Five ways a smart home can make your autumn easier

Smart homes can help you stay snuggly

Relaxing with a good book under a blanket, or don’t want to get up from the sofa lest you disturb the cat that has settled comfortably on your knee? If your home is connected you can use your voice to do things like play your music, tune in to Netflix or even turn up the heating. That’s because smart speakers don’t just play audio, they listen to what you have to say too.

For example, the Google Home and Google Home Mini have the Google Assistant built in, so you can ask questions and tell it to do things. Just start with “Hey Google” to get answers from Google, play your songs, tackle your day, control your smart home and enjoy your entertainment.

A hub for when friends and family come round

While garden parties and BBQs might be a more common sight during the summer, gatherings tend to move back inside the home during the autumn, with the kitchen or living room acting as a hub. A few years ago, you might’ve put a CD in the CD player, or turned on the radio or TV to provide music or background noise. With smart technology, you can do this and more. Ask your preferred streaming service to play some jazz, bring up the photos of your recent trip, see how your team is doing, or even search YouTube to show your guests a video you know they’ll love. A smart home hub makes this possible.

Google Nest Hub provides help at a glance in any room at home. With the Google Assistant built-in, always see your best and latest shots from Google Photos. Plus, view and control your compatible connected devices from a single dashboard. Simply use your voice to watch YouTube and play songs from YouTube Music*. You can even get your calendar, commute, answers from Google, and more.

Keep an eye on things

Autumn often gives us perfect weather for a wander close to home or a little further away. With the long school break over, the tourist hotspots and beaches are quieter, making it the ideal time to go on holiday and enjoy the last of the summer sun. Or maybe you’re facing the back to school busyness after a break over the summer.

Autumn can bring a change in routine for many of us and some time away from the house, whether that’s for a few hours or a few days. Now you can keep an eye on things when you’re not there using a smart home camera connected to another smart device, like a phone or a tablet.

Google Nest Cam helps you stay connected to what matters to you – from anywhere. Watch the action live in super clear 1080p HD. And get alerts on your phone if there’s motion or sound.

Who’s at the door?

Have you put the heating on yet? Maybe you’re reluctant to do that so resort to fleecy pajamas and a fuzzy dressing gown to keep you warm in the morning, or just whenever you’re chilling out at home. And while we can all assume that the people who deliver your post and packages have seen some things during their working life, that doesn’t mean we want them to see us bundled up in our battered, tea-stained dressing gown. Luckily, smart home technology can allow you to accept your package without opening the door, or leaving whatever room you’re in. You’ll also be able to see who visits your home even if you’re not there.

Google Nest Hello lets you know who’s there, so you never miss a visitor or a package. It can tell the difference between a person and a thing, then alert you. And because it’s wired, it streams 24/7, so you can check in anytime. Or go back and look at a 3-hour snapshot history to see what’s been happening.

Check your home energy and broadband

Electricity and broadband keep the smart home running, so checking you have the right deal that works for your household is important. And to celebrate Connected Home Month, we’re giving you the chance to get your hands on smart home technology at no additional cost when you choose selected energy tariffs and broadband packages. Take a look at our Connected Home Month page and see what’s on offer.

*The Google Nest Hub requires a Wi-Fi network, a nearby electrical socket, and a compatible (Android, iOS) mobile device. A Google Account is required for full access to features. Minimum OS requirements are available at g.co/home/req.

**Some features, including mobile notifications, remote control, video streaming and video recording, require working internet and Wi-Fi.