Google is testing a big firmware update for the Google Home, Home Mini, Nest Mini, and Nest Audio.

Google has long operated a Preview Program for speaker firmware. Version 3.79.550760 was posted today with five big features:

• Audio & media streaming and volume improvements
• Setup and connectivity improvements on WiFi issues
• Google assistant entry experience improvements
• Smart home control experience improvements
• Overall performance and stability improvements

The 3.79 update improves the setup and Wi-Fi experience, as well as audio performance and smart home control. “Google assistant” is presumably in reference to Gemini.

This release is currently being tested for the Google Home (2016), Home Mini (2017), Nest Mini (2019), and Nest Audio (2020). The Google Home Max has been running older firmware for some time now, while the Home Speaker was not included in this wave. Given that the latter launched recently, it might already have these improvements.

You can sign up for the Preview Program from the Google Home app. Go to the device page > settings gear in the top-right corner > Device information > Preview program. Updates happen automatically at night.

It should take a few weeks before the 3.79 update is released to the production channel for all users.

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