Home is also created to work with third-party apps, so it will be able to control some smart light bulb systems such as Phillips Hue.
Advertisement
The Google Home was announced earlier this year at Google I/O but the company made a decision to remain mum on the pricing.
Google Assistant is essentially an upgrade to Google Now, which can bring up cards of information relevant to you on your smartphone or tablet based on your habits and interests. The device packs an always-on microphone that’s activated with a hot word of your choice, like “OK, Google”. Netflix will be one of the first to work, so you can simply ask Google Home to start the Netflix show “Orange is the New Black”. The sleek white tower, whose design is inspired by wine glasses and candles, offers access to music, home automation, Google’s Assistant, and more. And, given that the marquee device unveiled at the event was the Pixel smartphone, with a camera that Google says challenges Apple for the Best Smartphone Camera Ever crown, the search giant is inviting such comparisons.
Amazon has a huge, let me repeat that, HUGE, leg up on Google with the Echo. Or, you can buy Google Home in Metal colors: Carbon, Snow, and Copper.
Google has us all blown away with the diversified range of products they announced.
Answering questions plays to Google’s strengths, but hardware has generally been a weakness for the company. Google hasn’t said when it will be coming to the UK.
Google Home is an Internet-connected cylindrical speaker that can be switched on by just your voice, and can talk to you courtesy the Google Assistant.
The Echo and other such “smart speakers” connect to home Wi-Fi, and owners can ask them to play music, read them the headlines, or even turn on the lights (provided they’ve got the requisite smart home gear installed elsewhere). “OK Google, play that Shakira song from Zootopia” seemed to work wonders right away. For example, when we are at home, we have to deal with multiple tasks and duties, and sometimes it just slips out of our minds, Google Home helps counter that. It is expected that “Google Home” will give a tough fight to the already popular Amazon Echo. It will also tell you about upcoming appointments you’ve got scheduled for the day and list any reminders.Google Assistant is pulling all this information from your Gmail, calendar and other Google Maps.
“Building hardware and software together. allows Google to be helpful to people wherever they need us, no matter the context or form factor”, he said. You can set the default music service for voice commands to be one of these third-party services if you prefer that to Google’s services. Analysts and industry blogs say a virtual-reality headset and a home router could also be on tap.
Advertisement
Google announced that its Home smart speaker will be available for preorder starting immediately, and will ship on November 4. for $129.
