Ever since the smart speakers have been introduced, there’s been a lot of competition between them. The biggest players thus far have been the Amazon Echo (aka Alexa) and Google Home. Setting aside Alexa for now, this post is focusing more on the capabilities of Google Home.
Google Home is Google’s response to Alexa and it isn’t a slouch. It’s got access to a variety of things that you do not want to be looking over. Here are just a few things that Google Home can do for you.
Virtual Assistance
Alexa has a plethora of Skills that it has access to and though it’s no slouch at answering questions, Google Home has gotten Alexa beat. It is six times more likely to answer someone’s question than Alexa can. This was proven by a study conducted by 360i who asked 3,000 questions to both devices. In the end, Google Home’s answered 72% compared to Alexa who answered 13%.
Temperature Control
If you have access to a Nest thermostat, you will have the luxury of controlling the temperature however you like. By saying “Ok Google set the temperature to 15 degrees” Google Home is already on the task.
This puts into perspective how powerful home-based AI can be so powerful and helpful around the house.
Use Google As Your Sous Chef
If you are someone who loves to cook, this is something else that Google can do for you. Some of us have probably seen the commercial time and again where Google Home tells you the next step in the recipe but it’s still a very handy tool. But there is still a lot more to it too.
First off Google Home has access to well over five million recipes through the Food Network, New York Times, Bon Appetit, and more! Once you find your recipe, select the option to send it to your ogle Home device and it’ll be ready once you are ready.
Google Home can also help with playing music along with telling you weight conversions when necessary too.
Finding Your Phone
We’ve all been there before when we’ve lost our phone and can’t seem to find it, but thankfully there is a solution. If you have the app IFTTT (aka If This Then That), you can create an applet that connects Google Home with sending a notification through that app to your phone. Thanks to that whenever you say “OK Google, find my phone” the applet will trigger and you’ll get a pinging notification from your phone.
Creating Shopping Lists
Another practical tool that Google Home has is that it can store shopping lists for you. It doesn’t order things for you like Alexa, however, you do have access to the list through a Google app on your phone. All that you need to do is say “OK Google, add [insert item name here] to my shopping list” and Google Home will comply.
Google Home
These features are only the tip of the iceberg of what Google Home can do. As a powerful virtual assistant, Google Home can make an excellent addition to your home. It’s well worth the investment.
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