![]() Lifewire / Andrew Hayward Features: A multi-talented hub It’s the same full-fledged Google Assistant found on Android phones, Google Home devices, and elsewhere. Simply say, “Hey Google” and then state your need, whether you want to check the weather or time, ask about a sports score or trivia question, activate smart home devices, or quite a bit more. Of course, the Google Assistant is always available for spoken requests. Configurable settings are all found within the aforementioned smartphone app. Swiping up from the bottom of the home screen brings up quick settings, such as volume and brightness controls, a do not disturb option and access to the full Settings menu which doesn’t really let you do anything. From here, you can also set routines, check cameras, and more. Mine says, “The back door is locked, and temp is set to 73 degrees,” as my wirelessly connected August smart lock and Nest thermostat indicate. Swiping right from the left side of the screen brings you back home, where you can scroll through photos with a simple swipe of your finger.įrom the home screen, a downward swipe from the top brings up a smart home hub interface that gives you a quick rundown of what’s happening. Swiping left from the right side of the screen brings up a series of cards, which show things such as upcoming calendar events, news stories, suggested YouTube videos and music playlists, nearby events, suggested recipes, and suggested Google Assistant commands. It’s easy to get around and pull up the hidden parts of the interface that are readily at your command. Despite the looks, this is not literally an Android tablet bolted onto a speaker, and the Nest Hub Max isn’t loaded up with lots of apps and clutter. The Google Nest Hub Max’s interface is very clean and sparse, putting the focus on your own photos and keeping menu overlays and options pretty minimal in design. Lifewire / Andrew Hayward Software: Smartly sparse You can also choose which images you want displayed when the Nest Hub Max is idle, and anyone who uses Google Photos may already have a stockpile of photos to quickly have in sight via the screen. But getting the device fully configured and up and running will take a while longer, as you’ll need to download the Google Home app to your Android phone or iPhone.įrom there, it’s a matter of reading through the steps to configure a Wi-Fi network, entering your Google account, agreeing to all of the various privacy notes and stipulations, connecting streaming music services, and setting up how you want to use the camera. Physical setup is a breeze: simply plug the power cord into the back and then plug the slim adapter into a wall outlet. Setting up the Google Nest Hub Max isn’t difficult, but it does take a little bit of time. ![]() Small icons on the screen also indicate that the camera and microphone are turned off. The little green light next to the camera turns orange when deactivated, and the Google Assistant announces the change. Unfortunately for privacy advocates, it’s not a physical shutter that covers up the camera-you’ll have to take Google’s word that it has been deactivated. The 10-inch touchscreen is used for most interactions, aside from spoken commands, but there are also two physical buttons: a volume slider on the left back side of the screen, and a camera/microphone mute switch right behind the 6.5-megapixel camera. You can wirelessly connect phones via Bluetooth, however, to play music from the Nest Hub Max’s speaker. Note that there is no auxiliary port on the Nest Hub Max, so you won’t be able to physically connect a phone or other portable music device, or otherwise connect the Nest Hub Max to external speakers. You’ll need a wall outlet to power up the Google Nest Hub Max via the included 1.5m cable, which plugs in near the bottom of the speaker back. It looks like a narrower, suspended iPad affixed to a small, angled pedestal-and that pedestal is the speaker.
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