Google Home's new scheduling feature is quirky, but cool. Here's how to use it

Google Home's new scheduling feature is quirky, but cool. Here's how to use it

Not all of the smart home tasks I ask Google Home to perform need to be done right this very second, like turning off the lights before bed or starting a coffee pot in the morning, especially if I'm making my commands from another room. Others I need to start right away but would really prefer them to be on a timer so they don't go all day and night -- like running my space heater. Up until recently, Google Home could only execute commands immediately. And if I wanted something to turn off after a certain duration, well, Google Home could set a timer for me. It just wouldn't know what to do once it went off.

Thanks to a recent update, that's all changed. Now you can have Google Home hold off on certain tasks for up to a week -- or you can start something now but put an expiration date or time on it so that it stops, later. What's better, you can also schedule tasks around sunrise or sunset and Google Home will calculate when that is based on your location. 

Best Cyber Monday Ring doorbell deals

Best Cyber Monday Ring doorbell deals

The Ring offers live 1080p video, motion alerts and two-way voice communication and a feature called Pre-Roll (when someone or something trips the motion sensor, you can see what happened before that). This deal saves nearly 50% off the regular $250 retail price and throws in an Echo Show 5 ($90 list price) to boot.

Note, the Ring Pro doesn't have a rechargeable battery. If you can't connect it to the existing doorbell wires at your front door, this isn't the video doorbell for you. Read our Ring Video Doorbell Pro review.