Google Home can now turn up the lights to wake you gently
The Google Home range of smart speakers and the Home Hub smart display can now wake you up gradually by increasing the brightness of Philips Hue lights.
When instructed, the Google Assistant will turn up the lights from zero to full brightness over a 30-minute period, simulating a sunrise intended to wake you up just before your audible alarm goes off.
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The same new system can help you drift off to sleep, lowering the brightness to zero over a 30-minute sunset simulation.
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If you already have one or more Philips Hue smart lights in your bedroom (and they're connected to Google via the Google Home app), you can say, "Hey Google, turn on Gentle Wake Up."
Now, the lights will brighten 30 minutes before your morning alarm — make sure you give the instructions to the Google Home device you want to use as your alarm clock.
If you don't already have an alarm set or want to be woken by your lights and no sound, you can also say: "Hey, Google, wake up my lights in the bedroom at 6:30 am." This can be set up to 24 hours in advance.
To end your day with the lights slowly dimming to zero, say, "Okay, Google, sleep the lights in the bedroom. " The corresponding Hue lights will take 30 minutes to dim to complete darkness.
Of course, this feature has been a part of the Philips Hue system for some time and can be controlled via the Hue app (which also lets you adjust the length of the sunrise and sunset). Many Hue and Google Home owners — this writer included — probably already have such a system in place.
However, it's good to see Google adding features to its smart devices. These features make setting up the sunrise simulation quicker and easier, eliminating the need to reach for your smartphone when thinking about bedtime.
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The feature is called Gentle Sleep & Wake and is now available for Google Home users in the U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia, Singapore, and India. It only works if your Google Home language is set to English.
Remember, Google Home can also help you sleep in other ways. For example, you can ask the Assistant to play ambient sounds like distant storms, rain, or white noise to help you drift off.
Check out GearBrain, our smart home compatibility checker, to see the other compatible products with Google Home Hub, Google Home, and Home Mini.
