on Google Nest Hub Max will soon end support for Google Meet and Zoom as the company continues to ax display features.
This news is from a user of Google Home subreddit who stated that they received messages informing them that they would not be able to make calls through Google Meet “at the end of September.” More specifically, September 28, according to 9To5Google. Zoom, on the other hand, lives on less.
A Zoom support page explains that it will go offline with Nest Hub on September 30. The post makes the point that the app will eventually stop working on the device and “no further updates will be available.” You will no longer be able to install Zoom or sign-in to Nest Hub Max after that date. It’s getting dark for good.
When asked by 9To5Google why they are doing this, a Google spokesperson said that the company wants to shift its focus to making Google Assistant “more helpful” as it plans to implement “generative AI capabilities.” . Because of this shift, “some unused parts” had to be cut to make room.
Absolute cutoff
As you can imagine, people online were not too happy about this decision. One user on the subreddit said it effectively turned the Nest Hub Max into a “giant paperweight”.
Zoom comes to the Nest Hub Max during the COVID-19 pandemic as a quick way to start and join group video calls without another external device. In addition, this gives the smart home display an additional level of utility, allowing it to be integrated into a remote work setup. People flock to the smart home display because of its usefulness, but now, one of its purposes for the time being is to leave.
You could argue Zoom was dropped because the company didn’t want third-party competition on its hardware. Fair enough, but that doesn’t explain why first-party services like Google Meet were dropped. Maybe the user base ignores it. If this is the case, we can’t help but wonder what else the ax can get. Last June, the on-device games were removed. At this rate, the Nest Hub Max will be an island, completely cut off from the rest of Google’s ecosystem.
Uncertain future
It is not known if the smart display will even be able to make video calls. A set of instructions on how to use Google Duo of the Hub Max is still live on the Nest Help website. But, if you remember, Duo integrated with Google Meet last year so it probably won’t work. We asked Google to explain whether the device will still be able to make video calls, and, if so, how that will work? This story will be updated at a later time.
After seeing this change, you’re probably thinking about getting a replacement for your Nest Hub Max. We recommend checking out TechRadar’s list of the best smart displays for 2023 if you want some suggestions.
