Google Upgrades Home App
Google announced support for Nest Hello Doorbells in the Google Home App. Though the Home app has become an all-in-one center for accessing connected devices compatible with Google’s system, several Nest products, including Nest Hello Doorbells, lacked support with users needing to access the standalone Nest app to view their footage. With the update, Hello users will be able to view and manage their footage in the Home app and connect the doorbell to other devices in order to set up scenes.
The Circana Take:
- Nest users have eagerly awaited this update which will allow for more convenient access to their camera footage; all in one app. As device ecosystems continue to grow and as Matter adds compatibility to more products, having a centralized app to manage devices and groups of devices will be crucial.
Brilliant Looks for a Buyer
Smart Home start up Brilliant is searching for a buyer as the company seemingly powers down its business and services. According to CEO Aaron Emigh, the company has laid off staff, shut down its support center, and is no longer selling its products. However, CEO Emigh maintains that Brilliant devices will continue to work in users’ homes. If Brilliant stops supporting its existing connected products, many of the company’s smart switches and smart lights and integrations with devices from Sonos, WeMo, and Hue will stop working.
The Circana Take:
- As connected devices continue to accumulate in user homes, the question of support for legacy devices and devices from companies that have gone out of business has become more important.
- Smaller companies like Brilliant need to build trust with their users and assure them the product they are investing in will be supported or risk losing business to larger, more established ecosystem companies.