Google photos set up

Cura™ can manage images and collections with devices and displays that are compatible with Google Photos (generally “Works with Google Photos” devices). These include TV’s or streaming devices or digital frames such as:

TV’s that have Chromecast built-in

Google – Chromecast Streaming Media Player

Chromecast with Google TV – 4K (although we recommend using our TV app for Android TV devices)

Googles’ – Nest Hub Smart Displays

Lenovo’s’ Smart Displays

Lenovo’s’ Lenovo – Smart Frame 21.5″

Nixplay’s Smart Photo Frames

There are more and we shall add them here as we verify them.

(PS. Trademarks belong to their respective owners)

As each of these products have different features, capabilities, and software setups CURA does not have as precise or as dynamic control that we do have using the Cura™ Android TV/Display. We will give you the best setup guidelines as possible and list caveats that we have noticed.

Setup in Cura™

In the Cura app, after you have linked your Google Photos account under Media sources, go to Displays and Create a New Display (vs registering one). Enter a display name <your display name> that makes sense and identifies the Google photos compatible device you intend CURA to manage.

Attach the display to a room, with a collection as normal, Set the display orientation (if you are using something that you mounted portrait/vertical), and switch the display to the ON setting . CURA will now create an album called

CURA-<your display name> and will starting publishing images from your collection(s) into this album. It will adjust the images automatically as needed.

Setting up your “Google Home” managed devices

This includes Chromecast built-in, Chromecast Devices, Google NEST devices and the Google based Smart Displays (e.g. Levono Smart Display -n.b. not Frame)

In Google Home after you have set or found your device or display  and using the same account of your Google photos account ^1*– Usually the default would be something like “Chromecast” or the name of your TV. You need to be on the same Wi-if network as the target device.

1. Its recommended that change the name to something that makes sense to you by using the settings area on the top right.
2. If you are in the settings list you should also see an item called “Ambient Mode” – you can also click on “Personalize Ambient “ on the pervious screen next to the “Cast my Screen” is its been set up before.
3. Once you are in the Ambient mode settings – Select “Google Photos” – “ Your Photos” – You will get a list of all your albums in your Google Photos account. Select the one that CURA created: i.e. CURA-<your display name>. and deselect any others.
4. Go back on screen and ensure that Your phots or “on” and Google phots is ON (Blue) and that any other accounts of greyed out
5. Go back one more screen and you should see Google photos in blue- On this screen its you make the following changes:
   1. Weather – Set to Hide (recommended)
   2. Time – Set to Hide (recommended)
   3. Device Information Set to Hide (recommended)
   4. Personal phot data – Set to Hide (recommended)
   5. Portrait Google Photo – Set to Show (recommended)
   6. Personal photo curation Set to “Live albums only” (needed)
   7. Slideshow Speed – Set to 30 secs to 3 min (needed) – note you will be controlling your image duration via CURA but this will determine how quickly CURA changes take effect
   8. Stadia Controller Code-Hide
   9. You can go back one – and you should see the image when it is showing Ambient.
6. On your device under settings it is recommended that you set “Ambient Mode” -Sometimes called “Sreensaver” or “Backdrop” to start after 5 mins (or less) .
7. It’s also recommend that you set any energy saver mode to 24hr or never (We will do another write up on how you can manage the power on / power off of multiple displays using Google Home Routines)
8. In CURA do a test by changing the collections in the room that this display is in – under normal circumstances you should see your images appears within a few minutes.

^1* — If your home is managed by another account simply invite your Google photos account to your home under the Google home settings area.