Google Home Hub ($129 at Walmart) doesn't come with much instruction on how to
use it. The Google Home Hub ($99 at Walmart) app isn't all that much
help either, since it isn't exactly easy to navigate, and many settings are
hidden deep in menus.
If you've only plugged in your Home Hub and haven't gone digging
into the app, there are a bunch of options and features you don't know about.
Here are five that you've probably missed.
Screensaver options
The default screensaver for the Google Home Hub is a clock, but
you can change it to something more interesting. Open the Google Home app,
scroll down to your speaker and tap it. Then, tap the gear icon and scroll to Ambient Mode. Now, choose between art displays or your .
After you choose, it will take a few minutes for the screensaver
to switch over, so be patient if you still see the clock displaying.
Whisper mode
Google Home Hub's Night mode turns down the volume of your
speaker on a schedule -- perfect for using your speaker late at night or during
nap time. This setting works for notifications, reminders and replies. Here's
how to set it up.
Brightness
When the lights are low in your home, your Hub can automatically
lower its screen brightness, too. To set it up, find your device in the Google
Home app, tap Settings > Display Settings. From there, you can choose when you'd like
your display to dim. You can also choose if the display goes off or shows the
clock during low-light situations.
Digital Wellbeing
Home Hub's Digital Wellbeing feature is all about making your
hub more kid-friendly. It can filter out mature content on videos and music,
help you turn off calling features and schedule screen time.
To set up the feature, go to Settings > Digital
Wellbeing and follow the
on-screen directions. The process takes about five minutes to complete. Once
it's done, the features can easily be turned on and off by going to the Digital
Wellbeing screen and toggling the switch.
Guest mode
Anyone visiting your home can connect with your hub through
Guest Mode without connecting to your Wi-Fi. To switch it on, select your
device in the app and go to Settings > Guest Mode and toggle the switch.
When it is switched on, the hub will send out an inaudible tone
that will trigger a four-digit PIN to pop up on the guest's phone. Then, you
just need to match the PIN with the one displayed on your Hub.
How to set up Google's two-step verification: With a few minutes
of setup time, your account will be much more secure.
How to book an Uber or Lyft with Google Home: Use a Google Home
and your phone to get the best ride.
Tags:
Technology