What is Google Home?
Yeah, what is Google Home?
Basically, Google Home is an app that acts as a hub for all of your Google devices. If you have connected home products like a Google Nest thermostat, lights, cameras, or speakers, you can manage them from the Google Home app as well. The Google Home app is available both for both iOS and Android devices.
Previously, Google Home was a brand of the company's smart speaker, so the term can be a bit confusing. Now the brand Google Home includes everything on its smart home platform, with the Google Home app being the main hub.
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The company now offers a line of smart devices under the Google Nest name, such as the Google Nest Cam or Google Nest Audio smart speaker.
The Google Home app allows you to control many different areas of your house while keeping all of your connected devices and services in one, neat and tidy place. It also lets you "Create Routines that allow you to turn on compatible lights, check the weather, play the news, and more with one simple command," the Google Play Store description says.
For instance: If you're away on vacation and want to check in on things at your place, you can use the app to do so. See your camera feed, turn lights on and off, and adjust the temperature in case you forgot to before you left. It also lets you view a "recap of recent events," and it will notify you if something deemed as "important" happens while you're gone.
Amongst its other uses, Google Home can run WiFi speed tests to help you diagnose internet problems, and if you want to prioritize traffic to certain areas (like video games or video call connection), you can do that, as well.
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Having all of your home services and devices available and manageable in one place sounds convenient, sure, but it also raises valid concerns about access and privacy. Google claims to utilize "one of the world’s most advanced security infrastructures, which we build directly into Google products so that they’re secure by default. The built-in security in your Google Account automatically detects and blocks threats before they reach you, so that your personal information is secure."
Still, some have valid concerns about one company being so involved in your life.
So, what is Google Home? It's, well, your home! More specifically, it's a mechanism that acts as a control center for every home device or service connected to it.
Andy is a fellow on Mashable's Culture team. He graduated with a B.S. from the University of North Florida in 2018 and moved to New York to pursue journalism in culture and entertainment. He can (and will) talk for too long about Star Wars and movies in general. His fear of stinging insects and 80+ degree weather will keep him inside forever. He wishes he were shorter.
