The summary of ‘Mounting the Pixel Tablet for a Google Home Dashboard’

00:00:00

In this segment of the video, the creator is testing a Pixel Tablet as a wall-mounted display to control a Google Home smart home. The advantages mentioned include keeping the tablet out of children’s reach and allowing easy access while keeping it charged and removable. The creator is using a Mount Genie wall mount, preferring it over the Google Nest Hub due to the Pixel Tablet’s faster performance and larger display. The installation process involves cutting a hole in the wall, ensuring it is free of studs using a stud finder, tracing and cutting the pattern, and fitting the mount. An extension cable and various mounting accessories are provided. After testing the placement and making necessary adjustments, they route a Cat cable, attach metal backers to secure the mount, and add a PoE splitter with an adapter to power the device.

00:03:00

In this part of the video, the presenter discusses the installation and setup of a wall-mounted dock for a Pixel tablet. They successfully slide the mount into place and connect a CAT cable to a PoE adapter, recommending the use of PoE+ for optimal performance. Challenges with fitting the mount near drywall are noted, suggesting the need for a cable adapter or routing the cable through the wall. After securing the mount, the presenter tests the dock; the tablet charges and boots up, though an upgrade to a PoE+ switch is suggested to maintain consistent charging.

The presenter then assigns the dock to a different room in their smart home setup, enabling voice control for room lights using the Google Assistant. They demonstrate the tablet’s home control features, nighttime clock display, and discuss alignment issues with the Pixel tablet case affecting charging. The tablet is shown to work well without the case, but there’s a risk of it falling if not properly docked. Finally, the presenter expresses satisfaction with the setup and mentions plans to customize the tablet’s Hub screen for a more functional display.

00:06:00

In this part of the video, the presenter demonstrates how to access and customize various display options on a tablet in HUB mode. They show how to select different screensavers, including an Art Gallery, Google Photos, and various clock styles (Prime, Eclipse, Handcraft, Retro Flip). The presenter explains customization options like light and dark modes and how each option affects visibility. They also explore animated display options for weather and a weather frog character. Additionally, the video covers customizing the Google Home app to manage different controls, including reordering and editing settings, enabling routines, and managing devices like cameras and lights.

00:09:00

In this segment of the video, the speaker discusses how to easily control various smart home devices from the lock screen using the Google Home app. They demonstrate selecting and saving customized settings for basement lights, adjusting brightness and turning lights on/off, as well as reordering favorite controls for easy access. Additionally, the speaker shows how to monitor and manage different devices like cameras, lighting, Wi-Fi, and climate control directly from the app. They also touch on the ability to control full rooms or individual devices, adjust settings without voice commands on a Pixel tablet, and add apps or widgets to the home screen for quick access to items such as Nest cameras.

00:12:00

In this part of the video, the speaker discusses customizing a smart display using various widgets. They explore adding a calendar widget to view upcoming events and a shopping list widget for easy access. They mention the ability to control music, search for movies via Google TV, and showcase photos from Google Photos on the lock screen. The speaker highlights the lack of a Google Home widget to control smart home devices directly from the screen. Additional functionalities include making video calls with Google Meet or Zoom, streaming content from YouTube, Netflix, and Hulu, and using the display as a wall-mounted tablet capable of connecting to Bluetooth peripherals. Finally, they attempt to play music using a voice command.

00:15:00

In this part of the video, the speaker discusses the audio and functionality of a mounted Pixel Tablet. They highlight that the sound is not muffled and comes directly from the tablet, even when docked. The tablet can seamlessly continue playing music around the house, allowing control of the audio output between different speakers. Despite enjoying the mounted setup, the speaker notes that an update is missing, which prevents the tablet from displaying Nest doorbell alerts. They showcase the weather app’s comprehensive features and mention the importance of having security measures like a PIN code or fingerprint to control access, especially with children. The speaker also addresses the limitations in customizing the Google Home app settings for specific rooms and the lack of an automatic motion-sensing display adjustment, although third-party apps might offer solutions.

00:18:00

In this part of the video, the speaker discusses a home assistant dashboard and a custom app called Kiosk Browser. This app enables the screen to automatically switch to a home dashboard upon user detection, allowing control of various devices, and reverts to a screensaver when the user leaves. Though the speaker doesn’t use Home Assistant, they recognize its potential for showing security camera feeds. They praise the Pixel Tablet for its speed, versatility, and superior functionality compared to other smart displays like Nest Hubs and Echo Hubs, highlighting its dual role as a wall-mounted display and a portable, high-performance tablet. The segment concludes with a recommendation to watch Smart Home Solver’s video for more information on the Kiosk Browser and Pixel Tablet.