Google Home Automations Become More Flexible with New Triggers
The update to the Google Home app is making smart home automation more comprehensive. New triggers, such as humidity levels and robot vacuum location, along with a 'near-live' playback improvement for camera recordings, have been released.
Google has expanded automation options for its Google Home smart home ecosystem with a new update. Users can now program their devices based on more specific conditions.
New Automation Triggers and Conditions
The update increases the number of trigger and condition options available to start automations. Ambient humidity reaching a certain level, a robot vacuum docking at its charging station, or a device's battery level dropping can now initiate an automation. Furthermore, more detailed interactions on supported devices, such as single-click, multi-click, or long-press on buttons, can also be set as automation triggers.
Color and Temperature Control in Smart Lighting
Innovations have also been added to the list of actions automations can perform. One of the most notable features is the ability to set smart lights to specific colors or color temperatures via automations. This feature paves the way for scenarios that automatically adapt a room's lighting conditions based on the time of day, weather, or user preference.
"Near-Live" Playback Support for Camera Recordings
Another important component of the update relates to camera recordings. Google states that the reliability of playing clips recorded by the camera that have not yet been fully uploaded to the cloud has been improved in the Google Home app. With this "near-live playback" enhancement, a reduction in "Video unavailable" errors encountered when clicking a notification or opening a recent event is expected.
These updates to the Google Home ecosystem allow users to create more realistic and personalized smart home scenarios. The developments are seen as a reflection of the competition in smart home technologies. Similar advancements are occurring in software and services, just as in hardware-based solutions. For example, much like South Korean companies taking the lead in the AI chip market, the race among smart home platforms is offering consumers more choices and advanced features.
