What you need to know
- Google announced that it is rolling out support for Workspace apps in the Home app.
- Starting this week, users can set up the latest Nest devices, invite others to their home in the app to control the device, and more.
- Recent Google Home updates have focused on Gemini by speeding up its response times and helping it understand user commands.
Users have been vocal enough that Google has announced that it is rolling out support for Workspace accounts in its smart home app.
Google says this highly-requested feature should give Workspace account users more “flexibility” in the Home app. There are some new things that users will unpack in this update that will be implemented today (April 2). For one, Workspace account users can now set up the company’s latest Nest devices, such as the fourth-generation Learning Thermostat and third-generation Nest Doorbell, in the app.
Another key part of this patch is expanded home sharing from Google. This was a feature that Workspace users were restricted to. Starting this week, those users can now “invite others to their home or accept invitations to join existing homes.” This is primarily used for those who want to invite other people into a home to grant them access to their smart devices. If you’re just getting started with this, Google has some details that guide you through it.
Article continues below.
Nest account migrations are also coming to Workspace users. Any account from 2019 or earlier can be switched to Google by linking it to your preferred Workspace account. While one restriction is removed, Google says two more exist. Workspace users in the Home app cannot access early access”Gemini for Home,” nor will they find “select Google Assistant and personal results features.”
Refining the home
There are a few other factors to consider, such as whether or not your Workspace account can access the features of the Google Home app. The post says that if you have problems, you should talk to your administrator.
This update to Workspace support couldn’t come at a better time. Google Home recently released two updates. A patch this week focused on Gemini; specifically, it helped A.I. Feel less robotic and more natural.. Google also worked to improve Gemini’s understanding, meaning users won’t need to use exact terms when assigning it a task. Gemini should also better understand the difference between household items, such as a lamp and a regular light.
The update before that sped up Gemini response times. It was quite obvious that Gemini could delay between giving him a task and completing it. Google says AI responses have sped up by 30% to 40%.
Android Central’s opinion
It was probably a big headache for Workspace users when they needed to constantly switch accounts for the Home app. I get that feeling even more after Google itself notes that it was a “highly requested” feature. So, good for them. Lately, the company has been focusing on improving its AI in the home, something we knew was going to happen. Since then Gemini for the home When it was announced, it was clear that Google saw its smart home devices as its next frontier. In terms of usefulness, it seems to be getting there, slowly but surely.
