At the start of Matter, Google is revamping its Home app.
Google’s Home app is a horrible experience!: Anyone who spends their time in online forums or subreddits related to smart homes will have heard about it from dozens of users. But that should be the end of it now.
In line with yesterday’s launch of the new Matter smart home standard, Google presented a completely revised home app that should become the center of your smart home thanks to its simple and flexible operation.
A closed beta phase has currently been announced for the new home app, in which any imperfections in the software should be ironed out. At the end of the article you can find out how to register for the beta and when it is expected to start.
Google relies entirely on Matter – and is redesigning its home app
As a reason for the redesign, Google took the starting shot for Matter. Version 1.0 of the new smart home standard, which is intended to unify communication between devices from different manufacturers, was released yesterday. You can find all important information about Matter in our overview of the new common language of the smart home.
New standard for smart home
Why »Matter« is so important and what is changing
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If Google has its way, in the future you will control all your Matter devices via the Home app. This uses what Google calls Fast Pair mit Matter
designated. In the future, your Android device should automatically recognize Matter devices and set them up quickly and securely. Adding new devices shouldn’t be more complicated than Plug and Play
will.
Everything should become simpler and more flexible
In order for the Home app to become the beating heart of your Matter smart home in the future, the app must also become more convenient to use. This is also clear to Google. With an almost complete redesign, they want to get rid of the reputation as a bug-plagued, confusing hodgepodge app. Instead, the home app should shine with its simplicity and flexibility.
For this purpose, the app will soon be divided into five large areas. Under favourites
you can see what is most important to you in your smart home. That’s where the new ones come from Spaces
for use, which we will discuss in more detail in a moment. Under Devices
you will find, as the name suggests, the products associated with the Home app. In automations
you set routines that automate the smart home. In the activities
your Smart Home speaks up when something exciting happens and in the settings
you adapt it to your wishes.
At the start there are only prefabricated spaces, from 2023 you will probably also create your own.
In addition to the better clarity, Google is primarily focusing on the new spaces. These are well-organized hub pages for different areas of your home. Some examples from Google itself: In Space Cameras
you can see the video feeds of all your cameras together. In Space Lightning
you control the smart lighting of your home and in the space Wifi
you see details of your WiFi connection such as connected devices and access points or share your WiFi password with guests.
In order for you to be more flexible in using the Home app, it should also appear as a web interface and as a Wear OS app in the coming weeks. What a coincidence that Google’s own Pixel Watch, which uses exactly this operating system, is due to be presented tomorrow.
more on the subject
Google is presenting this at its event this week
This is how it should continue with Google’s Home app
In addition to the innovations that have already been announced at the start, Google also gives an insight into how the app will be expanded next year.
From 2023 you should also be able to create your own spaces, in which you can combine your devices as you wish and build your own overview pages for your smart home.
You should also be able to create more complex routines from early 2023. the rider automations
the home app you then want to order one Script Editor
expand, in which advanced users get more powerful tools for crafting routines.
The new Google Home app on WearOS and as a web version.
How to sign up for the Google Home app closed beta
Google plans to launch the new Home app as a closed beta in the coming weeks. However, you can currently the link to the public preview mentioned in the blog entry do not register directly for the beta.
Fortunately, the US side 9to5Google a solution with which you can already register for the new Home app. To do this, open the URL with your Android device googlehome://settings/app-preview-program and then press the button Request Invite
.
An invitation to the closed beta does not guarantee that, of course. But you can already express your interest in the new home app.
In addition to a revised app, Google also presented new hardware. All details about the new router and co. can be found in our news on the subject.
Nest Wifi Pro: Google’s new router should free you from slow WLAN
Have you already had frustration with Google’s previous Home app design? Are you looking forward to the new, clear version? And how do you feel about the Matter that started yesterday? Write us your opinion in the comments!
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