Google has announced that the Google Home Max will lose sound detection from 8 May.
In an email to Nest Aware users, the tech giant stated that the feature was being removed but didn’t give a reason.
It’s a feature that is still available on the Google Home and original Home Mini, which are still running on their original firmware, and first generation Nest Hub and Nest Hub Max smart displays.
Google even stated in the email that the feature is still “supported on your other Google devices with your Nest Aware subscription,” so it doesn’t look as if this is being removed as a wider plan, rather there’s a technical reason the Max is missing out going forward.
Sound detection is a feature that sends a notification to your phone when things like a smoke/carbon monoxide alarm or glass breaking is heard.
With a Nest Aware plan in place, it also gives you e911 capability and the ability to check any security alarms that are available at the time of the sound detection.
Launched way back in 2017, the Home Max was the first real attempt from the Big Tech holy trinity to focus on sound rather than smarts; it landed a few months before Apple’s HomePod and a couple of years before Amazon’s Echo Studio.
And while it was somewhat of a big, ugly, moster – that cost a whopping $400 when it first went on sale – we stated in our Home Max review at the time that it “delivers a sonic punch to justify its expensive price tag.”
Google discontinued the Home Max in December 2020, but promised continued software updates and security fixes.
With the launch of the new Google Home app, which is currently in preview, and the promise of a Gemini-powered Google Assistant, it will be interesting to if any of the older, first-gen Home / Nest smart speakers get in on the action.
Source: 9to5Google
