In announcing the major UI overhaul for Assistant Smart Displays last October, Google also teased the addition of Sunrise Alarms. The Android feature is now starting to roll out as part of a new alarm experience for the Nest Hub.
Today, “Hey Google, show me my alarms” or to swipe down on a Nest Hub and tap on the alarm icon, brings up a carousel where each alarm is placed side by side in a circle. There is a FAB in the lower left corner to create a new one.
The new UI uses a list with the time, date and on / off switch on each line. If you tap on “Set an alarm”, you will come to the same browsing selector as before, but now there is a second step to determine whether to repeat it, set the sound, turn on Sunrise alarm or Morning routine:
- Repeat: Select Sunday – Saturday.
- Alarm tone: 20 in total grouped by light, medium, heavy and natural, with the ability to preview each.
- Sunrise alarm: As on the Pixel Stand and later all phones with the Google Clock installed, the “screen will slowly brighten up like a sunrise to gently wake you up.” You can then specify whether room lights should also “brighten to wake you up gently”, or have a ‘Pre-alarm’ – ‘soothing sound that plays when the sunrise alarm starts.’ With the last adjustment you can determine how long the effects play: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 or 30 minutes.
- Morning routine: Can be activated automatically after canceling your alarm.
Meanwhile, the main list also gives you access to “Default alarm settings.” There is an alarm volume slider and the extra ability to select the duration “Silence after” and “Sleep length”.
Google first tested this refurbished Smart Display experience in September for a limited number of users. Today, Nest Hubs – regular, not Max – version 1.52 of the Preview channel (Home app> Device settings> Device information> Preview application) has access to the new alarm experience.
This is a complete upgrade that is in line with the broader interface upgrade to provide more controls on the device. Given the current availability of a preview, it will hopefully see a wider launch in the coming weeks for all Smart Displays.
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