Now rolling out to members of the preview program using the Google Home app
The Google Home app is extremely versatile and now supports the new Matter smart home standard, allowing you to control the Google Home ecosystem products. You can now control smart home appliances such as TVs and air conditioners. However, some Google Home app users are starting to see on-screen buttons for controlling their TVs, much like a phone remote app with an IR blaster.
Controlling your TV with your Nest Hub is easy. 9to5Google reports comprehensive touch button controls, just like they appear in the Google Home app. If you have a smart TV that supports the Assistant or Google Home, use these onscreen buttons to turn your TV on/off, mute or adjust the volume, change channels, play or pause what’s playing You can perform operations such as You can also use the app to change the selected digital input source on your TV.
Some smart speakers also have a similar on-screen button within the Home app. An interesting design detail you might miss is that most of the buttons are pill-shaped on both devices, with the exception of the circular play/pause controls.
As long as you’re a member of the Google Home app preview program and you’re trying to control a TV or speaker that doesn’t support casting, you can do this. You can use the Media Controls feature in the Home app to control Cast-enabled devices, but you can’t use the remote control.
As for the redesigned app-based controls that Google has promised for August 2022, it will use a borrowed Nest Hub remote control as a step up to the Google Home app. No information is readily available as to when this remote control-like interface will roll out to all Google Homes. user.