Google Assistant is finally able to control Nest thermostats from Pixel phones, a function that previously appeared only in the home companion’s primary device, Google Home.
This update is a much-expected upgrade for Pixel owners, given that Google owns Nest and many of them purchased the related family of smart home devices.
The settings on the Google Assistant app have not changed, which means that it is not certain whether controlling the thermostat with a Pixel phone will require the user to have a Google Home that can connect with the Nest device.
Google might integrate other smart thermostats to the Assistant’s recognized commands
The Home is still a little further behind from Amazon’s Echo Dot, which can control many other smart home devices including the Nest Learning Thermostat, such as the Samsung SmartThings family.
The latest addition to Alexa’s integrated family of recognized devices includes Neato’s useful Botvac cleaner, which can now be turned on and off very quickly with the Echo Dot’s help.
The Google Home assistant is also working with Netflix and Google Photos now. Home is now able to cast multimedia content from Google Photos and Netflix to a user’s TV with voice commands. This addition is also a huge step since one of the biggest Home criticisms what that it could only react to voice commands for YouTube videos.
Over the past weekend, the Google Home app received an update to show both services available for casting in the ‘Videos and Photos’ section. The commands work with Chromecast, so users will need to have a Chromecast TV or device that can use the feature.
The addition, however, looks like it is still in development. Though it appears in the menu, there have been reports of no functionality upon clicking it, with users only being able to tap the Netflix and Photos options on for later use.
Is the Google Home still a good buy?
The device starts $164 on Amazon, which is currently a very high price given that the Echo family is receiving discounts on all of their products. The Echo got a $20 cut and is now at $140, with the Dot is selling for only $40.
Customers interested on a new home companion could go for a bunch of Echo Dots right now. Buying four of them would meet the price of the Google Home assistant and provide coverage for four entire rooms around a house.
Source: Android Police
