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Nest Hub 2nd Gen vs Nest Hub vs Google Home Hub: what’s new and what’s not changed?

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2nd Gen Nest HubGoogle launched the Nest Hub (2nd Gen) in March 2021 as an upgrade for the Google Home Hub, which was released in October 2018 and later rebranded as Nest Hub in May 2019.

In spite of sharing similar dimensions and look, Nest Hub 2nd Gen offers some new features and a few significant improvements over the first generation of Google Home Hub devices.

This Google Home guide explains the new features of the Nest Hub 2nd Gen and the major improvements in the 2nd Gen Nest Hub, including sleep sensing and quick gestures. The guide also helps you understand the difference between Google Nest Hub 2nd Gen vs Google Nest Hub vs Google Home Hub.

Google Nest Hub 2nd Gen vs Google Nest Hub: what are the new features?

As mentioned, the Nest Hub 2nd Gen looks very similar to the original Nest Hub (which is identical to Google Home Hub, read on.).  The design, dimensions and screen size (7″) are all almost identical.

Actually, it is hard to differ between the Google Nest Hub 2nd Gen and Google Nest Hub if you look at them from a distance of more than 2 or 3 meters away.

But Google Nest … Read the rest

How to Factory Data Reset Nest Audio?

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Factory Data Reset Nest AudioOccasionally, you need to factory data reset Nest Audio so that all your data and settings are wiped out from the smart speaker.

Unfortunately, there is no hardware reset button on Nest Audio, and therefore, you need to use the microphone mute switch and touch control to factory data reset Nest Audio.

This Google Home guide explains when you need to factory data reset Nest Audio, how to perform a factory data reset (FDR) for Nest Audio, and answers questions you may have on resetting Nest Audio.

Please note, the method for factory data reset on different Google Home devices are not identical.  This guide applies to Nest Audio only. You should check this guide for resetting Google Home, this guide for Google Home Mini (1st Gen), and this guide for Google Nest Home Mini (2nd gen Google Home Mini).

When do you need to factory data reset Nest Audio (hard reset)?

For most owners, it is not necessary to reset Nest Audio in most scenarios.

You may need to factory data reset Nest Audio in the following scenarios:

  • If you need to return or recycle Nest Audio.
  • If you plan to pass the Nest Audio to someone else. Please
… Read the rest

Nest Audio Layout

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Nest Audio layoutYou need to know the Nest Audio layout and understand the functions of each part if you want to use the device effectively.

This Google Home guide explains the contents in the Nest Audio box, Nest Audio layout and functions of each part to help you get started with the Nest Audio. A few questions you may have on the layout of Nest Audio were answered as well.

As explained in this page, Nest Audio is a successor of Google Home, not a competitor to Google Home.  Google acquired the Nest brand and has used it for smart home products.

Contents in Nest Audio box

In your Nest Audio box, you can find:

  • Nest Audio device.
  • Power adaptor with non-detachable cable.
  • Documentation bundle.

Nest Audio is the main part, of course. It is far heavier than Google Home.

The power adapter and the jack are proprietary, unfortunately. So, do not lose or damage the cable and adapter. Google is not selling spare ones. There are no third-party power adapters for it yet. In fact, among all Google smart speakers, only the 1st gen Google Home Mini used a 5v/1.8A USB power adapter.

There is a … Read the rest

Nest Audio vs Google Home: new features and improvements

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Nest Audio vs Google HomeAfter 4 years, Google finally updated the iconical cylindrical Google Home with a bigger and lounder Nest Audio in 2020.  So, the question for many existing users of Google Home is the comparison of Nest Audio vs Google Home

This Google Home guide explains the new features and improvements of Nest Audio vs Google Home to help you understand whether you should “upgrade” your Google Home, or whether Nest Audio is the right smart speaker for you.

The comparison of Nest Audio and Google Nest Mini (Google Home Mini 2nd Gen) is covered in this post (coming soon).

Before we explore the new features and improvements of Nest Audio (vs Google Home), let’s check what has not been changed (i.e., the shared features).

Nest Audio vs Google Home: what are NOT changed?

As a successor to Google Home, Nest Audio share some identical or similar features with its predecessor. This part highlights the common features of these two smart speakers.

Similar software

Both Google Home and Nest Audio share a similar software package. Google Assistant works in an identical way.

The setup and customization are also almost identical. This means existing owners of Google Home will have nothing … Read the rest

Nest Audio Guides

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Nest Audio GuidesNest Audio (released in 2019) is the successor of Google Home, which was released in 2016. And it is sometimes called the second generation of Google Home. Nest Audio guides are just for it!

Nest Audio and Google Home are substantially different: there are many improvements and a few new features, as explained in this guide.

So, many Nest Audio owners need some guides for the unique features on the device.  Of course, some Google Home guides, and even some Home Mini guides, apply to Nest Audio.

About Nest Audio Guides

Nest Audio guides explain the features and functions of Nest Audio and demonstrate how to use them with detailed step-by-step illustrations.

Some common features among Google Home, Google Home Mini, Google Nest Home Mini (Google Home Mini 2nd Gen), and Nest Audio, are also listed so that you can find all guides you need for your Nest Audio.

All generations of Nest Audio are covered in this section. We will highlight the unique feature for each generation when applicable.

How to use Nest Audio guides?

Most of the Nest Audio guides include a very detailed explanation of the feature discussed so that you will not only know how … Read the rest

How to create and use Google Home speaker pair (stereo pairing)?

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pair two Google Home speakers to create a Google Home speaker pair (stereo pairing)You can pair two Google Home speakers, including Google Home, Nest Audio, Google Home Mini, and Google Nest Mini (aka Google Home Mini 2nd Gen), to create a speaker pair for stereo sound.

This Google Home guide explains what the speaker pair is, the difference between it and the speaker group, the requirements to pair two Google Home speakers, the limitations and caveats of when pairing two Google Home speakers, how to pair two Google Home speakers and how to separate them. Some questions you may have on pairing two Google Home speakers are also answered.

What is Google Home Speaker Pair (stereo pairing)?

Google Home Speaker Pair (stereo pairing) allows you to pair two Google Home speakers for stereo sound.

After paring the two Google Home speakers, they will function as one stereo device only.  Voice commands will be handled by the left speaker.

Google initially introduced this feature exclusively to Google Home Max. When Google Nest Mini (Google Home Mini 2nd Gen) was released, Google added the speaker pair feature. And later it was rolled out to all other Google Home speakers including Google Home and Google Home Mini (1st Gen).

So, you can now this feature with … Read the rest

How to adjust alarm volume and timer volume in Google Home, Google Home Mini, Nest Audio and Google Home Max?

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adjust alarm volume and timer volume in Google Home, Google Home Mini and Google Home MaxOccasionally, you may feel the alarm or timer is too loud and want to adjust the alarm volume or timer volume in Google Home, Google Home Mini (including Google Nest Mini, aka Google Home Mini 2nd Gen), Google Home Max, or Nest Audio (2nd Gen of Google Home).

But you may find that you cannot adjust alarm volume and timer volume through touch panel in all Google Home devices (Google Home, Google Home Mini, Google Home Max, Nest Home Mini, and Nest Audio).

You cannot change the volume for alarms and timers with your voice command (Google Assistant) either, as explained in this guide.

Then how to adjust alarm volume and timer volume in Google Home, Google Home Mini, Google Home Max, Google Home Mini 2nd Gen (Nest Home Mini) and Nest Audio?

This Google Home how-to guide shows you how to adjust alarm volume and timer volume in Google Home devices through Google Home app.

This guide applies to all Google Home devices: Google Home, Google Home Mini, Google Nest Mini (Google Home Mini 2nd Gen), Google Home Max, and Nest Audio.

Where are the controls for the alarm volume and timer volume in Google

… Read the rest

Google Home Mini vs Google Home

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Google Home Mini vs Google HomeIn Google I/O 2017, Google Home Mini and Google Home Max were introduced to the Google Home family.

So, there are 3 products under the Google Home line: Home, Mini and Max.

Google Home Mini was released in October 2017. Google Home Max will be released in December 2017.

So, many potential Google Home users are wondering the difference between Google Home Mini and Google Home. They need some recommendation on whether they should get a Google Home or a Google Home Mini.

This Google Home Mini guide tries to explain the difference between Google Home and Google Home Mini to help you decide whether you should get Google Home or Google Home Mini.

Please note, the second generation of Google Home was released as Nest Audio, and the 2nd Gen Google Home Mini as Nest Mini.

Google Home Mini vs Google Home: size matters

As suggested by the name, Google Home Mini is a mini version of Google Home.

The size of Google Home Mini is substantially smaller than Google Home.  The height of Google Home Mini is only about 42 mm (1.65 inches). In comparison, Google Home is about 142.8 mm (5.62 inches) high. The diameter … Read the rest

3 methods to change Google Home volume and how to silence Google Home

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If you want to change the volume for your Google Home, you may not know actually there are 3 different methods to change Google Home volume: use the touch panel, use your voice, and use the Google Home app.

The result is identical, regardless of the method you choose.

In addition to adjusting Google Home volume, this guide also shows you 4 methods to silence Google Home and how to resume the media playing.

Please note, the 3 methods introduced in this guide apply to media sound and Google assistant. If you want to adjust the volume for alarms and timers, you have to use the Google Home app, as explained in this guide.

These three methods apply to all Google Home speakers, including Google Home, Google Home Mini, Google Home Max,  Google Nest Mini (2nd Gen of Google Home Mini), and Nest Audio.

If you paired two Google Home speakers and are using the speaker pair, the volume settings will be applied to both speakers automatically.

Method 1: use touch panel to change Google Home volume

As explained in Google Home layout and buttons page, you can control Google Home with the top … Read the rest

Meaning of Google Home LED lights (and colors)

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You can understand the status of Google Home by checking the LED lights (and colours).

This Google Home guide explains why you should know the meaning of Google Home LED lights and the exact meaning (and possible implications) of all LED lights pattern on Google Home.

Please note, due to the differences between Google Home vs Nest Audio (2nd gen Google Home) and Google Home vs Google Home Mini (and Google Nest Mini), the LED lights on Google Home are different from other Google Home speakers. So, this guide applies to Google Home (1st Gen) only. You may check this guide on the meaning of Nest Audio LED lights, and this guide for the meaning of LED lights on Google Home Mini (and 2nd Gen Google Home Mini/ Google Nest Mini).

Why do you need to know the meaning of Google Home LED lights?

As mentioned in Google Home layout, Google Home only has one physical button to turn on/off the microphone,  or to factory data reset Google Home.

The touch panel in the top of Google Home plays a very important role in using and configuring Google Home.  And the LED lights (and their colours) give … Read the rest

Google Home layout and buttons

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Google Home layout and buttonsAlthough Google Home can do so many things after setting up Google Home, it only has one button.  Most of the controls are achieved through voice.

The touch panel and LED colour also play an important role in using Google Home.

This guide will show you Google Home layout, functions of individual parts and how to change the base of Google Home.

Please note, Google Home layout and buttons are different from those of Google Home Mini (including Google Nest Mini), Google Home Max, Nest Audio (2nd Gen Google Home).

For owners of Google Home Mini, please check Google Home Mini layout and buttons page. Google Nest Mini layout was explained in this guide, and Nest Audio layout in this guide.

Google Home layout: front and top view

Front and top view of Google Home is shown below.

In front of Google Home, actually, there is nothing.

In the top of Google Home, you can find:

  • A touch panel.
  • LED indicators (LED lights).
  • Two microphones

A touch panel

The entire top surface of Google Home is a touch panel. You can swipe clockwise to increase the volume and anticlockwise to reduce the volume.

You can … Read the rest