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Home Connected Home

Google Home Hub Embraces the Hybrid Connected Home

Tom Kolnowski by Tom Kolnowski
11 October 2018
in Connected Home, Energy Conservation, Gadgets, News, Secure Home, Smart Displays
Reading Time: 3min read
Google Home Hub aims to be the central command center for your connected home. Image: Google.

Google Home Hub aims to be the central command center for your connected home. Image: Google.

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Making a wager on the existence of connected home life beyond pure voice activation, Google has announced Google Home Hub, a 7-in. touchscreen tabletop display with the Google Assistant built in. As part of the growing Google Home speaker family, the device dutifully processes voice commands and then stretches to function as a dashboard for connected home accessories.

Welcome to Your Hybrid Connected Home

Google Home Hub serves as a dashboard for a broad range of connected home accessories. Nest products are well integrated. Image: Google.
Google Home Hub serves as a dashboard for a broad range of connected home accessories. Nest products are well integrated. Image: Google.

This hybrid approach—where smart accessories can be controlled by either voice commands or touchscreen taps—stands in defiance to Amazon, a land where Alexa commands almost exclusively rule the roost. And while Apple does have a growing collection of HomeKit accessories that are controllable by their Siri digital assistant or the Home app, there is yet no comparable Apple tabletop display.

The Google agenda with Home Hub is to maximize easy access to core Google services—including Search, YouTube, Google Photos, Calendar, Maps and more—then sweetening the deal by elegantly integrating connected home accessories through its new Home View interface. It also gives Google the opportunity to better integrate smart thermostats, smart doorbells, and cameras from its sister company Nest into the Google ecosystem.

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A swipe down on the screen reveals connected home accessories. Image: Google.
Home View gives access to available connected home accessories. Image: Google.

A swipe down on the screen reveals Home View, a consolidated view of the connected home accessories in the home that are controllable with Google Home. These can viewed by device genre or room.

Design Details

Smaller than similar Facebook and Amazon displays, Google Home Hub enables access to all core Google services through Google Assistant. Image: Google.
Smaller than similar Facebook and Amazon displays, Google Home Hub enables access to core Google services through Google Assistant. Image: Google.

In contrast to the recently-announced Facebook Portal displays and the second-generation Amazon Echo Show, Google Home Hub does not have a camera so cannot be used for video calling. And Google designed their display to be less obtrusive among modern home decor by integrating a smaller 7-in. display versus the 10- or 15-in. Portals and 10-in. Echo Show.

Google stresses aesthetics in their launch marketing for Home Hub. The device has a decidedly softer appearance compared to the edgier Portal and Echo Show, with a rounded base wrapped in fabrics to match those on the Google Home Mini. Color choices include chalk, charcoal, the just-announced aqua, plus a new sand (or is it salmon?) color.

Home Hub is also expected to find its way into many kitchens. Home cooks will be able to summon their favorite Tasty recipe videos with a simple voice command. Mozzarella-Stuffed Slow Cooker Meatballs, anyone?

Google Home App Gets an Upgrade

A revised Google Home app is part of the package, and mimics the look and feel of the Home Hub interface. Image: Google.
A revised Google Home app is part of the package, and mimics the look and feel of the Home Hub interface. Image: Google.

In synch with Google Home Hub, the company has also upgraded its Google Home app with a friendlier interface. The new Android and iOS app can be used with all Google Home speakers and connected accessories, and can take voice command orders from the companion Google Assistant app.

Google Home Hub is priced at $149 and can be pre-ordered from the Google Store. The company says it will also be on the shelves at BestBuy, Target, Walmart, and other retailers on October 22.

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Tags: AndroidApple iOSconnected garageconnected homeconnected livingconsumer electronicsgear & gadgetsGoogle HomeGoogle Home HubGoogle Home Minihome automationInternet of ThingsNest Labsnon-affiliatesecurityvoice activation
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Tom Kolnowski

Tom Kolnowski

Tom Kolnowski is the Chief Content Officer & Founder of Digitized House Media, LLC, the publisher of Digitized House | Guide to the Connected Home. When he isn’t writing about smart home technology, sustainability, and high-performance architecture, you’ll find him exploring faraway destinations with his family.

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