A new product completes the range of intelligent speakers / screens under Google Assistant: the Nest Hub Max which is distinguished from the classic version by a camera on the front.We were able to try it for a few minutes.

The Nest Hub Max in its two colors, as well as the Nest Home Hub (formerly Google Home Hub)

Google presented Home Hub a few months ago, a variation with screen of its famous connected speakers.Available in 7 inch format, and now on sale in France, this mini-tablet offers an experience enriched by its screen, but is however limited by the absence of a camera.

Google Nest Hub Max (2019)

On the occasion of the Google I/O 2019, a new product under Google Assistant was presented to complete this family: the Hub Max.No longer sold under the Google brand, but nest, we will see later that it is not the simple of a change of name, but that the manufacturer's technologies are found in this screen.

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A good product

The Nest Hub Max has a more important screen than the Home Hub, by offering a 10 -inch diagonal and an HD definition of 1280 x 800 pixels.Although the pixel density is not substantial on paper, this type of product is used at a fairly large distance.Therefore, it did not shock me during the handling.

Unlike Home Hub, the Nest Hub Max is distinguished by the presence of a 6.5 megapixel front camera which has a vision angle at 127 degrees.It is completed by two microphones (a little unsightly) and a light sensor that automatically adjusts the brightness of the screen.

The screen is based on speakers (two tweeters at the front and a woofer on the back), whose sound quality seems to be there, but this will remain to be confirmed, because the test conditions were not optimal.

Always fabric on the back

The back of the device is completed by a button to electrically cut the microphone, as well as the camera.Finally on the left of the product of the volume keys are present, but prove to be un practical for use, because duplicating on the touch screen and the voice.

The product base will be available in two colors: black or gray.

A camera used at its fair value

The camera on the front is not only used for video calls.It automatically detects the person in front of them.His very angle of vision, coupled with a detection algorithm completely amazed me by its speed.Barely the person falls within the field of vision than a photo appears on the screen notifying their presence.

Identification of different members of the house

When a person is detected, the assistant will automatically switch to a dedicated mode by specifying the weather, travel times or the latest news.

All the vocal orders that will follow will take into account the person with his agenda and the history that Google was able to harvest on him.This will correct the problem of voice assistants where orders are sometimes poorly assigned.

Personalization of information

Nest technology

Nest surveillance cameras incorporate highly appreciable feature: automatic zoom on detected persons.This is to have a more precise image, but also to follow the movement.This same system is embedded in the max hub.

Concretely, the camera which also serves during video calls on Google Duo will follow your trips during communication.After testing the functionality, I found the quick follow -up and the satisfactory zoom for a video conversation.

However, we regret that other cat solutions are not integrated into the system.

The security camera part

In addition to the zoom and monitoring algorithm, from integration into the Nest ecosystem does not stop there, since the Max hub can be used as a surveillance camera.On the connected screen side, there is no need to configure anything.

On the Nest (Android or iOS) application, just connect to the screen to visualize what is going on live at home.To avoid any privacy problem, as soon as the camera goes into surveillance mode, a green LED will light up.

The small light light to indicate that the camera works

A TV screen

With a 10 -inch slab, it is pleasant to watch videos, even television.In the United States, Hulu and YouTube TV are supported.

The camera is once again used, since it will allow you to control the reading.No need to howl a "OK Google, break": it will be enough to make a gesture of the hand so that reading is paused or restarted.Note that anyone can do this action, it should not be mandatory to have gone through the recognition of the face beforehand before.

Chromecast function

In conclusion this nest hub max makes good impression, coming to erase the main defect of the home hub: the absence of a camera.The product is well finished, offers sound quality up to par and seems to show the way to competitors.Unfortunately unavailable in France at first, this Hub Max will be sold this summer in the United States, United Kingdom and Australia from 229 dollars.

During the conference for Google developers, Google I/O, many products are announced.This year, in addition to the new pixels 3A and 3A XL, Nest has become the official brand behind ... Read more

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