Google Home app latest update creates fluster

 Google has started updating its devices and apps following the announcement of changes to Speaker Groups and Assistant device setup. The latest version of the Google Home app no longer lets you use a phone's physical volume button when playing videos. 

The company on Thursday unveiled a new feature that will prevent you from changing the Speaker Group volume using your phone's physical volume button. Though that change has not yet been applied to Cast controls integrated into the system volume panel, it has now been removed with version 2.47.79.5 of Google Home for Android.

In the Home app, a green shortcut for Media can be found at the top or you can click a notification to open the Media screen. Previously, you could adjust output either on a single or multiple speakers using your Android device's volume rocker.

With the update to Google Home for Android released late Friday evening, you can no longer click the rocker to select your speaker's output - now you must use each speaker's virtual slider within the Home app.

This latest change makes it difficult to quickly control music started by someone else in your house. Currently, there is no difference when adjusting the volume of audio that is started directly on your phone. 

In addition, the "Group volume" slider still appears in the "Now playing" screen on the Nest Hub. It appears that Google Home 2.47.79.5 for Android will be available to most Android 11 and 12 devices in the coming days.