Google is now rolling out a new update for the Nest Hub and third-party Google Assistant smart display devices that brings a bunch of new features.
Some new features that this big update is bringing were teased for several months. Talking about the features, this new update brings sunrise alarms, family sticky notes, Google weather frog background, and more.
Google has added a new alarm interface for smart displays. This alarm interface provides more control for users to set alarm tones, days the alarm repeats, snooze duration, etc.
Moreover, the sunrise alarm setting when enabled will mimic a sunrise. Meaning that your smart display will come to full light just as the sun comes up during sunrise.
This Nest Hub sunrise setting also gives more controls to choose from, like you can set how long the effect lasts, whether smart lights in your place should follow suit, or whether a small tone should play before it starts.
Google adds a fourth ambient background option; The Google Weather Frog
Google weather frog is now getting an upgrade. Now, you can set the weather frog as the background for your smart display. Previously, there were three ambient background options, i.e. Google Photos, Google’s curated art pieces, and different full-screen clock designs.
With the fourth option, you can now set the full-screen graphic of the weather frog, chilling or freezing or having random fun across lush green hills and sandy beaches, as per the weather, of course.
Apparently, a new card on your home screen will remind you about this new addition. You can also ask your Google Assistant smart display, “Hey Google, set up my photo frame.”
Besides, you can also head over to Settings > Photo frame, and you will see the Weather Frog as the fourth option. This ambient wallpaper changes with the time of the day and shows the weather for the next two days at the bottom left.
All of your notes, reminders, calendar events, and other notifications will show up on the right side of the smart display.
Google has also added sticky notes feature to Nest Hub
This new update also finally adds the much teased sticky notes feature to the Nest Hub. FYI, Google has been teasing this sticky notes feature for over a year now.
Although it rolled in a limited capacity, it was not available for everyone. Finally, you can now get your hands on the sticky notes feature and use it on your Nest Hub.
The sticky notes feature allows users to add sticky notes on their smart display’s screen for other members to see. You can make use of your voice or add a sticky note manually by pressing the yellow notes card.
One important thing to note is that if you are using your voice to add a sticky note, then you have to mention family while saying, ‘Hey Google, add a family note’. Otherwise, Google will create a regular note.
Finally, the Family Tab feature is also added with this new Google update for Nest Hub and Google Assistant smart display devices. It basically includes quick access to Family Bells, Life360 tracking, fun questions, and activities for kids.
All these features are arriving as a server-side change, excluding the new alarm interface. Make sure that you have the latest update installed on your smart display or Nest Hub.
