Vyse The Legend
Member
So, uh, do we know when the reviews hit?
I've ordered one outside of the US - fingers crossed there are no complications with it actually working. US English is fine.
So, uh, do we know when the reviews hit?
So, uh, do we know when the reviews hit?
Quite annoying especially given that a bunch of Walmarts have already started selling the thing.
Quite annoying especially given that a bunch of Walmarts have already started selling the thing.
Don't do this to me, where? I'll cancel my fucking order if i find one near me.
It'll end up being halfway across the ocean to me when the reviews hit.
Can't be all that bad, eh.
Seriously wtf, it ships in 4 days.
Don't do this to me, where? I'll cancel my fucking order if i find one near me.
I just want to know if it sounds close to the Amazon Echo. I love the sound quality of that speaker, but hate Amazon and want to use my Google Music collection.
I'm confident that, despite being smaller in size, the audio output will be as good if not better than the Echo. The preview event showed it had clear, crisp, loud audio.
Itshappening.gif
4 days? It's shipping either today or tomorrow. Best Buy orders are already being charged and have entered "Preparing to ship" status.
When you guys get it, can you let me know if there's any way to natively cast the music from iOS music player onto it?
lol kids
mine is getting delivered in a few hours
Video version: https://youtu.be/7hKRPMpxRuc
So uh. He said 'hey, google' throughout this whole video. Can we do that?
Do you mean with our phones? I think you can with the Pixel and Android 7.1, but I don't think you can otherwise.
It snaps to attention when it hears the trigger phrases OK, Google or Hey, Google.
So uh. He said 'hey, google' throughout this whole video. Can we do that?
Yes, "Hey, Google" works.
Mashable did a Home vs. Echo head-to-head: http://mashable.com/2016/11/03/we-asked-google-home-and-amazon-the-same-questions/#SEgV3Uvf9mqx
Home crushes Echo on every single query.
What do people typically use these things for (this or the Echo)? The examples seem to be stuff like listening to music or asking googlable questions or turning lights on and off. Is there more in-depth stuff?
I guess I'm trying to figure out whether this is a cool novelty or something that's actually useful. Like, Siri was a cool novelty feature, but ultimately I only ever use it for minor convenience stuff--"call my mom," "set an alarm for 8:10 AM," "set a timer for fifteen minutes." It's nice that it saves me a few seconds here and there, but that's really all it is. It doesn't change the way I interact with my phone. Is this any different?
Will wait on reviews. I at least want it to match my Echo in terms of functionality. When I can tell it to fire up an app on my roku as it turns on my entertainment center, I'll be sold.
Someday, assuming Google keeps caring about Home, I suspect the device will be more like the ad. Itll be smart and integrated enough to know that your flight is delayed and change your dinner reservation, to turn on all the lights in your house, to tell you how to get to work, to teach your kids about the world, and all the rest. Right now, its simpler than that. Like, a lot simpler.
Right now, however, it's little more than a toy. It's fun and occasionally very convenient to ask it questions and have it perform simple tasks, but it's hardly an essential part of my life. But Google Home is worth keeping an eye on -- it will almost certainly be more capable in three months (or even three weeks) than it is now.
If you're just looking for a media slinging box, go for it. If you really need a solid voice command system, though, just install the Google app on your phone. It's way better, and you've already got the hardware in your pocket.
What do people typically use these things for (this or the Echo)? The examples seem to be stuff like listening to music or asking googlable questions or turning lights on and off. Is there more in-depth stuff?
I guess I'm trying to figure out whether this is a cool novelty or something that's actually useful. Like, Siri was a cool novelty feature, but ultimately I only ever use it for minor convenience stuff--"call my mom," "set an alarm for 8:10 AM," "set a timer for fifteen minutes." It's nice that it saves me a few seconds here and there, but that's really all it is. It doesn't change the way I interact with my phone. Is this any different?
Many phones already respond to hands free commands.The difference is that you don't need to touch your phone anymore. When i'm washing clothes i can now just say "ok google, set a timer for 15 minutes" instead of touching my phone after touching dirty clothes.
It just launched so the features are not as good as what we may get in the future. Here's the current commands available though:
g.co/home/explore
The big difference is that, with these, you can do it from across the room. Like, for example, I could be feeding my dogs in the kitchen and then ask the Echo in the family room how the weather for the day will be, or I can use it to buy things from Amazon. Or maybe I need to set a timer or do some unit conversions while cooking; I can just ask.Many phones already respond to hands free commands.
As long as my iPhone can hear me say "hey Siri," I can wake it up. My Moto X responded to "OK Google" in 2014.
Yes. I only meant to say that hands free control is not exclusive to these devices. You don't have to touch a phone to use its digital assistant. I do wonder when we'll see far field mic arrays start to be included in phones.The big difference is that, with these, you can do it from across the room. Like, for example, I could be feeding my dogs in the kitchen and then ask the Echo in the family room how the weather for the day will be, or I can use it to buy things from Amazon. Or maybe I need to set a timer or do some unit conversions while cooking; I can just ask.
Yes. I only meant to say that hands free control is not exclusive to these devices. You don't have to touch a phone to use its digital assistant. I do wonder when we'll see far field mic arrays start to be included in phones.
Are the far field mics more useful than voice control for a phone for setting timers, playing music, or making lists? I usually just leave my phone nearby and use that to set timers or notes while I'm cooking.
Hopefully they never implement far field audio recognition, unless they can get the device to recognize only your voice. I wouldn't want other people being able to command it when I'm out and about. And if it's a feature that you have to manually turn on, then it's not going to match the utility of the always-listening home devices.Yes. I only meant to say that hands free control is not exclusive to these devices. You don't have to touch a phone to use its digital assistant. I do wonder when we'll see far field mic arrays start to be included in phones.
Are the far field mics more useful than voice control for a phone for setting timers, playing music, or making lists? I usually just leave my phone nearby and use that to set timers or notes while I'm cooking.
The worst, ironically, are Amazon Echo commercials. It'll hear Alec Baldwin or whomever issuing a command and start to do it.They are on my Echo. But it sometimes gets confused by music or other things and I have to shout at it. Still more reliable than OK Google on my phone, which refuses to listen half the time.
Many phones already respond to hands free commands.
As long as my iPhone can hear me say "hey Siri," I can wake it up. My Moto X responded to "OK Google" in 2014.
I didn't realize Android phones were required to be unlocked now. What the heck's the point thenI used to use "Okay, Google" all the time back when I had a phone that supported hands free voice commands when the screen was off and locked. Sadly, ever since it was required that I unlock the phone prior to saying the phrase, my usage of the feature is more or less zero. Pre-ordered this a couple weeks ago and am expected to get it next week! Super excited, as home automation is something I've always wanted to start getting into.
Will definitely be posting impressions here after some testing.
I didn't realize Android phones were required to be unlocked now. What the heck's the point then
Siri lets me do some things without unlocking.
Are any of you guys concerned that Google is listening to everything you're saying? For instance, what if you have some friends over and you start talking about about, say, hiking and then the next day you start seeing ads all over Google for tents. Is that concerning? At least I know that if I search for something it will probably show up in ads, but if everything I say in my home is tracked that seems worrisome.
Are any of you guys concerned that Google is listening to everything you're saying? For instance, what if you have some friends over and you start talking about about, say, hiking and then the next day you start seeing ads all over Google for tents. Is that concerning? At least I know that if I search for something it will probably show up in ads, but if everything I say in my home is tracked that seems worrisome.
I didn't realize Android phones were required to be unlocked now. What the heck's the point then
Siri lets me do some things without unlocking.
Are any of you guys concerned that Google is listening to everything you're saying? For instance, what if you have some friends over and you start talking about about, say, hiking and then the next day you start seeing ads all over Google for tents. Is that concerning? At least I know that if I search for something it will probably show up in ads, but if everything I say in my home is tracked that seems worrisome.
Are any of you guys concerned that Google is listening to everything you're saying? For instance, what if you have some friends over and you start talking about about, say, hiking and then the next day you start seeing ads all over Google for tents. Is that concerning? At least I know that if I search for something it will probably show up in ads, but if everything I say in my home is tracked that seems worrisome.