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Google Home - great bit of kit

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d3matt
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Google Home - great bit of kit

Post by d3matt » Thu Apr 13, 2017 1:18 pm

On the back of Mike saying he's got a drone, I thought I'd say I've got a Google Home!
They have been launched in the UK last week. A great bit of kit. Its proving even better than I was expecting. Its very handy in the kitchen for timers when cooking, playing the radio or my music. I've even got it controlling my Lifx bulbs.
A quick demo...
https://youtu.be/Z5xFuRp31wY

And of course its going to keep getting better as they release new functions.
I really want one in most rooms now - something I can see happening in the future.
__________
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lordgrover
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Google Home - great bit of kit

Post by lordgrover » Thu Apr 13, 2017 2:07 pm

Comparable with/to Alexa?

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Chris_D
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Google Home - great bit of kit

Post by Chris_D » Thu Apr 13, 2017 2:09 pm

ooh s**t, that reminds me; i left some bread baking downstairs....
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Google Home - great bit of kit

Post by Chris_D » Thu Apr 13, 2017 2:24 pm

....oh dear.
Maybe I should get a google home too... :roll:
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d3matt
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Google Home - great bit of kit

Post by d3matt » Thu Apr 13, 2017 2:50 pm

lordgrover wrote: Thu Apr 13, 2017 2:07 pm Comparable with/to Alexa?
I've read lots of reviews and decided to hold out for Google Home. The potential with Google Home is far greater than Alexa. Even though the Amazon product was first and currently may do more, the Google Home has better voice recognition and has contextual understanding. Plus integration with Google calendar, contacts etc (which is rolling out shortly) makes it a far better for me as I use many other Google systems.
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lordgrover
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Google Home - great bit of kit

Post by lordgrover » Thu Apr 13, 2017 3:02 pm

Just ordered one from John Lewis - collecting tomorrow.
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buzyg
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Google Home - great bit of kit

Post by buzyg » Thu Apr 13, 2017 3:17 pm

More gadgets. :roll: Not as much fun as a flying car. :wink:
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Google Home - great bit of kit

Post by DPG » Thu Apr 13, 2017 7:36 pm

Can it link up with Hive?

d3matt
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Google Home - great bit of kit

Post by d3matt » Thu Apr 13, 2017 7:44 pm

DPG wrote: Thu Apr 13, 2017 7:36 pm Can it link up with Hive?
At the moment in the Google Home app is Honeywell, Insignia Connect, Nest, Philips Hue, SmartThings, TP-Link Kasa, WeMo, Wink & LIFX.
Others are following all the time. Plus you can use IFTTT to make Google Home control other devices. A quick search, I can see that Hive has an IFTTT channel, so yes you can.
I have Tado smart heating, so intend to have a play with getting Google Home to control my Tado using IFTTT soon.
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Google Home - great bit of kit

Post by TitanTim » Thu Apr 13, 2017 8:21 pm

Will it do an oil massage?

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Google Home - great bit of kit

Post by Ducklakeview » Thu Apr 13, 2017 8:30 pm

lordgrover wrote: Thu Apr 13, 2017 2:07 pm Comparable with/to Alexa?
Better! We had an Amazon echo last year and I didn't like it, got the home on the launch day and it's great. The general consensus is that Google will develop the home much more than Amazon will the echo as that's just a platform for them to sell stuff. Can't wait for integration with my lightwaverf hub as then I can control all the sockets and radiator valves by voice as well a my phone.

The kids LOVE the home as it can help them with homework and the few games it has at the moment are pretty slick.

Mike

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Google Home - great bit of kit

Post by Ducklakeview » Thu Apr 13, 2017 8:32 pm

d3matt wrote: Thu Apr 13, 2017 1:18 pm On the back of Mike saying he's got a drone, I thought I'd say I've got a Google Home!
They have been launched in the UK last week. A great bit of kit. Its proving even better than I was expecting. Its very handy in the kitchen for timers when cooking, playing the radio or my music. I've even got it controlling my Lifx bulbs.
A quick demo...
https://youtu.be/Z5xFuRp31wY

And of course its going to keep getting better as they release new functions.
I really want one in most rooms now - something I can see happening in the future.
Lol, can see me buying a few more too, hopefully the price will fall!

Mike

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TonyP
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Google Home - great bit of kit

Post by TonyP » Thu Apr 13, 2017 8:50 pm

d3matt wrote: Thu Apr 13, 2017 7:44 pm
DPG wrote: Thu Apr 13, 2017 7:36 pm Can it link up with Hive?
At the moment in the Google Home app is Honeywell, Insignia Connect, Nest, Philips Hue, SmartThings, TP-Link Kasa, WeMo, Wink & LIFX.
Others are following all the time. Plus you can use IFTTT to make Google Home control other devices. A quick search, I can see that Hive has an IFTTT channel, so yes you can.
I have Tado smart heating, so intend to have a play with getting Google Home to control my Tado using IFTTT soon.
Tado user here too, already linked in with Alexa natively but limited functionality, one of my IFTTT Applets is this:- "Alexa trigger Central Heating to auto", then central Heating will be controlled by tado° again.

Will watch the Alexa vs Google Home with interest, I only bought the £50 Echo dot so not much to bin if I switch to Google Home.

d3matt
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Google Home - great bit of kit

Post by d3matt » Thu Apr 13, 2017 8:56 pm

Ducklakeview wrote: Thu Apr 13, 2017 8:32 pm Lol, can see me buying a few more too, hopefully the price will fall!
I thought they were going to be released in the UK with a 12 months Youtube Red subscription. I'm holding off getting any more until they come with a Red or Google Play Music subscription offer.
Red is shortly coming to the UK.
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lordgrover
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Google Home - great bit of kit

Post by lordgrover » Thu Apr 13, 2017 11:55 pm

Ducklakeview wrote: Thu Apr 13, 2017 8:30 pm
lordgrover wrote: Thu Apr 13, 2017 2:07 pm Comparable with/to Alexa?
Better! We had an Amazon echo last year and I didn't like it, got the home on the launch day and it's great. The general consensus is that Google will develop the home much more than Amazon will the echo as that's just a platform for them to sell stuff. Can't wait for integration with my lightwaverf hub as then I can control all the sockets and radiator valves by voice as well a my phone.

The kids LOVE the home as it can help them with homework and the few games it has at the moment are pretty slick.

Mike
I've watched a few YouTube comparisons and the Google home seems to come out on top, so far. I've ordered one and collecting tomorrow.
Here's hoping it lives up to the hype!

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