Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Google’s Nest smart home devices get spooky updates for Halloween


For Halloween this year, Google has rolled out a handful of festively frightful features to their Nest home products, including letting owners swap out their doorbell chime for the sound of a cackling witch and asking the Assistant to “get spooky.”

On Monday, Google announced that users can look towards their Nest smart home devices for help getting festive (or scary) this Halloween.

As of Oct. 21 and through the beginning of November, owners of the Nest Hello video doorbell will have the option to make their chime sound like a cackling witch, ghost, vampire or monster to make your home the spookiest on the block — no decorations necessary.

When these tones are no longer available, Google has promised that winter-themed bells will roll out on Hello products, too.

While that’s the only brand-new feature coming to Google’s Nest smart home products, the company outlined a few additional ways the devices can be used to help owners prepare for the big day.

By saying “Hey Google, get spooky,” the Assistant will start playing a 60-minute playlist of “spooktacular” sounds and music.

Requesting the devices to “show me DIY Halloween costume videos” or “show me Halloween makeup videos on YouTube” will bring up content to help users get their looks ready ahead of fall parties and trick-or-treating outings.

All Halloween Nest features are available as of Oct. 21. Time to get your spook on! IB/JB

source: technology.inquirer.net