Google Home Update

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

KrazyKid

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#242456 29-Oct-2018 11:17

A couple of days ago the google home update rolled through to me.

I notice my only Wemo lightwitch is now nicely intergrated and I can drop stringy for the Goodnight routine.
(I have moved to Philips Hue for other rooms but have left the Wemo in place while it still works).

Any other nice changes in the latest update worth knowing about?

amanzi

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#2115988 29-Oct-2018 11:23

I have a Google Home Mini and am finding the new Home app is really nice. I have my Hue lights, Samsung TV and Home Assistant integrated nicely.

DamageInc

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#2116031 29-Oct-2018 12:29

amanzi:

I have a Google Home Mini and am finding the new Home app is really nice. I have my Hue lights, Samsung TV and Home Assistant integrated nicely.

Hi, just curious what does it do with the Samsung TV?

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amanzi

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#2116120 29-Oct-2018 12:51

DamageInc:

amanzi:

I have a Google Home Mini and am finding the new Home app is really nice. I have my Hue lights, Samsung TV and Home Assistant integrated nicely.

Hi, just curious what does it do with the Samsung TV?

I can turn the TV off and can ask if the TV is on or off. It's enabled by linking my SmartThings account to Google Home. For some reason I can't turn the TV on with a voice command but can turn it on using the Home app. But I'm not worried about that and haven't tried troubleshooting it since I really only wanted it to turn off the TV or make sure I had it turned off.

kotuku4

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#2120229 5-Nov-2018 13:31

Hi I looked at the google home speaker, and now the home hub.

I don't have much home automation to connect at this stage, some smart switches that may work, and a Broadlink RM mini.

Might fun gadget for the kids to ask questions.

Screen looks a little small, not sure if I want it powered continuously.

If linked to one google account could cause some unwanted activity on that account?

Any thoughts?

amanzi

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#2120243 5-Nov-2018 13:52

kotuku4:

If linked to one google account could cause some unwanted activity on that account?

I haven't seen any unwanted activity yet. My Google Home Mini is currently only linked to my account and it recognises my voice through the Voice Match feature. I haven't tried this yet but I'm pretty sure that if my daughter tried to schedule a meeting or something like that, the Google Home Mini would say that it doesn't recognise her and wouldn't know which calendar to save it to. A fun party trick: I can ask the Home Mini how old I am or what my name is, and it responds correctly each time, but if a guest asks the same question it tells them that it doesn't recognise them.

I haven't done it yet but you can invite multiple people to be associated with a Google Home Mini and it differentiates them through Voice Match so I assume that would enable others to get personal account-related information too.

gcorgnet

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#2120244 5-Nov-2018 13:53

amanzi:

I have a Google Home Mini and am finding the new Home app is really nice. I have my Hue lights, Samsung TV and Home Assistant integrated nicely.

Keen to hear a bit more about the Home Assistant Integration. It this the $5 per month cloud thing?

What does it let you do?

amanzi

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#2120250 5-Nov-2018 14:04

gcorgnet:

amanzi:

I have a Google Home Mini and am finding the new Home app is really nice. I have my Hue lights, Samsung TV and Home Assistant integrated nicely.

Keen to hear a bit more about the Home Assistant Integration. It this the $5 per month cloud thing?

What does it let you do?

I configured it manually following the steps on this page: https://www.home-assistant.io/components/google_assistant/ In theory the $5 per month service makes the setup process a bit easier but you can get the equivalent functionality for free by following the manual steps. Once configured, you get a bunch of new devices show up in Google Home that you can associate with rooms and then control them like any other device. If you read the whole page of info you can learn more, including which device types are accessible from Google Home.

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Dingbatt

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#2120269 5-Nov-2018 14:48

The hass.io thing is very interesting. I had stopped playing with Home Assistant and had switched to Openhab because of the Google Assistant integration. Not that I have done much with it due to work commitments.

For the same reason, haven't had too much of a chance to really get to grips with my Google Home Hub. Same functionality voice-wise my Home but you can see the words you have said before it executes a command. That and the ability to toggle Home control items by touch make it slightly more functional than the Home Speaker is on its own.

“We’ve arranged a society based on science and technology, in which nobody understands anything about science technology. Carl Sagan 1996

kotuku4

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#2135663 28-Nov-2018 08:55

kotuku4:

Hi I looked at the google home speaker, and now the home hub.

I don't have much home automation to connect at this stage, some smart switches that may work, and a Broadlink RM mini.

Might fun gadget for the kids to ask questions.

Screen looks a little small, not sure if I want it powered continuously.

If linked to one google account could cause some unwanted activity on that account?

Any thoughts?

Received a Google Home Hub from DSE after several weeks. Said to be Australasian model, but looks more Australian to me, no NZ specific language or news service links that I can see.

I have to sort out links to other smart home devices, some don't seem to play nicely, have very limited functionality. Eg the RM mini will only turn heat pump on or off so far.

Overall seems to be a nice unit, microphone, display and sound are all pretty good.