Google Home App Update: What's New
Google has announced a significant update to the Google Home app, expanding its automation capabilities with 20 new features. The update focuses on routines, adding new starters, conditions, and actions that give users more granular control over their smart home devices.
New Automation Features
The update introduces new automation elements, including the ability to dim lights when a TV starts playing, announce when a washer finishes a cycle, or automatically arm a security system at a set time. Additionally, users can now build routines around media playback states, volume levels, and light brightness thresholds.
Conditions and Actions
Smart appliances can also act as conditions, letting routines respond to whether a washer or dryer is running, paused, stopped, or reporting an error. The update also includes a long list of new actions, such as turning devices on or off, arming security systems, opening or closing smart blinds, and sending robot vacuums back to their dock or pausing and resuming cleaning.
Rollout and Device Support
As with most Google Home updates, the rollout won't be instant for everyone. Google notes that features may take time to appear even if you're on the latest app version, and device support varies depending on the manufacturer.