![]() It has Google’s Recipes feature built-in, but that still feels gimmicky at this point because of its limited options. I put the Nest Hub Max in the kitchen, and the creators clearly expect others to do the same. ![]() Where does it belong? The screen automatically adjusts its brightness to fit the illumination in the room. And when the switch is off, the screen tells you with a persistent message.īottom line is, if you’re planning to keep the camera covered (there’s no built-in cover like there is with the Amazon Echo Show), you’ll miss out on some of the features that help justify its $229 price. A green light next to the lens pulses when someone is monitoring the scene through the accompanying Nest app. When the camera is on, Google goes out of its way to alert you of that fact. Google says the switch electrically disables the mic and the camera, so there’s no way to override it to snoop. There’s a hardware switch on the top of the display that turns off the camera and microphone-if you want to disable just the camera, you can do so through the settings. It’s a version of what the Facebook Portal offers by physically pivoting the entire device around the room.Īll of this depends on whether you trust the device to constantly peer into your space. If I make a video call with Google’s Duo app, the camera can actually track my face and zoom in on it without actually moving the hardware itself. If I hold up my palm from across the room while cooking dinner, it knows to pause the music. The camera can also see basic gestures I make in its direction. After the camera sees my face, the screen lights up with a small greeting and displays cards with personalized information like recommended YouTube videos, calendar events, and news headlines. Google’s smart speakers could already tell users apart by their voices when they made requests, but the Nest Hub Max’s facial recognition takes the repartee to the next level. The 127-degree field of view lens can cover most of the room if you set it in the corner, helping the device double as a full-fledged Nest security camera. ![]() Google integrated the camera as a fundamental part of the experience. The device lets you know when they’re inactive. But what about the camera? The hardware switch cuts the power to the microphone and camera. That doesn’t seem like a huge loss-this isn’t meant to be a tiny TV-but my daughter was maligned to learn she couldn’t watch “Grey’s Anatomy” on it while putting the groceries away. Your streaming options are limited: You can watch services like YouTube, CBS All Access, and HBO Now, but you’re out of luck if you were hoping for Netflix or Hulu. An ambient light sensor automatically adjusts the brightness to match the illumination in the room, so you can use it as an alarm clock without feeling like you have a Time Square billboard by your bed. The display is beautiful and renders photos beautifully (you can choose from your Google Photos library or a selection of included stock images for the backdrop). The Max is nicely designed, even if the bezel is rather chunky. In fact, some reviewers touted the lack of an imaging device as a positive security feature that gave it an edge over Amazon’s Alexa-powered assistant, the Echo Show. The original had a smaller 7-inch screen and a less-powerful speaker (as you’d expect from a physically smaller gadget) it also lacked a built-in camera. Google Assistant has shown up in a few of these already, including third-party models from companies like Lenovo, as well as its own first-party gadget in 2016, the Nest Hub. What is it? The Nest Hub Max is a fantastic digital picture frame, even if you don’t use the other features. Instead, its big glowing face-and always watching eye-is a constant reminder that it’s there and ready to help. I like the Nest Hub Max a lot, but unlike the other smart tools around my house, it doesn’t just blend into the background. The built-in HD camera on the front of the $229 Nest Hub Max knows what I look like, thanks to a little training session during setup and now it’s constantly on the lookout for my mug, whether I’m doing dishes in the evening or wondering how many Halloween Oreos I can eat before anyone gets suspicious. All of this works, in part, because it can see me. If I ask it for my appointments, it knows which calendar to look at. If it’s the first time it has seen me on any given day, it automatically displays the weather forecast. Stan HoraczekĮvery time I walk into my kitchen, a small picture of my face pops up on in the top-right corner of the Nest Hub Max‘s 10-inch screen. Learn more › The Nest Hub Max has a 10-inch screen that looks great in the kitchen. We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs.
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