Virtual assistants like Amazon’s Alexa are becoming more and more integrated into our daily lives. Recently, Google launched its competitor to Amazon’s product. Aptly named Google Home, the Google Home Assistant can help you in surprising ways that you might not have noticed at first. Here are 15 features that may surprise you.
1. Use it as a speaker
It is common knowledge that it comes equipped with a Bluetooth speaker. However, it’s not limited to just connecting to your phone and playing playlists. You can connect to many music streaming services, such as Spotify and Pandora. Not only that, but with a Chrome browser built into any computer, you can easily connect your computer and use it as a desktop speaker.
2. Read the news from 1851
It has a database of news headlines dating back to 1851. All you have to do is ask for the news for a specific day. Next, you’ll read that day’s headlines and summarize the news in that article.
3. Find your phone
With just a simple phrase, Google Home Assistant can make a call to your phone to help you find it. If your phone is on silent or vibrates and is compatible with Google Home, it will even wake you from silent mode so you can hear your ringtone.
4. Turn your lights on or off
It bills itself as the central hub for all your smart devices. If you have compatible lights, such as Phillips Hue bulbs, you can ask it to turn the lights on and off for you without flipping a switch.
5. Use touch commands
It’s equipped with touch-sensitive technology that knows where your fingers are and can register many gestures. You can touch the top to pause and resume the music and sliding your finger to the side opens the volume control. Google has promised more touch command features in the future.
6. Get an Uber
By connecting your Uber app to Google Home and specifying a few settings, you can request an Uber and one will come right to your house in a matter of minutes.
7. Cooking recipes
Perhaps one of the most useful features, you can search over five million recipes across various databases, such as the New York Times and the Food Network. Google Home Assistant will go through the recipe step by step and can even prompt you for ingredient conversions and substitutions.
8. Play 20 questions
It is connected to Akinator, which is an online version of 20 questions. Just think of something and Akinator, via Google Home, will ask questions to narrow it down. It’s perfect for when you’re bored or want to keep your kids busy.
9. Keep a shopping list
Google Home has a lot of functionality in the kitchen. If you notice something is missing, simply ask the Google Assistant to add the item to your shopping list. That shopping list is automatically pushed to any embedded phone or smart device.
10. Integrate with Chromecast
If you have Chromecast, Google’s home TV option, you can use Google Home and voice commands to control it. You can request specific videos or tell it to go back, forward, or skip to a specific time.
11. Know your traffic
By adding your home and work locations to your app, Google Home Assistant can inform you about traffic conditions and possible alternate routes you can take to save time.
12. Impress your guests
Allow your guests to use it too. All they have to do is pair their device with Google Home, a step that literally takes seconds. Once it’s paired, they can issue commands and ask questions just like you.
13. Watch your photos on TV
You can be given access to your photo accounts, such as Google Photo and Photobucket. Once you do, you can use Chromecast to display your images on TV and even request specific images based on location and date.
14. Relax
It comes with over 15 ambient sounds, including forest ambiance and crashing waves, to help you relax or fall asleep.
15. Listen to a joke
You can even tell jokes. Just ask, and you shall receive.
With all these things you can do with Google Home and more features coming soon, now is a great time to buy this fantastic home assistant.