In April 2020, Google lowered the quality of Ambient mode on Chromecast and Assistant Smart Display to save bandwidth in response to the surge in smart working due to the pandemic.
After changing the rotation speed of photo slideshows in ambient mode, the company is restoring bandwidth-saving measures on Chromecast, Nest Hub and other Smart Displays.
Google restores bandwidth on Chromecast
Google has also provided instructions for changing the speed of photo slideshows in Ambient mode at any time in the Google Home app.
The steps to take are as follows:
- Open the Google Home app
- Touch and hold the device card
- In the upper right corner, tap “Settings”
- For Chromecast, tap “Ambient Mode”, for Display, tap “Photo Frame”
- Scroll down to “Presentation speed” and select your preferred speed (5s, 10s, the 30s, 1m, 3m, 5m, 10m)
Two years ago, Google also reduced Nest Cam video streaming quality, YouTube resolution defaults, and Hangouts quality to prioritize learning and smart working in terms of bandwidth.