I love my Google Pixel Stand. It works great with Androids and iPhones alike—yes, I charge both—and it gives me the fastest wireless charge I could get among the many similar stands that do the same thing (10W Android; presumably 7.5W iPhone). And now, thanks to an update, you can even mess with your various smart home devices the next time you slap your Pixel on said stand.
I’ll admit, when I first read that the Pixel Stand was getting an “update,” I was a bit curious. I don’t think the physical stand is getting any kind of over-the-air update. I’m not even sure how that would be possible, given its construction. Rather, it’s the Pixel Stand feature found in Android 11 that’s receiving some new functionality. And playing around with it doesn’t require you to jump through any large hoops.
Simply pull up your Settings app on a compatible Pixel phone (Pixel 3 / 3 XL, Pixel 4 / 4 XL, Pixel 5) that’s running the latest version of Android 11. Tap on Connected Devices and look for your Pixel Stand. Tap on the gear icon to its right.
You should now see a new option at the bottom called “Home control.” Tap on it.
After that, enable “Connected devices” using the slider.
You’ll then see an option to “Add an account.” Tap on it, pick the account associated with your primary Google activity, and start tapping to add up to four connected devices that you’d like to be able to access when your phone is charging.
To note, you just get individual devices no matter how you’ve otherwise configured them across your various apps. That means that I have to pick individual smart lightbulbs, rather than any rooms I’ve set up via the lightbulbs’ app, Google Home, et cetera.
Once you’ve made your selection, hit the blue “Turn on” button. You’re done. You can now go back to using your Pixel as you normally would. Once you place it back on your Pixel Stand, simply tap on your phone once or twice to pull up your smart home controls. You can then tap them to turn your devices on and off.
If you ever find yourself tired of staring at your Mac’s Touch Bar, there’s hope. We’ve previously talked about different techniques you can use to di
By now you’ve probably seen that viral video of the lawyer who accidentally turned himself into a cat during an important Zoom hearing. If you’re look
Whether you’ve just unboxed a brand new PC or updated your software recently, when you start up your computer with Windows 10 for the first time, ther
Google Photos is going away soon—or at least, the useful free service we used to store years’ worth of photographs is finally getting hit with a stora
That’s right: Apple is done with its current versions of the iMac Pro, and if you want to get your hands on one—spoiler, you don’t, but more on that i
Android 12, Google’s next big smartphone update, is focusing strongly on design. Chief among that focus is “Material You,” a new design language that
I’m sure everyone’s made this joke already, but I can’t help myself: Yakity Yak, YikYak’s back.The anonymous social media platform that spread through
One of the most exciting features that Apple announced at WWDC 2021 was Universal Control. This feature lets you seamlessly switch the cursor and keyb
We are a comprehensive and trusted information platform dedicated to delivering high-quality content across a wide range of topics, including society, technology, business, health, culture, and entertainment.
From breaking news to in-depth reports, we adhere to the principles of accuracy and diverse perspectives, helping readers find clarity and reliability in today’s fast-paced information landscape.
Our goal is to be a dependable source of knowledge for every reader—making information not only accessible but truly trustworthy. Looking ahead, we will continue to enhance our content and services, connecting the world and delivering value.
