Google I / O: smart home announcements we expect from the conference

Google could be ready to expand its range of smart homes. The annual developer conference of the company, Google I / O, is just around the corner, kick off on May 7th. This year we are expects updates from the company's Android mobile software and maybe new gadgets in augmented reality. It could also be a great year for Google's smart home efforts.

At CES in January, Google introduced a lite version of a smart display for your loved ones called the Lenovo Smart Clock. We saw leakage of a larger smart screen with an integrated Nest camera that we could call the Nest Hub Max.

Google also debuted Google Assistant Connect at CES. The idea behind Assistant Connect is to enable businesses to create hardware that communicates directly with Google Home devices via Bluetooth. Google showed an e-ink screen and a button in the form of prototypes. The device sends a request to a nearby Google Home site. The cloud of Google manages the computer, and then the screen can display the time or the weather. This is an approach similar to that launched by Amazon last fall with its Amazon Echo devices offering satellite functionality Microwave and Wall clock some products.

At I / O, look for Google to update us on Lenovo Smart Clock and Google Assistant Connect and, hopefully, get started with a new smart screen from Nest.

The hub max nest

Last month, Google appeared accidentally leak of a new device called the Nest Hub Max on the product page of the company. A screenshot captured before the list was deleted boasted of a "10-inch screen and stereo speakers".

Assuming this product exists, it could easily be launched to I / O. Expect that it has an integrated Nest camera – so it could serve as a security device with motion alerts customizable. The inclusion of the word "Max" in the title also suggests a relatively large footprint, focused on sound quality, like the company's Google Home Max Smart Speaker.

Otherwise, expect the device to be a smart display with many of the same features as the current Google Home Hub. The $ 150 Home Hub combines a smart speaker with a touch screen. The screen displays forecasts when you ask questions about the weather. You can check your calendar or browse local restaurants to find a place to eat. You can also use it to watch videos, watch pictures and check your smart devices.

The current Google Home Hub is relatively affordable: most other smart screens cost $ 250. It is also compact and cute with a 7-inch screen and can appeal to the privacy conscious because it does not have a built-in camera.

Nest Hub Max could complement it. Google used a similar strategy with smart speakers. In addition to Google Home Max at $ 400, the search giant still offers the original versions of Google Home $ 130 and Google Home Mini $ 50, all with the same voice assistant. The idea was to give customers a range of options to choose the level of sound quality that they were looking for.

Google took a similar approach when deploying smart screens last year. In addition to the Google Home Hub, Lenovo, JBL and LG all offer smart screens with the same Google assistant and similar features. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses in terms of material.

A Nest Hub Max could eventually mean that Google will eventually integrate Nest into its own Google Home app. Although Google is the owner of Nest, you still need to use the separate Nest app when you set up a new Nest Thermostat or a Nest Cam. The Google Home app has improved a lot in recent months, and the Nest product configuration options will eliminate this growing problem on your smartphone.

Google Assistant Connect

Although a new smart screen with an integrated Nest camera can highlight this year's smart home announcements to I / O, I'm also expecting Google Assistant Connect to lay the groundwork for the future of the smart home of the company. Google will probably have several prototypes to demonstrate its capabilities, as well as dedicated sessions explaining to developers what they can do with Connect.

In the past years, Android Things seemed to be Google's bridge to a more robust range of devices for the smart home. Android Things was a lite version of the company's mobile operating system intended for smart devices for the home. Last year, he officially launched alongside Google's first smart screens. Lenovo, JBL and LG even used Android Things as the operating system for their respective smart screens. It seemed that these screens served as both cool new devices and proof of concept showing what Android Things could do.

Earlier this year, Google refocused Android Things and made it just a platform for smart screens and smart speakers. Google Assistant Connect could be a potential replacement for developers to focus on creative material and then securely link it to Google's cloud.

At CES, Google introduced its Connect service that allows devices to communicate directly with a nearby Google Home Mini smart speaker to trigger various features. A credit-card-sized electronic ink screen, piloted by Connect, queries the Home Mini for information on weather and traffic. A button based on Connect turned on the lights. Google says that you can program a hardware device using Connect to do everything Google Assistant can do with voice commands.

Devices with Google Assistant Connect would be linked to a Google-centric smart home because intelligence comes from communicating via Bluetooth with a Google Home speaker or a nearby display device. In exchange, developers can focus on hardware while letting Google support much of the back-end computing. The nearby smart speaker supports sending and receiving information from the cloud. You should be able to configure Connect devices with the Google Home app.

If developers showed up, Google Assistant Connect could help the search giant dramatically expand its range of smart devices for the home and help the Google Home app to take a more central place in the configuration of your smart home.

Lenovo Smart Clock

I've had the opportunity to use a working prototype of the Lenovo Smart Clock at CES. No speculation necessary on this one; The Lenovo Smart Clock is real, largely complete and should be available shortly. It would be logical for Google to show it back to I / O and possibly announce an official release date.

The clock would offer an interesting contrast to the possible Nest Hub Max, as it will be even smaller than Google's current range of smart screens. The unit we saw had a 4 inch screen and no camera. The display functions have been adjusted for your bed. They can only display weather, calendar, traffic and music. Like Lenovo Smart Display and Google Home Hub, Google Assistant is always built-in and can respond to all the same voice commands, but it can not play videos, view recipes or some of the other features I'm used to . enjoy smart screens.

For example, 30 minutes before your alarm, the screen will start to light up to gently get you out of sleep. I really liked this feature when I tested awakenings earlier this year. You can also fall asleep by hitting the top. Its reasonable price is $ 80, more than the Google Home Mini at $ 50, but less than the current crop of smart screens.

$ 80 is even more than any of the better non-intelligent alarms that I've tested, and the reduced functionality could limit the appeal of the Lenovo Smart Clock compared to other smart screens. Nevertheless, I am curious to see if this will win the consumers and add another competent element to Google's already robust range of smart displays.