Google Nest speakers just lost a key feature — and buyers are fuming

Google Nest speakers but lost a key characteristic — and buyers are fuming

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

Google devices rank amongst the best smart speakers, but it looks like some have just lost a major feature subsequently a patent ruling against the tech giant in a case with Sonos.

On Thursday, the U.Due south. International Trade Commission (ITC) ruled against Google in a example brought past Sonos regarding patent infringement. At present, Google has outlined the changes to its line of Nest Sound and Google Home speakers to ensure it's in line with the outcome — and some users aren't happy.

The most significant of the changes affect people with more than i speaker in their home, as volume will now demand to be adjusted individually for each i, rather than done together as a group. Speaker group volume besides won't exist adjustable using the volume controls on your phone in the Google Dwelling house app.

"Most Speaker Groups should continue functioning equally expected unless you accept a speaker group containing other brands of Cast-based devices, like JBL or Lenovo, they demand to be on one.52.272222 or higher Cast firmware version," the second point reads.

Finally, "a small set up of users" volition demand to employ the 'Device Utility app' to install their products and get updates. This seems to only utilize to devices that haven't already been updated, so people most likely affected are nevertheless to buy one — or set up their Christmas gift.

At the time of the verdict, Sonos warned that while Google could potentially get non-infringing patent designs approved by the ITC, workarounds might be bad news for customers. In a statement, information technology said that such actions could "degrade or eliminate product features in a mode that circumvents the importation ban," and that those changes "may sacrifice consumer experience" in the procedure.

Instead, it urged Google to pay royalties for the functionality — just the search behemothic has seemingly chosen the former option, regardless of the reaction from its users.

Customer backfire

It'due south likely that many owners of a Nest Audio or Google Dwelling device will be unaffected, as y'all would imagine plenty of users merely take one smart speaker in their home. Nonetheless, those who do purchase more than than one are, by definition, the company's most enthusiastic customers, and this decision does chance angering them.

At the fourth dimension of writing, the post announcing the changes has clustered 179 comments, and the overwhelming majority are unsympathetic virtually the situation. "Completely negates why I bought into Google speakers for the house," reads the pinnacle-rated comment. "I believe a rebate is in order, your devices no longer work as advertised and as sold," it continues.

"Either get some ameliorate lawyers and win the conform or pay Sonos a royalty or start issuing refunds to customers," echoes some other.

As the mail is on the Google Nest Community blog, tags tin can exist added to posts by anyone and, at the time of writing, 12 unflattering terms have been added by aggrieved users including "BaitAndSwitch," "Cheapskates" and "False Advertizement."

While consumer backlashes are nigh always louder online than in the real world, it's clear that some of Google'south most loyal customers are upset and looking for alternatives. Amazon could see this equally a real opportunity to convert them to i of the all-time Alexa speakers instead.

Freelance correspondent Alan has been writing nearly tech for over a decade, covering phones, drones and everything in between. Previously Deputy Editor of tech site Alphr, his words are establish all over the web and in the occasional magazine too. When non weighing upward the pros and cons of the latest smartwatch, you lot'll probably find him tackling his ever-growing games backlog. Or, more likely, playing Spelunky for the millionth time.