Google to bring Android TV remote to the Home app

Google has plans to bring the Android TV remote to its Home app on Android and iOS. This feature will live alongside the Android TV remote in the Google TV app. This new feature will benefit iOS users, giving them an easier way to control devices like the Chromecast with Google TV or Android TV-based televisions from other brands. Google hasn't shared when the rollout will be, but we're keeping an eye out for it.

Source: 9to5Google

Google Home app gets Air Quality setting with AQI appearing on Nest Hub

Source: Google

Google announced last month it would begin showing Air Quality (AQI) information for its Nest Hub users in the US. Many of these users are seeing a new setting in the Google Home app, even if the actual reading isn't available on all the smart displays yet. 

"Air quality" will now be a new option in the "Photo Frame" menu on the Google Home app. You can also access it on the device in the "Hey Google, change photo frame" menu with the setting "Show air quality when available in your area." It may or may not show up on your Nest Hub device yet.

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Google routers can prioritize video conferencing or gaming traffic

An update to Google's Nest Wifi and Wifi routers will allow you to choose what traffic the devices will prioritize automatically. Using the Home app, you can select if it should prioritize activities like video conferencing or gaming. The feature arrives with the Q4 firmware update (v13099.118.19), and it requires version 2.31 of the Home app.

Heading into the Wi-Fi settings of the app, you should see the new Preferred activities option. The two choices are currently focused on the two activities mentioned above. For gaming, it will prioritize Stadia. While for video conferencing, it prioritizes apps like Google Meet and Zoom. It isn't clear if this network prioritization option only applies to the mentioned apps.

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Google says its working on old Bluetooth connectivity issues on Home devices

Google Home device's issues with staying connected via Bluetooth isn't a new problem. Users have been complaining about the issue since 2018. But it took Google until this year to publicly acknowledge the issue and say that it is working on the problem. The Google Nest account on Twitter replied to a user reporting the problem. The company said, "We're sorry for the trouble! Our team is already aware of this and we're working on a fix, we'll bubble this up to our team and check back in once we have an update. Hang tight!"

A specialist on the Google Nest support also acknowledged the issue, saying the team is working on a fix. They're encouraging users to send feedback about the problem via voice command by saying, "Hey Google, send feedback," and use the keywords "GHT3 Bluetooth IN keeps on disconnect." Now, we're hoping the company fixes this relatively old problem quickly.

Source: Android Police