Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Smart Home
  3. News

Google Home Hub smart display will reportedly be renamed the Google Nest Hub

Bruce Brown
By

Sources reportedly familiar with Google’s plans confirmed that the Google Home Hub smart display would be rebranded as the Google Nest Hub, according to 9to5Google.

Citing accidental leaks on the Google Store website about the upcoming Pixel 3a smartphone and the Nest Home Max, a new smart display with a 10-inch screen, 9to5Google suggests a May 7 launch date. On that day we’ll be watching for Pixel’s new smartphone lineup including the Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL with accessories for both phones, the launch date for the smartphone lineup, and accessories.

Recommended Videos

We’ll also be on the lookout not only for a Nest Home Hub 10-inch smart display equipped with a Nest security camera but also for potential rebranding for the current Google Home Hub. Speculation continues that the Nest Home Hub will use the current device’s 7-inch display and will not have a camera — the only change will be in the name. Dropping “Google” from the Google Home Hub product name and adding “Nest” could underscore the smart screen’s potential for managing smart home products such as Nest video doorbells, security cameras, and smart thermostats.

Related

When we tested the Google Home Hub, Digital Trends’ reviewer referred to the digital display assistant as “small, simple, and smart.” The Home Hub is exceedingly simple to install, and it’s easy to find space on crowded desks or kitchen countertops for the compact device.

You can use the Google Home Hub as a handy information source, tapping into the Google search engine’s large knowledge banks. The Home Hub also acts as a digital personal assistant, readily announcing and displaying reminders and timers, quickly updating your calendar and schedule, and accessing your contact lists for phone calls and messaging. There’s no camera in the Google Home Hub so you’re limited to one-way only video calls (you can see Duo callers, for example, but they can’t see you.) The upside of the camera-less device is greater privacy for people who are concerned about uninvited video monitoring.

The Google Home Hub’s 7-inch display is small for long-time viewing, but you can stream YouTube videos and other entertainment and educational videos to the device. The Google Home Hub can also double as a digital photo frame.

The Google Home Hub’s ability to monitor and control compatible smart home systems may not be the primary reason many buy the intelligent display. However, the fast-growing number and variety of smart home sensors, entertainment, convenience, and security devices that work with Google Home smart speakers often add visual status reports and other information on the Home Hub. Rebranding as the Nest Home Hub, if the reports are accurate, not only aligns the smart display with the expected Nest Home Hub Max but also underscores the Hub’s varied role in smart home control.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Bruce Brown
Bruce Brown
Contributing Editor
Digital Trends Contributing Editor Bruce Brown is a member of the Smart Homes and Commerce teams. Bruce uses smart devices…
The 6 best Echo Hub tips and tricks
The Echo Hub on a stand.

Amazon's first smart control panel, the Echo Hub, is officially here. It's not without a few quirks, but it offers a great way to access all your smart home gadgets in one unified location. Thousands of products can be connected to the panel, and with full Matter support, it's a relatively future-proofed device. If you're looking to get the most out of your new control panel, here's a look at the six best Echo Hub tips and tricks to optimize its performance.
Customize your Echo Hub home screen before you do anything else

There are tons of ways to modify your Echo Hub home screen. After syncing all your smart home devices, you can create a variety of tiles for the home screen that give you quick access to all your features. Take some time to create widgets, shortcuts, and other tiles for your most-used devices and actions, as it'll streamline your smart home and save you the hassle of digging through menus.
Check out all the privacy settings
Like all things Alexa, there are plenty of privacy settings for you to tinker with on the Echo Hub. While the control panel benefits from a microphone button and the option to delete voice recordings, you can also dig into other Alexa settings to ensure your privacy is respected.
Launch Routines directly from the Echo Hub

Read more
How to use the Google Home app on a computer
Google Home icon on home screen.

Google Home makes it easy to manage all your smart devices through your smartphone or tablet. Giving you access to your camera feeds, smart thermostat, smart lights, and more, Google Home is one of the most popular smart home platforms on the market. But while there's a lot to love about Google Home, it lacks full PC support. However, that's slowly starting to change – here's a look at how to use the Google Home app on your PC and control your devices from a larger display.
Can you use the Google Home app on a PC?
Google Home doesn't have a PC app, but it does have a website. Unfortunately, Google notes that Google Home for web is in Public Preview, meaning not all features are available and you may encounter glitches during use. The website is seeing constant updates, so there's a good chance it'll work just as well as the mobile apps in the future. Be sure to check it out regularly to see what's been added.

There are a few other workarounds you can implement to get Google Home on your PC. Read on to learn about the alternatives.
Use Google Home through your Chromebook

Read more
Echo Hub vs. Echo Show 8: Which is the best option for your smart home?
An Echo Hub mounted on the wall near a living room.

The Echo Hub and Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) are two of the newest products to join the Amazon catalog. Both are designed with large touchscreens and make it easy to access the Alexa voice assistant, connected smart gadgets, and your favorite apps. But while the two share a few similarities, there are big differences between the Echo Hub and Echo Show 8.

Here's a closer look at the Echo Hub and Echo Show 8 to help you decide which is best for your smart home.
Pricing and design

Read more