[Nanoleaf](https://nanoleaf.me/), a pioneer in smart
home technology, leads the way in smart lighting. With a global presence in over
100 countries and 200+ retailers, and 18 design and utility patents, Nanoleaf
continuously innovates to provide delightful experiences. Their products are
controlled via the
[Nanoleaf app](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=me.nanoleaf.nanoleaf),
boasting 1M+ users and 500K+ Play Store downloads.
Google's new Home APIs harness the power of Google Home's 1P device signals and
intelligent automation. The APIs enable developers to integrate automation
routines directly into their own apps, unlocking richer and more context-aware
experiences across 600M devices.
Google Home and Nanoleaf joined forces to leverage the Home APIs to enhance the
user experience for one of Nanoleaf's key products.
## The Challenge
Nanoleaf's popular
[4D Screen Mirror](https://nanoleaf.me/en-US/products/nanoleaf-4d/)
device enables users to sync the colors on their TV to surrounding Nanoleaf
lights - adding vibrant and dynamic backlighting to their favorite shows,
movies, and video games. Once activated, Nanoleaf 4D provides users with a
magical and uniquely immersive smart home entertainment experience. However, the
experience was limited by two key factors:
- **Tedious setup**: The key challenge was the friction of setting up the
perfect movie night atmosphere. When a user wanted to activate or deactivate
Screen Mirroring on the device, they needed to begin playback on their Smart
TV or Chromecast and then navigate to the Nanoleaf app or press the "On/Off"
button on the device itself.
- **Lack of voice control and no smart home integration**: Moreover, when a
user watched content, quite often they'd like to do so without the sun
shining through the window! With no connection between a user's smart blinds
and Nanoleaf 4D, a user needed to manually close the blinds before watching
content. And with no voice control, all these steps added to greater
friction.
## What Nanoleaf Did
With the [Automation API](https://developers.home.google.com/apis) (part of the Home APIs), Nanoleaf transformed
this multi-step process into a single, seamless "Movie Night" routine. Now,
users can simply say "Hey Google, Movie Night" or begin playback on their Smart
TV or Chromecast to automatically trigger the entire sequence.
The Nanoleaf 4D activates, including the smart blinds (just one example of tens
of device types from thousands of brands now accessible via the Home APIs), and
adjusts to create the perfect cinematic atmosphere. Lastly, when media playback
stops, the Nanoleaf 4D device turns off, deactivating Screen Mirroring.
To start their journey with the Home APIs, Nanoleaf wanted to choose the right
product and pair it with the right use cases from the Home APIs. And since
Nanoleaf specializes in entertainment and Matter lights, they decided to go with
Nanoleaf 4D.
  
Nanoleaf reported that the Home APIs were simple to implement, as the APIs
primarily utilized
[Flows](https://developer.android.com/kotlin/flow) -
familiar to any Android developer. With the Nanoleaf app largely using Flows as
well, this made the integration that much easier. The Home APIs also had a
well-defined structure and clear documentation, making it easy to understand and
integrate.
Nanoleaf also utilized Google Home's documentation on various Matter traits,
device types, and example automations and command calls to the devices. The
[online Script Editor](https://home.google.com/home/automations/create)
was beneficial in the early stages of development as well to test automation
ideas.
Google is taking a significant leap forward in empowering companies like Nanoleaf to deliver innovative experiences faster and more reliably - and we've been thrilled to leverage Google Home Automation API to enable an immersive Nanoleaf 4D entertainment experience. We're excited to explore other opportunities to leverage Home APIs to create even more groundbreaking solutions for our users such as using Sense+ Smart Wireless Switch with Home APIs to unlock further experiences in Home Automations.
**Gimmy Chu**, CEO of Nanoleaf
## Results
The integration of Google Home APIs in the Nanoleaf app has already begun to
transform the user experience - starting with Nanoleaf 4D owners.
Creating automated cinematic experiences with Nanoleaf 4D has become more
intuitive and effortless. While it's still early (this feature is currently only
available on Android), the Home APIs have enabled Nanoleaf's product team to
ideate on previously unattainable solutions, paving the way for future app and
feature updates.
- **Effortless Automation**: The updated app allows for intuitive creation of
automated cinematic experiences with Nanoleaf 4D, enhancing the user's smart
home entertainment.
- **Unlocking Future Innovation**: Home APIs have allowed Nanoleaf's product
team to develop solutions and use cases that were previously unattainable,
paving the way for exciting future updates. These could include integrating
additional device types into future "cinematic" automations - or new
automations altogether!
Ready to create immersive experiences like Nanoleaf?
[Start building](https://developers.home.google.com/apis/get-started) with the Google Home APIs today!