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What we want to see from Google’s fall event

Jon Bitner
By

The next big Google event is slated for October 6, when the Made by Google livestream kicks off at 10 a.m. ET. Much of the hype surrounding the event is for the upcoming Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro, but a few leaks and rumors have given us hope that there’ll be some big smart home announcements mixed in with the litany of smartphone reveals.

From confirmed reveals, early leaks, and everything in between, here are some smart home announcements we hope to see during Google’s October event.

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Reworked Nest Doorbell

A hand pressing the Nest Doorbell button.

Google announced in 2021 that a new Nest Doorbell would be arriving in 2022, and there’s a pretty good chance we’ll get the full details on October 6. The product is expected to carry a sleek new design, along with a new continuous video monitoring option on the wireless model. That’s a big change compared to the current generation, where 24/7 monitoring is only available on the wired model. Of course, a Nest subscription will likely be required to use the new feature.

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Updates to Chromecast

A white Chromecast and remote lie on table.

Rumors have been swirling about some sort of new Chromecast, and we’d love to learn more about the device during the Made by Google event. The device is rumored to be rather affordable at just $30 and will offer HD output and Google TV but lack 4K support. Hopefully, there are a few exciting tidbits that’ll be revealed during the event, but for now, it sounds like a decent budget device.

Nest Wi-Fi Pro reveal

The Google Nest Wifi router on a table.

Details about the Nest Wi-Fi Pro popped up on B&H Photo before quickly getting removed. However, the listing stayed online long enough for eagle-eyed shoppers to get a good look at the upcoming product’s specs. This includes a $200 price tag and Wi-Fi 6E support. Nothing was mentioned about support for Nest Point — an additional accessory that helps boost Wi-Fi signal — but we wouldn’t be surprised to hear more in October.

Nest Thermostat gets a makeover

The Google Nest Learning Thermostat in stainless steel.

It’s been quite a while since the most recent Nest Thermostat was released, and it would be great to hear that Google is giving the product a refresh and launching a new generation. We’ve unfortunately heard no rumors about a reworked Nest — and let’s face it, the device continues to be one of the most popular on the market, so why would Google change what’s already working? Regardless, we’d love to see a budget product revealed in the sub-$100 price range to compete with the likes of Wyze and Amazon.

Nest Smart displays get smarter

Google Nest Hub Screen.

Fuchsia OS recently made its way to the Nest Hub and Nest Hub Max, but it didn’t change much for end-users. Still, rumors had been making their way around the web earlier this year about a new Nest Hub, and making a big announcement now could pave the way for a successful holiday release.

An updated Nest Mini

A gray Google Nest Mini sitting on a kitchen counter top.

The Nest Mini has looked (and functioned) the same since its inception, and now would be a great time to introduce a 3rd-generation model. Last year, Google officially discontinued the original Home Mini — and launching a new, affordable smart speaker in 2022 could be a way to win back fans of the old product. And considering the Nest Mini continually ranks as one of the best smart speakers, adding to the lineup or launching a new generation seems like a no-brainer.

What has Google confirmed?

While all the above reveals are what we’d like to see, Google hasn’t confirmed any specific announcements for the October 6 event. An official post from Google states that the team will reveal “the latest smart home devices from Nest,” but no further details are given. The Nest lineup includes big names like the Nest Thermostat, Nest Hub, and Nest Doorbell, so we’re hopeful that one (or more) of those product lines will get a bit of facetime during the event.

Made by Google will be streamed live at 10 a.m ET on October 6. You can view the event on the official Google YouTube page.

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Topics
There’s no new Nest Hub, but that’s OK
Hosting a Zoom conference through Nest Hub Max.

Google held its I/O 2022 event yesterday, but one much-rumored device was noticeably absent: The Nest Hub. Rumors had originally stated that there would be a Nest Hub with a detachable front screen that would work as a sort of "smart tablet." These were based off leaks that most likely pointed to the newly announced Pixel Tablet, releasing sometime in 2023.  While there is some disappointment among Nest fans, it's not the right time for an update for several reasons.
The 2nd Gen Nest Hub released last year
The 2nd Gen Nest Hub released on March 30, 2021. That means it's been just over a year since new hardware entered the market. The previous iteration of the Nest Hub released three years before that, and even with those three years to develop for it, the hardware didn't change that much. The biggest changes were sleep-sensing capabilities and better audio quality. While a detachable screen could work as a sort of portable tablet, there's not much use for it -- not realistically. Anything a portable smart tablet could do can also be done on your phone, and probably faster.

The one hardware upgrade I can see Google pushing for is a significantly larger screen -- perhaps something to compete with the Echo Show 15. Right now, Alexa has cornered the market on smart displays. The Echo Show 15 is massive and feels like a true smart device, while the Echo Show 10 caters to those who use Amazon's communications features. Both of those devices have a specific purpose, but the Nest Hub has always felt vaguely like an afterthought.
Software is the next frontier
The only smart-home related announcement at Google I/O 2022 focused on new feature updates for the Nest Hub Max (not even the standard Nest Hub.) These updates relied on the Nest Hub Max's built-in camera to recognize when you're looking directly at the device, eliminating the need to say "Hey Google" repeatedly. This is a key feature that makes it more convenient to use; after all, wake words can sometimes be irritating. While watching the event, my own Nest devices triggered several times from the audio cues.

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The ‘Look and Talk’ feature means you don’t have to say ‘Hey Google’
Google assistant, displaying own photos.

How many times do you have to say, "Hey, Google" on a day-to-day basis? During the Google I/O event, the company announced two new features: "Look and Talk" and expanded "Quick Phrases."

Look and Talk lets you look directly at your Nest device and ask it a question without using the hotword. You can opt in to this feature, and once you do, all processing is done on-device. This means that Google -- or anyone else, for that matter -- won't see your face or hear your commands.

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The Sandman wars, or how accurate are sleep trackers?
A person weraing the Amazfit GTR 3 Pro for sleep monitoring

In 2018, the CDC classified sleep disorders as a public health epidemic.

A lot of people suffer from insomnia or other issues that make sleeping difficult for them. Just as many people simply don't get enough sleep each night and find themselves tired throughout the day. To tell the truth, I'm one of them -- I know I don't get enough sleep, and I've been working to change that.

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