Google Home 12+

Hit and miss

Manually the switches work ok, connecting to the TV will only work some times. Chrome cast is a pain. I did a lot of work and is not paying off. I ask for a specific song and it only works on a single speaker, if I am using a group of speakers, google plays what ever it wants. I got three chrome cast and they were fine at first but after a few weeks voice commands to chrome cast stoped working on all three. Google says it doesn’t recognize that device, I reset to factory, start all over and nothing. I am getting board of this I am thinking of going back to apple TV. What a waste of money. I have 5 nest cams and they connect and disconnect constantly, that problem came after google took over. I am angry about that security problem. I tried everything to have the system recognize only my voice so people couldn’t open my garage or my front door, that does not work. I even had a google tech help me set that up, thats not safe, anyone who knows what I named the door can simply ask google loudly through my glass window or glass door and it opens anything. Google is not safe . I regret all the money spent on this worthless system.

Irksome, poorly designed (T-stat use only)

Edited after a season's use. Just don't. An advance that is far worse, cumbersome and otherwise difficult to use. I would put the old t-stat back if I hadn't recycled it. Junk. Overall, feels a bit like an acquisition they now regret and will let die. Like others say, the app is cumbersome, slow, and awkward. Using this for an old-style Nest t-stat obtained from my electric utility. As an example of poorly thought-out operation (that is, privileging circuit design over utility) it took me longer to find out which device version it was than to put it on the wall. (A page of text would be much better than lots of fun bouncy graphics-we're installing things like thermostats, not playing). Yes the device is an improvement (and is the only reason this isn't a one-star review), but really, it's easier to set the thermostat manually if you are away than it is to do it here. Just more things to go wrong with no actual advance. PS I really, really dislike the lack of a sign out in this app. Update 3/23: Pleasantly surprised that it has operated more or less faultlessly since setup, so will add one star (now 3) as I add another device to a different furnace. Just my opinion, but the secret seems to be to keep it local only (don't attempt anything other than in home & on same network) and use a simple routine-the rest is just a problem in search of something to do aka unnecessary.

Developer Response ,

Hey there, we appreciate customers who share with us their experiences and thoughts on our products. We're always looking for more ways to improve the Google Home app to make it more user-friendly. For more help, feel free to contact us here: https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/7072407?hl=en

WTH???

ALSO (see previous review) … where are you (Google Home/ the App Store) getting the 4.5 star rating from ???? From the hundreds of reviews I’ve read through, they’re certainly not 5’s and most people are experiencing the same or similar issues that I have been.
Is Google actually looking at these reviews? Are they reaching out to get input from the users on the app, especially the updated version? Am I missing something???
And reaching out to support is a waste. You don’t speak with an expert on the Google Home app, you speak to someone in India reading from a script!! So frustrating!!!
Google is a multi billion dollar business and I understand that have and offer TONS of different services but as we move into a more automated, voice activated world, than I would think that figuring out from the people using the services what works and what doesn’t (not just, I don’t like the platform kind of complaints but actual technical issues with the connection between app/device/user) seems really important to having and improving those services, no?
Just the thoughts of a consumer that’s really curious and frustrated and would love to continue to use the service but also feel like I shouldn’t be in a position to spend more time writing a review than enjoying the service.