any change to the Google Home app is important to you. If that sounds like you, then the Google Home Public Preview is right up your alley. We invite you to explore the redesigned app, test new features and provide early feedback to help make the app even better. And if you are a Nest app user you can learn more about what to expect here.

 

Note: Public Preview features are early and not complete. They may have issues that can cause the app to behave unexpectedly or not perform as well as the standard app. You can opt out at any time. Leaving the program is as easy as hitting a button in the Public Preview menu, available under Settings. We do not provide the ability to turn off individual features.

 

Ready to join? In the Google Home apptap SettingsKiiFromGoogle_1-1668027540000.png > under "General", tap Public Preview. Then, tap Request invite. For more details, visit our Help Center

 

Request an invite:

image (1) (1).png

 

When you join Public Preview, you may not see the updated features right away. You'll begin to see the new features once they're ready for you to use. 

 

Accept and Join:

image (4) (1).png

 

Check out the new features that will be part of the new app experience in Public Preview:

  • New app design with a five-tab layout to give you your home, your way:
    • Favorites: Add devices, actions, and automations to this tab for quick access to the most important things in your home. This includes the ability to favorite your compatible cameras so you can view your live streams as soon as you launch the app. At the top of the tab, you will see a new Spaces view that helps you quickly view and control groups of similar devices such as compatible lights, cameras, and thermostats.
    • Devices: Easily find all of your compatible devices and check their status.
    • Automations: Create and manage all your Household and Personal Routines in one place. With new starters, conditions and actions, you can now easily build and customize home automations that can make your home safer, your life easier, and your day more fun.
    • Activity: Review what happened in and around your home.
    • Settings: Find and manage settings for all of your devices, services and home members.
  • Refreshed camera and timeline views (see which cameras are compatible here):
    • Vertical video history timeline: Quickly scrub through hours of video history or jump to live view.
    • Event views: Access a list of events and scrub to an exact moment. You can also see video in landscape mode on your phone or tablet.
    • Quickly view live video on the home screen: See video from your Nest Cams and Doorbells all in one convenient place.
  • Media mini player: See what’s playing in your home with quick access to controls so you can adjust the volume or access the remote.

 

For more information about Public Preview and how to join, visit our Help Center.

 

We’re excited for you to start trying some of these new features, and we’re looking forward to hearing your feedback so we can make improvements moving forward. Once you’ve requested an invite, let us know what you hope to preview in the comments below! 

 

Anish Kattukaran

Director, Product Management, Google Home & Nest

52 Comments
MarkyMarkKS
Community Member

I would like to request an invite for the public preview, but I don't see the option for 'public preview' in settings/general. My Home app is up to date. What am I missing?

RXShorty
Gold Product Expert
Gold Product Expert

Hi @MarkyMarkKS 

The rollout is today. So it should be available soon. 🙂

KiiFromGoogle
Community Manager (Admin)
Community Manager (Admin)

Hi @MarkyMarkKS , 

We're currently rolling out the ability to request invites for public preview. If it's not already available, you should see the update in the next few hours under Settings > Public Preview. 

MarkyMarkKS
Community Member

Thank you @RXShorty and @KiiFromGoogle for your quick replies. I'll wait for the option to show up.

Fernety
Community Member

option not showing up 😣

CyberCesar
Community Member

Not showing yet but I’ll wait a few more hours.

bmrosen
Community Member

Will the new app allow us to download clips where activity wasn't correctly detected? Or extend the beginning and end of clips? (If not, I'm going to have to migrate out of the Google Home ecosystem...)

PedroLiberal
Community Member

I’m on iOS and I don’t see the option in settings -> general so I’ll be waiting for it..

PokerDamo
Community Member

I was able to request this 3 or 4 days ago. Now just waiting patiently for the preview to go live for me! 

WadeWilson
Community Member

 

Hello, my Home application has the Preview section, so I sent my invitation request. What is the deadline for accessing the new interface?

Gadgetguy2020
Community Member

Already have it. Liking it very much. 😎

MWBday
Community Member

Can you please fix the year-long bug with Google Home and Bluetooth devices? See ticket #s below.

Steps to reproduce bug:

1) Using Bluetooth device, watching/listening to a different app (Podcast app, Spectrum TV, etc)

2) A Nest Floodlight alert notification pops up for package delivery.

3) User clicks on Nest Floodlight notification.

4) Spectrum TV/Podcast app/etc enters "mini player" mode on screen, while Home app in camera view loads

***BUG***5) The sound from Spectrum TV/Podcast app/etc gets distorted, becomes significantly louder or quieter, and the Bluetooth device volume becomes un-adjustable with volume buttons.

***Workaround*** 6) User must toggle Bluetooth off then back on, and Bluetooth volume becomes adjustable as usual, using the volume buttons.

*This bug occurs on various phones with various Bluetooth devices (only tested using Samsung phones; Bluetooth manufacturers vary...Samsung, Aftershocks). Bug *only* occurs with Home app, not Nest or any other app.

Tickets previously created to log bug:

Your Google Support Inquiry: Case ID [1-8662000032547]

Your Google Support Inquiry: Case ID [9-5600000032869]

[Action Required] Your Google Support Inquiry: [Cases Id 6-2632000032396]

@GoogleNestTeam 

S3bryan
Community Member

The users of the original well designed Nest app are hoping and praying that Google listens.  The current Google home app is designed with crayon like icons reminiscent of poorly drawn cartoons.  This debacle has left nest users confused as to why Google bought nest in the first place, other then the obvious gold mine of data collection.  Let’s hope with all the delays and excuses Google puts thought into this new app and didn’t just hand us back the same old crap with new paint. Stop making crap apps with crayons.  Use the nest app as a starting point, it actually worked

MplsCustomer
Bronze
Bronze

I am cautiously optimistic and have requested an invite. These are at least steps in the right direction!

I would encourage long-time Nest customers to check out the separate

"Top Google Home app questions for Nest app and Nest camera users" blog:

https://www.googlenestcommunity.com/t5/Blog/Top-Google-Home-app-questions-for-Nest-app-and-Nest-came...

kLAI
Community Member

After "requesting" an invite.. how long does it take to actually receive the invite?

Rgallo10
Community Member

Requested the invite yesterday, still waiting for the app to show up, man everything is so slow 

biggbounss
Community Member

I am offering myself as a tester

 

altenbach
Community Member

The problem is that the instructions are not really clear. Initially I was clicking on my picture and went to "Home app settings", where the option never showed up. Days later, I finally saw the "gear" button somewhere in the middle of the home screen, well camouflaged among other buttons, and that's where the the "settings" are where the "public Preview" option shows up. Duh!

MplsCustomer
Bronze
Bronze

The "Public Preview" option was added to the Google Home app under Settings in the latest version released on Tuesday.  The "gear" (Settings) icon has always been there.

It seems to take more than a day for Google Nest to respond to a request for access to the "Public Preview".  Ours is still pending.

PokerDamo
Community Member

I feel like I requested an invite a week ago now, and still it states your request has been received. I'm guessing it doesn't look like my request will be accepted 

Lizkikito
Community Member

Can someone help me, I'm trying to connect my nest thermostat and I have 7 cables, I don't know how they go in the new system. I have seen videos but I have only seen them with 5 cables. help me please

Kacperhq
Community Member

Lizkikito its not a proper place for that question. Besides you need to be more specific, what nest thermostat you have. U can try to find on internet and read Pro installation manual.

CyberCesar
Community Member

I requested an invite but they haven't approved me yet. How long does it take ?

lemonjacob
Community Member

The request invite button is not showing up for me and the app is up to date am I missing something 

SMARTHOMEGENIUS
Community Member

Hi, so I just wanted to know how long it would take to be accepted into the preview program?

MplsCustomer
Bronze
Bronze

@GoogleNestTeam 

We've been waiting 3 days to be accepted into the Preview Program.  Have you already closed off participation?

S3bryan
Community Member

People, Google is notoriously slow when it comes to their care and feeding of the nest user experience. Over the summer, when there was a glitch in the app for the Nest users, it took them two months to even acknowledge it, waiting for the preview is the same experience do not expect instant gratification. They have proved it over and over, the only thing they really care about is their pixie phones. This is only a hobby for them. 

Ryushvah
Community Member

@lemonjacob 

Same here, don't see the option to join the preview 

MplsCustomer
Bronze
Bronze

In the iOS version, the option was added in Google Home app version 2.60.116 released 3 days ago, and "Public Preview" is the last option under General in Settings (after Privacy).

IMG_9477C65095BB-1.jpeg

Ryushvah
Community Member

I have pixel phone and latest version of Google home app. Don't see it.

kLAI
Community Member

For anyone saying they don't see the option to request invite, make sure you are looking within the gear icon on the main page, and not under your account up in the top right corner (see images below) I'm not saying you will see it, but just make sure you're looking in the right spot 🙂 

Image_895577~2.jpg

Image_576812~2.jpg

BasikBlack
Community Member

Requested mine the day the news broke in 9 to 5 Google! Can't wait for the new Home app. I haven't received anything via email yet though about it. Anyone else? In-app it just shows I've applied. Wasn't sure about the timeline on acceptance. 

CyberCesar
Community Member

Let us know when ready 

MplsCustomer
Bronze
Bronze

On another thread, a Google Nest Community Specialist said this:

"About Public Preview of the Google Home app, please note that Google reviews the requests periodically to approve them. If you haven’t been invited into the program, this just means we’re at capacity right now. We hope to expand the program slowly over time, and we appreciate your patience!"

Jiminhno
Community Member

Screenshot_20221114-214929.png

 waiting for confirmation 🤣

brian37
Community Member

I requested Public Preview for Google Home app but am still waiting. How do I get it?  

Google Home app really needs to be improved so I'm keen to see this public preview.

Update #1. Saturday 10th.  I got invitation to join Public Preview and accepted that. I thought that I would get an app refresh. Restarted but nothing changed. Maybe I just have to wait?

Noir
Community Member

My app went back to the public version ,but when I click the link in the email again ,it says I'm part of the preview 

masterxchief46
Community Member

My app reverted back for some reason. Is this a known issue?

Dkjames71
Community Member

How soon after you request the invite, do you actually get invited? I requested earlier this afternoon. 

Ryushvah
Community Member

I got mine approved yesterday and it was about a month, maybe a bit more since I requested it.

Dkjames71
Community Member

Wow, I just found about this new update today from Google feed. Had no idea this was going on. I'm a big Google home user with about 40 -50 smart devices 9 Google home minis, 3 home hubs. I'm really looking forward to this update and matter integration. But with Google it's always " hurry up & wait". I'm still waiting for Android Auto cool walk. I wish they'd keep quiet about future updates until they're almost ready to release them. Thanks for replying btw. 

 

Noir
Community Member

On my 7 pro it was two weeks, but the preview was on my pixel 6 and 5 days after

jarnailkamal660
Community Member

Hello I want a new google app on my account, 

Ryushvah
Community Member

For some reason this morning I lost my public preview and Google Home reverted back to it's old style. Why?

Kacperhq
Community Member

@Ryushvah 

When you check settings public preview you have info that your in the program or to opt in?

Ryushvah
Community Member

@Kacperhq this is what I see.

Screenshot_20230112-095223.png

Kacperhq
Community Member

@Ryushvah 

Ok so your still in the program. Have you try to restart/phone or clear app cache ?

What apk version do you have ?

Ryushvah
Community Member

@Kacperhq 

Clearing the cache brought the Preview version back! Thank you so much!!

MAP
Community Member

my issue is that all connections secure

a time within the run time goes online I would like to have ast.ext.z//run time issues with not staying connected with my network as long that it shows that the connection isn’t connected via offline instead 

MAP
Community Member

I Need the camera to v stay on line all the time