I just took my Pixelbook Go out on the porch to spend a lazy Saturday morning with my family over some Lofi hip hop and coffee, so naturally, I told Assistant to turn off my lights to conserve energy. In addition to doing what I asked via my Nest Mini speaker, my phone jumped to life and spoke that … [Read more...] about ‘Got it, but first, you’ll have to unlock your phone’ – even though you’re at home
Google Assistant
Google Assistant has become the central focus for Google ever since their event in October of 2016. With the roll-out in full swing to many devices across multiple categories, Google Assistant is becoming extremely pervasive. The flagship device for Google Assistant, Google Home, is also powered by a varied version of Chrome OS. As we watch Assistant fully integrate into Chrome OS, we realize the Assitant story is just beginning.
Support our independent tech coverage. Chrome Unboxed is written by real people, for real people—not search algorithms. Join Chrome Unboxed Plus for just $2 a month to get an ad-free experience, access to our private Discord, and more. Learn more about membership here.
START FREE TRIAL (MONTHLY)START FREE TRIAL (ANNUAL)
Say “Hey, Google” and you might get a Home Mini for $10
If you had told me that Google still sold the original Home Mini smart speaker, I would have double-checked to see if you were joking. Ages ago, the Google Home Mini was supplanted by the smarter Nest Mini that features decently improved audio quality. Regardless, it appears that Google must have a … [Read more...] about Say “Hey, Google” and you might get a Home Mini for $10
Grab a great deal on Google’s Nest Hub, WiFi, or Audio for Labor Day 2021 before it’s too late
Happy Labor Day! As we celebrate our workplace achievements and overall collaborative success, Google has placed several of its Nest hardware devices on sale for a limited period of time. Over on its own store and even at Best Buy, you can get a hefty discount on several configurations of the new … [Read more...] about Grab a great deal on Google’s Nest Hub, WiFi, or Audio for Labor Day 2021 before it’s too late
Lenovo’s Smart Clock 2 w/Assistant and wireless charging dock is available now
Back in June, Lenovo unveiled the next iteration of one of my favorite smart home devices of all time. The Lenovo Smart Clock w/Google Assistant is a great little bedside smart speaker. It's discrete, attractive, sounds good, and does just about everything you would want an Assistant-enabled device … [Read more...] about Lenovo’s Smart Clock 2 w/Assistant and wireless charging dock is available now
Assistant ‘Quick phrases’ will let you skip “Hey Google”, but it could be a slippery slope
Remember Assistant's 'Guacamole' experiment that we discussed a while back? The ability to skip the "Hey Google" hotword in order to perform simple tasks was first discovered by 9to5Google during their APK Insights of the Search app on Android. At that time, Google stated that they had nothing to … [Read more...] about Assistant ‘Quick phrases’ will let you skip “Hey Google”, but it could be a slippery slope
If you want to automate all the things, try out Google Assistant’s new ‘Daylong routines’
A new option for creating routines with Google Assistant that lasts throughout the day is beginning to appear for users as spotted first by 9to5Google. These new routines can contain several actions that can be triggered at different times during the day as specified by the user, of course. While … [Read more...] about If you want to automate all the things, try out Google Assistant’s new ‘Daylong routines’
Nest Hub Max can now read web pages out loud using text-to-speech technology
In June, it was found that the Nest Hub and the Nest Hub Max would have a built-in keyboard for browsing the web by hand as opposed to doing so by voice. These devices also gained several new browser tools to make quickly navigating around the web much more accessible. Paired with the recently … [Read more...] about Nest Hub Max can now read web pages out loud using text-to-speech technology
Nest Hub issue brings home entertainment to a standstill while viewing cameras
Just yesterday, we reported on the fact that Google was rolling out Fuchsia OS to first-generation Nest Hub displays. While this was exciting, we had a feeling it wouldn't be long before we saw some form of issue. Over on the Google Nest Help forum, users are reporting that all of their Nest … [Read more...] about Nest Hub issue brings home entertainment to a standstill while viewing cameras
Google brings its Assistant hotel solutions to Nest Hub displays in LEGOLAND
In April, we reported on a company called Volara that was partnering with Google in order to equip hotel rooms with Nest Hub displays for the convenience of occupants. Volara is the leading provider of voice assistant solutions for hotels. Being able to ask Google right from your room about your … [Read more...] about Google brings its Assistant hotel solutions to Nest Hub displays in LEGOLAND
Google Fuchsia is rolling out to first-gen Nest Hubs right now, but that doesn’t mean much yet
Google has been working to develop its not-so-secret operating system, Fuchsia, for many years, and only recently made it publicly visible by inviting developers to contribute to the project. It even opened a Discord server for fans and creators alike to discuss it daily. After having rolled out to … [Read more...] about Google Fuchsia is rolling out to first-gen Nest Hubs right now, but that doesn’t mean much yet
Here are a few new things from Google Assistant to help with back-to-school season
Because students will be physically attending school for the first time in over a year, it can be difficult and stressful for both parents and their children. Learning new habits, making sure they safely arrive at school, and more - Assistant is here to help. Google is releasing new and exciting … [Read more...] about Here are a few new things from Google Assistant to help with back-to-school season
Grab a first-gen Google Nest Hub for only $50
We love smart displays and one of the best things about Assitant-enabled devices in this form factor is the fact that there are options to fit just about every use-case, decor, and budget. For compact design and basic smart speaker functionality, the Lenovo Smart Clock series is a solid choice. If … [Read more...] about Grab a first-gen Google Nest Hub for only $50
