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Google Home becomes a center to control your entertainment from. The latest update added support for your TV remote control.
Not everyone can use the remote control yet. Still, some Google Home users already see a strange button when opening the application. Users who signed up for Google’s preview program are always the first to test the feature. The feature will be generally available soon. You don’t have to do anything yourself: Google introduces the latest new feature via a server-side update. So you don’t even have to update the Google Home app on your device.
Anyone who could already use the update will notice that the full remote control is incorporated in the app. It was previously possible to switch your television on or off from the Home app. The digital remote control is clearly a huge step forward. You can now pause and resume your movie or series, adjust the volume and even select a different input device. So you no longer have to look for the remote control to operate your television set.
Android TV, Tizen and WebOS
The remote control in the Google Home app has been working for users with an Android TV for some time. However, televisions from the Samsung brand run on Tizen, while LG has been using WebOS as an operating system for several years. Previously, owners of a Samsung or LG device could only switch their television on or off. The new remote control solves that problem.
It just doesn’t look like the Samsung or LG remote control will disappear from the living room anytime soon. Android TVs work slightly better with the digital remote control than Tizen or WebOS copies. It will not be possible to click around in the interface. To turn on your favorite Netflix or Disney + series, users with an LG or Samsung TV will therefore have to reach for the old remote control.
Air cleaning systems and fans
In addition to your television set, it has recently become possible to operate your fans and air cleaning system with Google Home, although that is slightly less interesting to watch. This new feature is incorporated in the same server-side update as the digital remote control.