Google’s newest smart home device is always listening…and WATCHING: Firm launches $229 Nest Hub Max with a camera that can recognize every member of the family
- Nest Hub Max has a 10-inch HD touchscreen display and a 6.5-megapixel camera
- Its facial recognition system allows for a new feature called Face Match
- This means the device can recognize different people and show personalized results
- The feature can be turned off, and green light will show when the camera is streaming
The concept of a smart home means a complex solution to automate actions performed on a daily basis. This includes both control systems and home appliances that are wirelessly controlled.
Google’s latest smart product has some users wary, as concerns grow over the ‘spying’ abilities of internet-connected home devices.
The firm launched the successor to its Nest Hub (formerly called the Home Hub) on Tuesday, offering its Smart Display with Google Assistant and a bigger, 10-inch screen.
And, unlike those before it, the $229 Nest Hub Max has a built-in camera that can recognize different faces.
Google first unveiled Nest Hub Max during its i/O conference in May, and the device is now available in the US, UK, and Australia.
Google today launched the successor to its Nest Hub (formerly called the Home Hub) on Tuesday, offering its Smart Display with Google Assistant and a bigger, 10-inch screen
Google merged its smart home products with Nest earlier this year, and subsequently rebranded devices such as the Home Hub to carry the Nest name.
Nest Hub Max touts a 6.5-megapixel, wide-angle camera and comes in two colors – Chalk and Charcoal.
It has a 10-inch HD touchscreen display and stands just over 7 inches high. The system is compatible with Android and iOS.
The Hub Max, the newest in the line-up is the first to come with a camera, also offers a feature called Face Match that’s designed to further personalize the experience.
But, it’s got some concern about what it means for privacy.
The feature takes the previous device’s voice-matching capabilities to the next level, adding the ability to recognize and remember each member of the family distinctly.
‘Whenever you walk in front of the camera, Nest Hub Max recognizes you and shows just your information, not anyone else’s,’ Google explained in a release earlier this year.
This feature is opt-in, meaning you have to choose to enable it, and all data is ‘encrypted and stored on the device,’ Google says.
Hub Max will also display a green light on its front any time the camera is streaming, so its activity is easily identifiable.
Despite the precautions, the announcement has largely been met with skepticism as trust in big tech wanes amid back-to-back privacy issues.