We announced the arrival of a next-generation Google TV Streamer this week, but it also arrives as Google’s smart home hardware strategy faces tough times and new competition.
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Google’s smart home efforts have been somewhat sporadic over the years. 2021 seemed like a turning point as the company rebooted its Nest camera line, but it was followed by a good period of silence. This was interrupted by the occasional arrival of a new camera, streaming device and Google Home speaker earlier this year, but it all seems rather vague and unpredictable.
And that brings us to this week’s news: Google has a new TV Streamer coming.
This next-gen version is pretty similar on paper, but with the addition of far-field microphones, presence detection, and a new remote control.
It looks good!
But at the same time, it seems like Google should have a lot bigger priorities in its smart home ecosystem. The aforementioned 2021 Nest cameras still need a refresh. The 2K updates for wired cameras have been welcome improvements, but I wish my battery-powered models had the same quality. The Nest Hub Max is path overdue for an update at this point, and I’d say this should have been prioritized over a new audio speaker. Google Home has done a great job over the past couple of years building a third-party ecosystem of smart home devices, but first-party hardware is lacking and integration with most third-party hardware isn’t tight enough to bridge the gap.
So while I’m all for a new Google TV Streamer, I also have a hard time thinking this is the version we should I’ll see right now.
Especially in the context of other news this week. Apple is making a big smart home play. In addition to the “HomePad” smart display, the company is partnering with LG for third-party hardware with deep integration. Aside from the fact that Google has really let its massive lead in the smart display space slip away, integrations like these are exactly what I’d like Google Home to see more of. Walmart cameras, Yale smart lock and First Alert smoke detectors are a good start, but there are so much room for more.
As a fan and true user of Google’s smart home ecosystem, I really feel like Google is leaving so many things out at the moment. Just me? Let’s discuss it!
This week’s best stories
Amazon did it!
Well, I never thought this day would come. After more than a decade of Fire tablets that were inherently limited, Amazon this week announced new “Alexa” tablets with the Google Play Store installed. Crazy times, friends, crazy times.
Google Wallet Updates
An assortment of Google Wallet updates are available, including increased ID support and a new design. Additionally, it appears that car key support for some GM vehicles isn’t too far away.
Pixelated has video – no, it’s not an exercise!
Our podcast, Pixelated, has long been audio-only, but this week’s episode includes a video component and a tier list of every Pixel released to date!
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