latest
How a security researcher turned a Google Home Mini into a wiretap
If you have a Google Home device but are worried about the always-on microphones, your worries are justified.
Having an always-listening device in your home is a pretty common occurrence nowadays, particularly with the proliferation of Amazon's Echo line of devices and the Google Home series. While they're incredibly useful pieces of technology, they're not without their privacy concerns. They have always-active microphones and an internet connection, which for some people, is too much of an invasion of privacy for them to be in the home. Security researcher Matt Kunze has proven that those fears may well be justified, as he was able to turn his Google Home Mini into what can essentially be described as a wiretap.
The Google Home Mini has finally been discontinued
Google has finally discontinued the Google Home Mini four years after its launch. The newer Nest Mini is still available for purchase, though.
Although Google replaced the Home Mini with the Nest Mini two years after its debut in 2017, the affordable smart speaker has remained available on sale. However, Google has now finally discontinued the Home Mini four years after its launch.
Check your Google Assistant: You may get a discount on the Google Home Mini
Google is offering a discount on Google Home Mini to some Google Assistant users. Pay just $10 for any color of the smart speaker.
Google must have found another warehouse full of the Home Mini, because it is once again offering a steep discount on the personal assistant speaker.
Apple Music rolls out for Google Assistant-enabled smart speakers and displays
Google has announced that Google Assistant-enabled smart speakers and displays now support Apple Music in the U.S. and other regions.
The fire’s going, hot chocolate is made, and snow is falling outside. Now, the only thing you need is to play some relaxing holiday music. Speaking of which, Google announced on Monday that Apple Music is now available on Google Assistant-enabled smart speakers and displays.
[Update 2: New Lawsuit] Sonos is suing Google for allegedly stealing patented speaker technology
Google has become a major player in smart speaker market and Sonos is claiming they stole technology to help get them there.
The smart speaker space is one of the hottest battlegrounds in the tech world right now. These devices have slowly made their way into millions of homes across the globe, giving the companies behind them ecosystem lock-in power and access to tons of information. Google has become a major player in this market, but Sonos is claiming that Google stole their technology in order to do so.
Google Home app may soon let you set a separate volume level for the Google Assistant
The Google Home app may soon allow you to set a separate volume level for the Google Assistant instead of having to tweak the volume device-wide.
Google Home and Google Nest devices are more than just smart speakers and displays. They also serve as hubs where you can communicate with the Google Assistant and control your home to have them help you throughout the day. But one longstanding issue with these devices is the fact that the volume for spoken Assistant queries is the same level as other media. This means that if you're blasting music at full volume, the Google Assistant will also yell at you at the same volume. Equally as annoying is the case when you lower the volume for Assistant only to find yourself unable to hear your music, podcast, or news. Google might be addressing this issue soon with a future update to the Google Home app.
Google Nest speakers will soon be able to intelligently adjust volume with Ambient IQ
Ambient IQ can adjust the volume on your smart speaker when outside noise interferes with the spoken audio you're listening to.
Way back in October of 2019, Google announced a feature called "Ambient IQ." This is not to be confused with Ambient EQ, but it is a similar concept. While Ambient EQ is about color temperature, Ambient IQ is all about volume. The feature looks to finally be on its way to the Google Nest speakers.
Google is giving away a free Home Mini to Assistant users
In its aggressive push towards digital assistant dominance, Google is now offering a free Google Home Mini to some Google Assistant users.
It seems like Google has an abundance of Home Minis lying around because it's giving them away for free to everyone out there. The company has previously offered a free Home Mini to Google One subscribers and YouTube Premium members in various regions. Earlier this year, it also partnered with the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation to give away 100,000 free Home Minis to people living with paralysis and their caregivers. And now, the company seems to be offering one to some Google Assistant users as well.
[Update: Rolling Out for Everyone] Google Duo audio calling support rolls out for Google Home smart speakers
We have learned that Google is rolling out audio calling support for Duo through Google Home smart speakers and displays.
When Google introduced two new applications to tackle messaging, Allo was for text communication while Duo was there specifically for video calls. It seemed like a good idea at first with Duo being Google's version of Facetime and Allo attempting to break into the messaging ecosystem. Allo had some unique ideas, but the ecosystem was too saturated and, like many other Google services, it was confirmed that it would be discontinued. Duo, on the other hand, has thrived, and now we have learned that Google is rolling out audio calling support for Google Home smart speakers.
Next Google Home Mini may have a 3.5mm audio port and wall mount
A new rumor claims the 2019 Google Home Mini will be called the Nest Mini, and that it'll have a 3.5mm audio jack, better sound, and a wall mount.
Smart speakers like the Amazon Echo and Google Home have become wildly popular thanks to their cheap prices and connections with their respective smart home ecosystems. I snagged 4 Google Home Minis thanks to an insane Walmart deal, and I also bought a Google Home Hub (now called the Nest Hub) earlier this year. Google practically hands out the Home Mini like candy, so I'm not too surprised to hear that it's been successful enough to warrant a successor. According to a new report, that successor will drop the "Home" branding to be called the "Nest Mini," but the new device will have a few new features to justify the upgrade.
Amazon and Google announce free Amazon Music and YouTube Music streaming for Alexa and Google Home devices respectively
Amazon Music can now be used for free on Alexa devices and YouTube Music can now be used for free on Google Home devices.
Amazon and Google are feeling friendly this week. Just days after finally settling their streaming device feud, the companies are offering free versions of their music services for smart speakers. Amazon Music can be used for free on Alexa devices and YouTube Music can be used for free on Google Home devices.
Google Home speakers can now put your Android phone into Do Not Disturb mode
Google Home speakers can now silence your phone by remoting putting the device into Do Not Disturb mode. It can also work from phones for speakers.
One of the handiest and lesser-known features of Google Home devices is the integration with phones. Can't find your phone in your house? Just ask Google Home to ring it for you. Another cool feature that was supposed to roll out late last year is the ability to silence devices from Google Home speakers. It is finally working for users.
Google Assistant routines are now supported in French, Spanish, German, and more languages
Google Assistant routines are now supported in French, Spanish, German and more languages. Check them out and what they are here.
The Google Assistant comes preloaded on most Android smartphones and is the driving force behind products like the Google Home. It's pretty great if you live in an English-speaking country, but it could be considered lacking in some aspects if you don't speak English or would rather it speak your native tongue. Routines were such feature that the Google Assistant used to lack in certain languages. Routines allow you to have your Google Assistant execute a chain of pre-determined commands based on a phrase that you have chosen. This started with the "My Day" feature, which reads you the news, weather, calendar events, and more. Personalized routines are now supported in French, Spanish, German, Italian, Korean, Japanese and more.
Google Home can now control your NVIDIA SHIELD Android TV
For the longest time, the NVIDIA SHIELD TV didn't work well with Google Home. Finally, that is changing along with some other welcomed features.
As an NVIDIA SHIELD TV owner, one of the frustrating things about the device is how it doesn't work great with Google Home/Google Assistant. Chromecast devices work really well with Google Home, but the SHIELD does not, despite the fact that it has "Chromecast built-in." For the longest time, it was not possible to start a Netflix video on the SHIELD with Google Home. Finally, that is changing along with some other welcomed features.
Google Smart TV Kit will bundle a Google Home Mini and Chromecast
Google will be launching a Smart TV Kit soon, which bundles together a Google Home Mini and a Google Chromecast. The company already had a similar bundle.
Google appears to have something in store for their home entertainment suite of devices as we can see in yet another leak ahead of their scheduled press event on October 9th. The Chromecast is getting a redesign that will be released to the masses soon, and now it appears the company intends to also include the device in a "Google Smart TV Kit" bundle. That Smart TV Kit appears to contain a Google Home Mini alongside the new Chromecast. It does not appear that we are getting a new Google Home Mini, and instead, the package contains last year's model.
Google Assistant multi-language support rolls out for 6 languages
Now, you can select two languages and Google Assistant will automatically detect the language you are speaking with and use that to respond.
So far, we've seen a lot of great devices at IFA 2018. The Sony Xperia XZ3, BlackBerry KEY2 LE, ZTE Axon 9, and Honor Play, to name a few. But Google doesn't want to be forgotten. The company has announced a big new feature for Google Assistant that makes it possible to understand multiple languages at once.
Google fixes Play Music library issues in Google Assistant
Google has finally fixed the Google Assistant so that it can play purchased and uploaded music from your Google Play Music library on Google Home.
Google has finally fixed one of the biggest annoyances with the Google Assistant in recent months. For whatever reason, while the Google Assistant (and the Google Home) could play music, you couldn't play your uploaded or purchased songs on Google Play Music. It's a huge issue for those with devices that portray themselves as home entertainment devices such as the Google Home Max. Not being able to play your own music is a pretty big issue, but Google has finally fixed it. Previously, it was very limited in terms of what you could actually listen to as a free user of Google Play Music.
"Disable YouTube for guests" on Google Home rolling out for some iOS users
Google Home has a new option for “Disable YouTube for guests.” The description explains how this will disable the YouTube services for unrecognized voices.
To the surprise of no one, Google Home devices have tight integration with Google services. That includes everything from Google Calendar to Google Play Music. The YouTube family of services, of course, is also included in the bunch. You can use Google Home to send videos to a Chromecast device, tune in to a specific channel on YouTube TV, and play music with YouTube Music. It looks like Google is rolling out some restrictions on who can control these services.
Turning off/on lights via Google Home now only controls lights in the same room as the speaker
Previously, if you said "turn off lights," it would turn off all the lights. Now it will only control lights in the same room as the Google Home.
Home automation doesn't require smart speakers, just like smart speakers are useful for more than home automation. But the two make a great combination. It's super handy to be able to control things around your house with your voice. One of the most basic functions is turning lights on and off. Google Home can, of course, do this, but now it works a little differently.
Google Assistant fast forward & rewind voice controls now work on all devices
The Google Assistant can now fast forward and rewind your music on your smartphone. It's not without its kinks just yet, though.
Google has released a number of exclusive features for the Google Home's virtual assistant. With the ability to chain together commands and access more in-depth music controls, it's better than the Assistant on phones. Google hasn't forgotten about us regular people though, and you're now able to fast forward and rewind music with just your voice. It works on Android, Android TV, Chromebooks, and Android Auto, according to a report from AndroidCentral. It looks like all you need is the Google Assistant.