A Resurgence for Google’s Soli Radar with the New Nest Hub

In a surprising development, Google has unveiled the next-generation Nest Hub this morning. Despite a rebranding from Google Home Hub in 2019, the smart display has experienced limited updates since its initial release in 2018. While today’s announcement doesn’t signify a radical overhaul, it reintroduces a previously familiar – and somewhat overlooked – technology.

The Return of Project Soli

Project Soli, a miniature motion-sensing radar technology, had been largely absent from Google’s product lineup since its debut with the Pixel phone in late 2019. Initially touted as a key feature, it arrived approximately four years after its initial announcement. Its applications were limited, encompassing gesture recognition and a unique Pokémon-themed application.

Subsequently, the technology seemed to be discontinued. The Pixel 5, released the following year, lacked any trace of Motion Sense. While feature abandonment isn’t uncommon in the consumer electronics industry, it was unusual given Google’s prior investment in Soli’s development.

The re-emergence of Soli within the new Nest Hub is unexpected, yet potentially more practical than its previous mobile applications. Its primary function now centers around sleep tracking, representing the most significant upgrade over the original Nest Hub.

The decision to omit a camera from the new Nest Hub, mirroring the first-generation model, is a notable one. This choice provides a welcome contrast to Amazon’s Echo devices, which utilize figure tracking to follow users around a room. Users desiring camera functionality can still opt for the Nest Hub Max.

Privacy and Sleep Tracking Considerations

The absence of a camera addresses key privacy concerns associated with placing a connected device in the bedroom. This location is particularly well-suited for sleep tracking functionality.

• A camera on a bedside device raises significant privacy issues.
• The bedroom is an ideal environment for implementing sleep tracking features.

This leads to the question:

• How can sleep tracking be achieved without relying on a camera?

Wearable devices offer a straightforward solution. Google’s recent acquisition of Fitbit strengthens its position in this market. However, the full integration of Fitbit will take time. Furthermore, many users find wearing a device during sleep uncomfortable, and the irony of being disturbed by a sleep tracker isn’t lost on some.

How Soli Works for Sleep Sensing

According to Google, Soli utilizes motion-tracking data without capturing any images, relying solely on movement analysis. The Sleep Sensing system was trained using over 100,000 hours of sleep data, employing TensorFlow for data analysis.

The system is capable of filtering out external movements, such as those from ceiling fans, after an initial calibration process. It also integrates with existing sleep-focused features previously added to the original Nest Hub via software updates, including Sunrise Alarm and gesture-based snooze functionality.

Additional Updates and Pricing

The new Nest Hub also includes software updates, such as a redesigned smart home interface. However, the most substantial improvement remains sleep tracking. The speaker has been slightly enhanced with added bass, but remains largely unchanged. The screen size remains at 7 inches, while the device’s overall footprint is slightly larger to accommodate the speaker improvements.

The device’s enclosure is constructed from 54% post-consumer recycled plastic.

Priced at $99, the new Nest Hub represents a $49 reduction from the original Hub’s price. It is available for pre-order now and will be available for purchase on the 30^th.

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