Google Home

Forums › Gadgets, robotics, home automation, electronics (including wearables) › Google Home

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355 posts

Ultimate Geek
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Reply # 1710658 27-Jan-2017 12:58

So Wemo is now directly supported. I only have the light kit (a small Wemo link box and two bulbs) which works fine with its own app and also, after a few minor hiccups, OpenHab2.

But when I try to link it to Google Home, I give it my WiFi network name and a MAC address of any device as requested and it fails every time.

Anyone tried this?

salttlas

57 posts

Master Geek
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Reply # 1710660 27-Jan-2017 13:00

Username1:

salttlas:

Thanks for your feedback, it is genuinely appreciated. I think that I am leaning towards the Google Home.

I dont quite follow your comments in regards to the LiFX bulbs. I know from some recent reading on their FB page, most customers were complaining that Google Now/Home integration was not working and is under development with the LiFX team. Although it used to work. Can you elaborate further? They do work it was just a pain to set up etc...

My Bose is on permanently, so no issues there if I need better sound than the GH can deliver. I am also fairly familiar with IFTTT as i have a few recipes i run from my Android phone.

The main things that I want the GH for would be playing music via Pandora. Casting to my Chromecast Audio and Video. General Knowledge and answering questions etc. Google Calendar integration but to control my LiFX bulbs is essential, as I plan to get another 6 lights. Controlling them via voice would be great.

Thanks heaps

I've been using Google Home for a month now with my 4 LIFX bulbs. I have had no problem at all controlling them over this time and it was very easy to set up in IFTTT.

Great to hear. I think this refers to Google Now not working with LiFX bulbs. I used to, but now is unavailable. Good to hear that the Google Home controls these bulbs!

alexingram

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Reply # 1710671 27-Jan-2017 13:21

salttlas:

alexingram:

Lifx - hmm, took a bit of fiddling and found out to enable cloud sync I had to install app on ipad, the option to 'claim' the bulb wasn't on the Android app !!! Ive also seen a few network drop outs with the bulbs.... Control via Echo is good though.

Thanks for your feedback, it is genuinely appreciated. I think that I am leaning towards the Google Home.

I dont quite follow your comments in regards to the LiFX bulbs. I know from some recent reading on their FB page, most customers were complaining that Google Now/Home integration was not working and is under development with the LiFX team. Although it used to work. Can you elaborate further? They do work it was just a pain to set up etc...

I've given up with them for now, had lots of issues with them staying 'seen' on the network. I was told I should have gone Hue :) So from my experience they are a pain to setup and keep "active"

I'll have another play when I get time.

richms

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Reply # 1710980 28-Jan-2017 11:16

I have a smart things as the go between for Google home to lights. It's quite laggy sometimes probably because of my trash internet and being cloud to cloud not local control from the home like the echo does with WeMo switches.

Richard rich.ms

salttlas

57 posts

Master Geek
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Reply # 1713238 31-Jan-2017 12:54

Would anyone have any insight whether Google will be putting out a Gen 2 Google Home? Or will this be a product that mainly gets updates OTA and the hardware will not change as often?

Obviously Amazon Echo dots are on Gen 2 and the price of Gen 1 devices would drop when the next Gen device comes to market.

Is Google likely to put out a Gen 2 Google Home within 2 years of launching GH? Would it be likely that in November this year, they would launch a Gen 2 device?

richms

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Reply # 1713240 31-Jan-2017 13:00

The second gen echo dot was to make it cheaper, not better. I dont see any signifigant revisions to the hardware happening any time soon since they are basically a dumb device pushing stuff back to the cloud. Perhaps they might look at integrating some other home automation radios into the devices at some time to let it take on the likes of homekit and smart things etc but that is about all I could see happening and not sure that would add anything over a seperate device to do the same things.

Richard rich.ms

salttlas

57 posts

Master Geek
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Reply # 1713293 31-Jan-2017 14:44

richms:

The second gen echo dot was to make it cheaper, not better. I dont see any signifigant revisions to the hardware happening any time soon since they are basically a dumb device pushing stuff back to the cloud. Perhaps they might look at integrating some other home automation radios into the devices at some time to let it take on the likes of homekit and smart things etc but that is about all I could see happening and not sure that would add anything over a seperate device to do the same things.

Thanks for that. Agreed on the points you make.

What would be good, was if they came out with a Dot equivalent. Even if you had to have the GH first, then you could add on multi room additions through a smaller GH like the dot at a similar price as the Dot. Then you could have multi room coverage, without having to shell out $129US for each device.

Cheers

xbmcnut

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Reply # 1713893 1-Feb-2017 13:05

I got two recently through Google direct by logging in with a VPN. Got shipped to YouShop.

richms

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Reply # 1713947 1-Feb-2017 15:10

nvidia are making add on thingies for the shield to take it to other rooms. nvidia spot on this page here. which if google made a version for the home would be great.

The issue I have with the echo and dots is that often both will hear me if I am between them and the house is quiet, and then both will answer or both will try to play spotify and usually the wrong one wins out. I have more hope that the nvidia system may solve that since those look to extend the shields audio coverage, not be their own device.

Richard rich.ms

cshaun

226 posts

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Reply # 1718229 10-Feb-2017 11:51

The Nvidia shield is quite interesting. Useful having the "Google assistant" built in there. There's also https://mycroft.ai which I haven't seen mentioned in this thread. So along with Microsoft's upcoming offering there is a bit of competition in this space.

Has anyone managed to make use of the 6 month free trial? I'm offered it but get an error when trying to accept it. Presumably because I'm not in the USA. How is it looking/checking? Is it possible to get around it?

If not what's the best offer and how to get it? 4 months free trial?

salttlas

57 posts

Master Geek
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Reply # 1723688 21-Feb-2017 13:10

Ok (Google). So have bit the bullet and ordered a Google Home from B&H Photo! Pretty excited to be fair.

First time ordering anything from B&H, so hopefully I have no issues. I see plenty of members on here have used B&H with no issues, which is somewhat pleasing. I always get a little worried ordering online...I definitely prefer to walk into a shop and physically purchase items.

Looking forward to it turning up and getting it up and running. Will be great to control my one LIFX bulb and one Wemo Switch...hehe.

I talked my wife into it based on it being a Smart Speaker alone. She should be pleased enough to be able to play music through it all through voice etc. Also have both Chromecast video and audio, so streaming to those via GH should also impress her and all the other tricks should be a bonus.

Will slowly look to add further Smart Home devices to my arsenal. Really like the LiFX bulb and Wemo switch so far, so may look to add more of these.

What are your Top 3 things that you use GH for?

Cheers!!

richms

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Reply # 1723722 21-Feb-2017 14:01

The WeMo warm white kit is very cheap at the moment and the add on lamps are often $16 at JB or Harvey's which Bunnings will match and give 15℅ more off. Not sure if the lamps are 100℅ on the home now but we'll worth it for not much more than a normal LED lamp

Richard rich.ms

lchiu7

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Reply # 1724141 21-Feb-2017 21:37

Good tip. HN has the starter kit up for $80 with two bulbs which seems a good deal. They are selling the bulbs for $20 but that seems to be the prevailing price on PriceSpy

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salttlas

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Reply # 1724142 21-Feb-2017 21:49

So does anyone know and/or have working the WeMo bulbs via Google Home?

sbiddle

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Reply # 1724219 22-Feb-2017 05:36

I picked up a Google Home while in the US last week. Not quite sure how much use it'll get but it's been a fun toy to play with so far.

IMHO the most significant limitation at present is that it really needs to be a multi user device to truly be useful as a home assistant where there is more than one person. Google have said that's something that's a key planned feature, but have given no timeframe for it.

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