During CES 2025, I had a chance to check out a demo of the way Google is integrating Gemini capabilities into its smart home platform via devices like the Nest Audio, Nest Hub and Nest Cameras. The main takeaway is that the conversations you have with the Google Assistant will feel more natural. Personally, I'd appreciate being able to ask questions as they pop in my head, without having to formulate some Assistant-friendly sentence before speaking -- what I saw makes me feel like my wish could come true. To kick things off, you'll still say "Hey Google," but for follow-up questions you can skip the prompt and the Assistant will be able to hold on to the thread of your conversation. During the demonstration, held in a simulated (and very posh) kitchen, the Google representative asked things like what to cook with ingredients he had on hand (chicken and spinach).

Has your Google smart speaker been giving you the silent treatment lately? Over the past several days, owners of Google's Nest and Nest Hub devices have been reporting that Google Assistant has stopped responding to basic commands such as "What's the weather" and "What time is it?" Perplexed Nest users had been turning to Google's support team for possible solutions, but with little success. Luckily, Google just told Android Authority that it's deployed a fix and that "all users should be up and running now." The problems appear to have begun earlier this week, with Nest users on Reddit and other forums complaining that their smart speakers were going silent when asked the most basic commands.

For any number of reasons, some people might not want to shop at Amazon, regardless of how low Prime Day discounts go. So it's good news that the sale prompts other retailers, including Walmart, Target and B&H Photo to also offering some pretty strong deals of their own -- some of which match or beat those at Amazon. We're also seeing sales on devices the super e-retailer doesn't typically carry, like the Google Nest Hub and the Apple HomePod. Here are the best anti-Prime Day sales from outlets that aren't Amazon. We think Sony's WH-1000XM5 are the best wireless headphones you can get and they're on sale at B&H Photo for the same all-time low as at Amazon.

In fact, the category didn't really come into its own until Google joined the fray with its own line of hardware about a year later. Now, both of these companies are essentially dominating the smart display landscape, with each offering their own take on a smart assistant with a screen. It's that screen that makes smart displays so much more useful than smart speakers. Rather than just having a voice recite the current weather report, for example, you can see a five-day forecast as well. The same goes for when you ask about your shopping list or calendar; it's simply easier to see the whole list or your day's appointments at a glance.

Google Home no longer needs to lean solely on smart home devices like thermostats to know whether or not you're around. Home's optional presence sensing feature can now use interactions with Nest speakers and smart displays to help detect activity in your abode, letting it perform automated actions. If you talk to your Nest Audio or tap your Nest Hub, for instance, Google may know to turn the lights on. Second-gen Nest Hubs can also use their Soli radar sensor to tell when you're close. You can enable presence sensing in the Google Home app for Android and iOS by visiting the Features section in the settings.

Smart displays have evolved quite a bit since the initial debut of Amazon's first Echo Show back in 2017. In fact, the category didn't really come into its own until Google joined the fray with its own line of hardware about a year later. Now, both of these companies are essentially dominating the smart display landscape, with each offering their own take on a smart assistant with a screen. It's that screen that makes smart displays so much more useful than smart speakers. Rather than just having a voice recite the current weather report, for example, you can see a five-day forecast as well.

It's hard to beat the convenience of Google's Nest devices if you're and Android user and already rely on the Google Assistant for many things. If you're looking to outfit your home with a few new smart devices, Google's official store on eBay has a number of Nest gadgets and bundles for less right now. Key among them is a bundle that includes the Nest Video Doorbell Battery with a second-gen Nest Hub for $200, which is $100 off its normal price. It's worth noting that Google's store on eBay offers free shipping and returns, so you're not missing out on perks like that by going through eBay. Nest's video doorbell and hub are design to work together.

Tech gadgets galore, and a whole lot more can be found at Target. A favorite stop for weary parents, Target does a little of everything, but for Cyber Monday we are here to snag big-ticket items with tempting discounts. We have found deals on TVs, smart home gadgets, video games, and more. In the unlikely event that nothing here catches your eye, delve into the rest of our exhaustive Cyber Monday coverage. If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission.

Early Black Friday deals are already rolling out, with more new sales showing up every day. For 2021, there's concern whether shipping issues will mean less stuff on the shelves for the holidays. As we've already been hearing for months, the global supply chain is seriously backed up with bottlenecks occurring at key points. Hoping to deal with an already difficult situation, retailers stretched out the shopping season as much as they dared, what with shipping timelines stretching to frustrating levels. These supply problems are supposed to be felt acutely in technology, or so the market watchers say.

Keeping your home clean, organized and secure can be a chore, and your loved ones likely feel the same way. Fortunately, there are gadgets that can help make it a little easier. We review smart speakers, robotic vacuums and Instant Pots all year long, and for the holiday season we've compiled a list of our recent favorites in the home tech space that will make excellent gifts. And your giftee doesn't have to be tech savvy to use all of them either -- plenty of our recommendations amount to baby steps into the smart home world for those who would rather start off slow. We almost always recommend the multi-purpose Instant Pot in our holiday gift guides and this year is no exception.