Summer is officially here, which means the weather is warming up and the days are getting longer across much of North America. These warm days bring a lot of fun activities like trips to the park and grilling out in the backyard, but it also means you will probably see a spike in your energy […]
Continue ReadingSmart Home
Duo group calls head to Assistant smart displays, Google Meet for Nest Hub Max
Video calls are a great way to connect with family that doesn’t live close but during these trying times, face-to-face contact is more important than ever as we continue to keep our distance and limit in-person gatherings. Google understands this and now, they’re bringing group video calling to the one place where it really needs […]
Continue ReadingGoogle is finally fixing one of my biggest complaints about Assistant speakers
The Google Assistant does a great job of making your smart home a little smarter. From controlling your smart bulbs to commanding your favorite content to whichever smart display you happen to be near at the moment, the Assistant can do so many things and is always ready and willing to assist. One feature, however, […]
Continue ReadingSelect YouTube TV subscribers just scored a $50 Nest Hub smart display
Last month, Google treated some YouTube Premium members to a Nest Mini on the house. This month, the folks in Mountain View are sending out a hefty discount to select YouTube TV subscribers. If you live in the United States and have or had a paid YouTube TV subscription between January 1, 2020, and June […]
Continue ReadingXfinity Stream app gets Cast support and yes, it works for smart displays
These days, when I download any sort of streaming app to my phone, I just expect that it will support casting to Chromecasts and cast-enabled devices. For the most part, that is regularly true. One glaring exception has been my cable service. Xfinity, a.k.a. Comcast is the largest cable television provider in the United States […]
Continue ReadingNew leak hints at Nest-branded replacement for the original Google Home
Another day, another exclusive look at an upcoming piece of Google hardware from 9to5Google’s managing editor Stephen Hall. This time, Mr. Hall’s reliable source reports that Google is gearing up to release a new Assistant smart speaker that could be the spiritual successor to the original Google Home that debuted alongside the Google Assistant at […]
Continue ReadingLenovo’s “exclusive” Google Assistant smart clock is $30 off
If you’ve ever heard me talk about smart display, you may already know that Lenovo’s little bedside Google Assistant smart clock is my personal favorite. Despite lacking a couple of the features you find in larger displays, the 4″ Assistant-bearing display is the perfect bedside smart home companion that does everything you could ever want […]
Continue ReadingDeal Alert: Take $100 off either of these Assistant smart displays
Smart speakers and Assistant-enabled displays are becoming commonplace in the American home and finding one that’s right for you is a lot easier than it was just a couple of years ago. My personal favorite is still the Lenovo Smart Clock that happens to be on offer at Best Buy right now for only $49.99. […]
Continue ReadingSmart Deal: Today only, grab the Lenovo Smart Clock for $39.99
Assistant smart displays have become more and more common over the past year and there are now devices to fit most anyone’s wants or needs. If you know me, you know that my favorite digital smart display is the Lenovo Smart Clock. It isn’t the most full-featured display on the market but when you consider […]
Continue ReadingCheck your email, some YouTube Premium members can score a free Nest Mini
I awoke this morning to a surprise email from YouTube letting me know that I had a free Nest Mini smart speaker waiting for me at the Google Store. This isn’t the first time that Google has pawned off some free Assistant speakers to users of the company’s paid subscription services. This is the second […]
Continue ReadingLenovo’s Smart Frame from CES is launching with Google Photos integration
At CES 2020 back in January, we spent some time in the inviting surroundings of Lenovo’s private suite where we got our hands on the Duet tablet and the Lenovo Flex 5 Chromebook. Those weren’t the only cool gadgets spread about the room, however. We got to play with a Lavie Vega PC that is […]
Continue ReadingAt $29, this Google Home deal is the best smart-speaker bargain around
Google Assistant smart speakers have come a long way over the past couple of years. Whatever your use case or preference, there’s a device that fits just about any need and budget. Google’s latest iteration, the Nest Mini, was a great upgrade to the original Home Mini and at its $29 sale price, it’s a […]
Continue ReadingChromecast Ambient Mode takes a hit to help save internet bandwidth
We need our internet connections more than ever as people around the world are working from home and many students are distance learning. All of this usage is starting to put a strain on local internet resources, though. To help prioritize internet bandwidth for learning and working, Google announced last week that they are making […]
Continue ReadingThe original Google Home is still my favorite smart speaker, and it is dirt cheap right now
Google has released quite a few smart speakers over the past few years. All of these speakers stem from the fantastic, original Google Home, however, and I’d still place it as my favorite all-around Google Home speaker available today. When we look at the smart speakers on offer from Google right now, there’s a nice […]
Continue ReadingThe best Google Assistant tips and tricks to help you around the house
Over the last couple of weeks, many of us are staying at home much more than normal and are trying to juggle remote work, distance learning with kids, and virtual hangouts with friends/family. If you have a Google smart speaker, a smart display, or Chromecast, you can put the Google Assistant to work to get […]
Continue Reading