Despite the announcement that the Chromecast family of media streamers is being discontinued, replacing the iconic devices with the Google TV Streamer, your humble HDMI dongle is getting a useful free upgrade including the features of Google’s new box.
9to5Google reports that the Google Home panel launched on Google TV Streamer will appear on Chromecast. The panel lets you control your smart home devices on your TV, including lights, thermostats, cameras, and smart locks.
Read our full Google TV Streamer review
The trap? The Home Panel for Chromecast is currently only available in preview through Google’s Public Preview program. This is accessible through the Home app on iOS and Android, under the Settings tab at the bottom.
You must be a home owner or member in the Google app and your device must be in standard mode with an adult profile. There must also be another smart device in your home.
9to5Google reports that they have yet to see the panel appear on their device, which may mean the feature is rolling out gradually. You can also find out how LG OLED TV owners receive a surprise and important upgrade for free.
This article was originally published on our sister publication M3 and was translated and adapted from Swedish.
