Google TV is enriched: the home panel arrives on Chromecast and other devices

Google has started large -scale distribution of a significant feature for the Google TV ecosystem: the Home panel. Previously available only for members of the Public Preview program, this interface dedicated to the control of connected Smart Home devices is now during the extended rollout phase, reaching i Chromecast with Google TV and an increasing number of televisions and set-top box based on the same software platform.

This integration, although not unpublished in Google TV – having been implemented on specific devices since their launch – marks the end of a period of temporary exclusivity. In the last few days, the confirmations relating to the activation of the home panel on the HDMI Chromecast dongle with Google TV have multiplied. However, the Rollout is not limited to the Google device, but also extends to third -party smart TVs that adopt Google TV, such as some models produced by Hisense, indicating a strategy aimed at unifying the user experience through the entire ecosystem.

The Home panel arrives on Google TV: here are all the features and methods of integration

The introduction of the home panel on the device is notified to the user through a pop-up message displayed at startup. This notice proposes a guided procedure for configuring functionality. Among the options available during the setup, the possibility of enabled the receipt of the Notifications from the Nest bells directly on the television interfacethus extending a feature previously limited to other devices of the Google ecosystem.

Once activated, the home panel is located inside the quick settings panel of Google TV, offering quick and contextual access. Its structure follows the Google Home Mobile Application “Favorite” cardacting as a centralized control center for home homemade directly from the television screen. The goal is to allow users to manage their smart devices without the need to resort to smartphone or other controllers.

The control skills offered by the Home Panel include a wide range of categories of devices compatible with Google Home:

• Lighting systems (ignition/shutdown, intensity/color adjustment)
• Thermostats (temperature setting)
• Intelligent locks (State Verification, block/release)
• Surveillance cameras (Live Feed display)
• Smart sockets (activation/deactivation)
• Robot vacuum cleaner (management cycles of cleaning)
• Televisions and speakers (reproduction/volume control)
• Other hardware devices connected to the Google Home account.

Conditions for activation and technical details

The actual availability of the home panel is subject to some specific conditions. The Google account associated with the user profile on Google TV is needed to be Owner or member of a “home” configured in the Google Home App. Furthermore, it is essential that to this “house” is associated at least one compatible smart device. In the absence of connected devices, the home panel option will not be made available. It should also be noted that the functionality is not supported by the profiles dedicated to the smallest members of the family, namely children.

The number of Build Software identified on some Chromecast units with Google TV with this new active functionality turns out to be STTL.241013.003.12571383However, it is important to specify that the release of the home panel does not seem to be directly bound to this specific firmware version. As often happens with the novelties of the Mountain View giant, it is plausible to hypothesize a progressive activation managed by Google’s server side.

The widespread implementation of the home panel is a significant step in the evolution of Google TV as an integrated platform, enhancing the role of the TV as a control hub for the Smart Home.

Although Chromecast products have reached the end of life status, with this update, Google’s commitment is underlined to provide further updates also for mature devices. The introduction of this functionality on the Chromecast with Google TV and on other recent devices confirms Google’s will to continue investing in the refinement of the user experience on its TV platform, improving its integration with the Google Home ecosystem. It is undoubtedly a functional addition of importance for users who have adopted smart home solutions managed through Google.