Google Home October 14 update refines Gemini voice and app controls
The release adds polite-conversation goodbyes, faster stop commands, app-set weather units and redesigned third-party light controls.
Google released an October 14 update for Google Home and Gemini for Home that reworks how voice conversations end, how the stop command behaves, and how the Google Home app controls third-party devices, according to Android Police.
Gemini for Home now offers a brief goodbye when a conversation closes with a polite remark such as thank you. Saying stop now cuts the microphone immediately with no further reply, and Google fixed a case where stop was misread as ending a conversation instead of halting media, timers or alarms.
Weather responses now follow the temperature unit configured in the Google Home app. On smart displays, on-screen text scrolls faster to keep pace with Gemini's spoken answers. Requests for relaxing, spa or meditation music now route to the user's media provider rather than playing ambient sounds such as white noise or rain.
App controls and Matter
The Google Home app gains redesigned controls for third-party lights, plugs and switches, with a full-screen controller view where users swipe up to reach favorites, device history, feedback and full settings. The app also displays a banner when a smoke or carbon monoxide alarm clears.
Google is upgrading Philips Hue bridges in the background so they use local Matter control through Google Home hubs. The update also fixes camera tiles that stayed on old snapshots on iOS and progress bar scrubbing while paused on Android.
Google had released another major Google Home update about two weeks before this one.
Quick answers
What is new in the October 14 Google Home update?
Gemini for Home gives a brief goodbye when a conversation ends politely, stop closes the microphone immediately, weather answers follow the app's temperature unit, and the app has redesigned third-party device controls.
How does the stop command work now?
Saying stop makes Gemini for Home close the microphone immediately without a further reply. Google also fixed a bug that treated stop as ending a conversation rather than stopping media, timers or alarms.
What changes for Philips Hue lights?
Google is automatically upgrading Philips Hue bridges in the background to use local Matter control through Google Home hubs.