Google finally fixed the Home app experience late last year with anew design for the smart home platformthat promised fewer taps to control your IoT devices, alongside deeper customization options. The goal was to make the app a one-stop shop for configuring your smart home devices. However, there was still limited support for other smart tech in your home, including curtains and window shutters, until now. This appears to be changing, as evidenced by a few redesigned interfaces within the Home app.
French outletGHomeFrancehas spotted several UI tweaks for many of thepopular smart home devices(via9to5Google). The overhaul allows you to actually control connected objects, including curtains, window shutters, garage doors, mowers, heaters, and diffusers or humidifiers. Previously, these device types were only visible in the “Devices” tab, with no way to adjust them.
One of the most notable changes is a sliding bar that allows you to adjust the level at which the curtain opens. For shutters, there are two side-by-side buttons for turning them on or off, alongside level controls. Heaters are also easier to configure with new buttons corresponding to different modes, while the UI control for diffusers has added the ability to choose between auto, high, medium, and low.
The Home app has also gained handy interface updates for other smart home appliances, such as ovens. As a result, you’ll be able to switch between modes on your Whirlpool W9 cooking range or turn it off with a single tap. These settings also apply to other brands that are Matter-compatible or work withGoogle Assistant.
Source:GHomeFrance
These changes come on the heels of theexpansion of live camera previewsto other home security cameras, such as Wyze and Reolink, allowing users to view their live camera feeds from within the app. Last month, Google Home also gave a few beta testers the ability toreorder devices in the “Favorites” tab.
These new functionalities demonstrate Google’s efforts to address many of the Home app’s pain points, such as complicated setup and perplexing integrations. And with its full commitment toMatter, we can count on the platform improving support for more smart home devices in the future.
