Google is actively developing (and is nearing the launch of) a new speed test feature for the popular Nest Hub smart display, according to strings found in a front-end software build of the Nest Hub. Possibly, the feature could allow link problems to be resolved when devices are unresponsive, or maybe just exist as a stand-alone feature.
We’re not sure how this speed test work will effectively feature on the Nest Hub — it could be activated through a standalone “Hey Google, check my internet speed” command, it might appear on the screen when the Hub detects a problem, or it might activate some other technique. The feature is related to the control of smart home devices, the strings suggest, while also referring to a “run button”:
"HOME_AUTOMATION_DEVICE_CONTROL_SPEED_TEST"
"HOME_AUTOMATION_DEVICE_CONTROL_SPEED_TEST_RUN_BUTTON"
A speed test feature is not completely unheard of for Google Home devices. There has been a download-only speed test feature in the local API of Home for a long time, but it is mainly unused. This feature may be built on top of the current function, while adding assistance for measuring upload speed:
"supportsNetworkDownloadSpeedTest"
"supportsNetworkUploadSpeedTest"
The Hub will measure download speed during a speed test, then upload speed, and complete by recording your results. It’s uncertain whether, as in the popular Ookla Speedtest, Google plans to introduce ping / latency measurement as well.
The Google Nest Hub will show outcomes in Kbps, Mbps, and Gbps is also endorsed for the true velocity demons among us. The Hub will follow each test by assigning a “not so great” to “lightning fast” rating to your network.
"Your last speed test on {DATE} was {RATING}"
"lightning fast"
"blazing fast"
"pretty snappy"
"good"
"Ok"
"a little slow"
"not so great"
Every modern home depends on functional internet access, so Google makes sense to introduce a feature that can detect link problems from a core device. Issues affecting your Hub may not be present on other systems, which may make it difficult to try to fix them. A future development of this feature could advise users to move to an region with better coverage or less interference to ensure that the control of the device stays completely uninterrupted.
As styling and animations are essentially complete, we expect a rollout of this feature to occur soon. When it is published, we look forward to covering it in complete.
