Key Points:
- Google Home launches a new ‘Favorites’ widget for Android and a Tile for Wear OS.
- The widget provides customizable access to smart home devices and automation.
- The Wear OS Tile allows quick access to key devices with intuitive icons.
Google Home has unveiled two exciting new features to enhance smart home management: the ‘Favorites’ widget for Android and a Tile for Wear OS. These innovations aim to streamline user interactions with their smart home devices, bringing convenience and efficiency to the forefront.
The new ‘Favorites’ widget offers a versatile interface for Android users, presenting a grid layout on the home screen that showcases smart home devices, automation, and actions. This grid can either mirror the existing Favorites tab in the Google Home app or be customized to fit individual preferences. Users can control devices directly from the widget; for instance, tapping the light icon will instantly turn the light on or off. Additionally, the widget allows users to monitor temperatures, lock states, and more, providing a comprehensive smart home overview at a glance.
The widget’s design is highly flexible, accommodating various screen configurations from a full-screen grid with three square tiles per row to a compact single-line display. Dynamic Color theming ensures the widget blends seamlessly with the user’s device aesthetics. A refresh button and the current home label add to its functionality. Initially teased last year, this feature is now available for Android users enrolled in the Public Preview program with Google Home 3.18.
On the Wear OS front, Google Home introduces a Favorites Tile and complication, enabling users to access up to five devices quickly. The Tile’s layout is reminiscent of Google Contacts, offering intuitive icons for essential devices like lights, thermostats, and smart locks. Each icon opens the corresponding device page, enhancing ease of use. This update, which began rolling out today, includes a new complication for swift device access alongside the existing Google Home app icon.
These updates signify Google’s commitment to enhancing smart home accessibility and user experience, making it easier than ever to manage connected devices.
