What you need to know
- Google rolled out a Home app update that improves its automations and routines for users.
- Automations gain a selection of “pre-defined voice assistant actions,” while routines let users delete pre-made options.
- Google Home’s latest updates were major in October, revamping the app to be faster and bringing in Gemini with “Ask Home.”
If you’ve got a Google smart home, an update is rolling out this week that aims to clean up automations and routines.
The company posted its changelog for an update rolling out in mid-February that delivers two key updates to voice assistant actions and routines. Google says that this update is part of its efforts to improve its “automation editors and abilities.” Starting this week, users can find a selection of new “pre-defined voice assistant actions.” A few examples include “Announce current time,” “Ask what time to set an alarm,” “Play music,” “Play radio,” and more.
Google adds that users can find these new actions under “Devices actions type” for compatible devices. The post claims that this is just the start and that more updates to the Home app’s automation capabilities are to be expected.
On the other hand, Google is finally giving users a way to delete pre-made routines. This applies to certain routines, like “Good Morning” and “Bedtime.” The company recognizes that while these are useful, some users would much rather have the space to create their own. Lastly, this update is rolling out improvements from “Clip creation” for Google Home’s web version.
The post says its update improves “support for continuous video clip downloads of up to 5 minutes.”
You can’t think of big Google Home updates and not think about “Ask Home.” The update that expanded Ask Home’s availability dropped for Android users in October. The original patch was a few weeks before that, which included a redesigned app design that’s faster and unifies Nest devices. Loading was quickened by ~70%, and Google also reportedly squashed several long-standing bugs.
Gemini is fully involved with Google Home now, too, for users looking to create things much quicker. “Ask Home” is where it resides, giving users the ability to have the AI perform simple tasks with the desired device. Gemini can create automations, locate video recordings, and more through Ask Home.
Android Central’s Take
For a home with several smart devices connected, automations and routines are a real handy tool to have. I’ve dabbled in this area a few times in the past, creating routines for simple Home Hubs, lights, etc. for others. What I will say is that this update Google is rolling out probably should’ve been there from the start. These are small, but worthy QoL updates that make the user experience that much easier. That’s really what it’s about, as these smart home products are in our homes for whatever purpose we see fit.
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