Google Home is making significant strides in its app development, with new features focused on AI integration, routine management, and vacation mode functionality revealed through recent code analysis.
Key developments; Google Home version 3.29’s dogfood build showcases several upcoming features that could reshape how users interact with their smart home ecosystem.
- A new Floating Action Button will provide AI-generated insights based on app usage and device interactions
- Users will be able to provide feedback on these insights and filter them to show favorites
- The integration leverages Google’s Gemini AI technology, part of a broader effort to incorporate AI across Google’s product suite
Interface updates; A complete overhaul of the routine creation system introduces more intuitive and powerful controls.
- The new UI implements a card-based system that slides up from the bottom of the screen
- A dedicated “Conditions” section joins existing Starters and Actions features
- Time range settings offer more flexible scheduling options compared to the current fixed-time system
- Presence detection capabilities combine sensor data from smart home devices with phone location information
Vacation mode progress; The previously spotted vacation mode feature has received significant updates.
- Users can now access an interface for setting specific travel dates
- The system allows for configuration of automated actions during extended absences
- Integration with existing Home & Away routines provides comprehensive coverage of occupancy-based automation
Technical implementation; The features were discovered through an APK teardown, though their final form may evolve before public release.
- Current findings are based on work-in-progress code
- The UI elements and feature implementations may undergo further refinement
- Some discovered features might not make it to the final public release
Future implications; These updates suggest Google’s commitment to making home automation more intelligent and user-friendly, while the focus on AI integration indicates a strategic shift toward more predictive and personalized smart home experiences.
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