Why does google keep taking features away?

[Cad1]

I have had a google

home hub for several years. When we first purchased it the whole family loved it, we could all add to the shopping list, I stored recipes in the cookbook and my son enjoyed the games. Then slowly features started to not function as they once did. Now only I can add to the shopping list because it has to run through my Google keep. The fun and games are no longer supported and the cookbook is no longer supported- although when I ask to see my cookbook my hub still says “to see you saved recipes say show me my cookbook.” I don’t see any improvements or new things getting added, I just see lost features that we once used. It’s so disappointing. Is there a reason for this? Is Google moving away from this area and just not giving it resources and I should look for another home automation assistant system, or what?

[sipriyadarshi · Accepted solution]

Hello @Cad1 ,

Thank you for reaching out to us with your issue and concern about the Google Home Hub. We, the engineers at Google are constantly working towards making the experience with Google Smart Home ecosystem smooth and seamless. Your recommendation serves as valuable feedback for us and we get a better clarity as to how we need to lay down the road map for future developments. Do check our documentations for news about updates and developments in the google ecosystem arena. 

[befamily]

Hi Cad1, I totally agree. I've been usuing Google and Google home automation products for many years. In the beginning it was fantastic. But as time has progressed it feels like Google is disintrested in home/presonal/family users and seems to be more focused on corporate. The "Shopping List" is a perfect example. Having the ability to CHOOSE an application for managing shopping lists was perfect and allowed users choice to have something that works best for them whilst still being able to have Google Home add and manage lists (by selecting the list app in Google options). Since they removed this and forced the world to use "Keep" it is basically useless for 80%+ of users (which is clearly evidenced by the overwhelming amount of posts everywhere about the same complaint which Google keep closing threads with no genuine answer - just a canned response like you've already received from a Google "Solutions Expert". We ended up getting an Alexa Echo device only because it still allows us to use 3rd party shopping list apps to add and manage via Alexa. We know a lot of people have started doing the same (either choosing Alexa or Apple) which is so annoying because we'd all prefer Google, the way it used to be. Sadly Google seems so big now they no longer listen or act on home/personal consumer needs and wants. With no signs of this changing for the better.