Exciting news for all Google TV users! If you were smitten with the new smart home panel, also known as the Google Home panel, and the AI-generated ambient art featured on the Google TV Streamer, fret not, because they’re making their way to all Google TV devices. This expansion was pretty much expected, as Google wouldn’t limit these features to only its latest hardware.
The magic of Google Home’s integration lies in its ability to connect any compatible smart device to your Google TV experience. This means if your Nest cameras, doorbell, Philips Hue lights, or even your Govee lights are part of the Google Home ecosystem, they’ll all show up on your Google TV’s Home panel. For easy access, your favorites are given priority placement.
While the setup is fairly intuitive, there are a few minor quirks. If a camera is switched off, you’ll see a blank screen, which isn’t particularly helpful as you can’t turn it on directly from Google TV. You’ll need to use a phone, tablet, or the Google Home web interface to do that. Doorbell notifications are optional, and while I noticed a slight delay between the doorbell ringing and the notification appearing on my screen, it’s a minor inconvenience. The doorbell image was also displayed in a slightly different aspect ratio.
On a positive note, controlling lights and climate control works seamlessly. Toggling them on and off or adjusting the AC temperature with the remote is effortless. Overall, this is a fantastic addition to the Google TV experience, making it a must-have for anyone with a Google TV and a plethora of smart accessories.
The AI-generated ambient art feature is exactly what it sounds like. Instead of selecting photos from your Google Photos library, you can let Google’s AI create unique artwork for you. This is very similar to what Amazon Fire TV has been offering on its high-end devices. You can either provide your own ideas to guide the AI or let Google provide Mad Libs-style prompts to inspire your artistic vision. While it’s a fun way to experiment with art creation, its usefulness depends on your level of interest in this type of artistic exploration.
