Google Home: 9 things you will be disappointed to discover that your smart speaker cannot do

Since the original Google Home smart speaker was first released, many have felt that the smart home search giant’s foray has been stuck playing with Amazon’s assistant Alexa and Echo speakers. But that vision has changed considerably in recent years, as Google has added a number of long-awaited features, some of which Alexa already had, others not yet. Not to mention, Google now sells some of the most impressive smart displays (Nest Hub and Nest Hub Max) and surprisingly full-spectrum mini speakers (Nest Mini) available.

In other words, Google Home ($ 99 at Crutchfield) He is no longer just a smart home contender, but a bona fide market leader, and for the most part, we are fans. So think of this as more of a wish list of features that we hope to see eventually than a long list of hassles, complaints, and complaints about the Google Home ecosystem (although we have some of them, too).

No platform is perfect, but Google Home (or Google Nest) could be a little closer to perfection if it came to these nine little bugs.

1. Google Home still can’t trigger an action based on your location

If only there was a magic way to make your gadgets make your offer without having to say anything. Well, there is, and that’s why Amazon’s Alexa excels at automation in a way that Google Home still falls short: Alexa supports location triggers. In other words, Amazon’s digital assistant tracks your GPS location and can trigger actions (control smart home devices, play music, welcome you home, etc.) based on where you are.

For now, if you want Google Home to turn on the lights when you get home (or go off when you leave) or take any other action based on your location, you need to indicate this with a voice command. What’s even more irritating is that the Google Nest learning thermostat has a home / away mode that uses, you guessed it, location triggers to turn the heat on or off, or the air conditioner.

Also, Google already knows where you are all the time, so why not add this simple feature? For now, your best bet is to improvise a location-based action using If This, Then That, also known as IFTTT.

2. You shouldn’t have to scream!

If you have multiple Google Home smart speakers and set an alarm or timer on one of them, the only way to disable it with a voice command is to speak to the speaker that activated it. Sure, there are some workarounds (including yelling), but Alexa knows when another speaker connected to the same account is ringing, so why not Google Home?

3. Overcome the rivalry with Apple, already

We get it: Apple and Google are spiteful enemies at best, but it’s time to open up more. You can use any number of music streaming services on Google Home devices and even set some non-Google options like Spotify as your default option.

But the only way to connect Apple Music to Google Home smart speakers is to play it on a compatible device and then connect to Google Home with Bluetooth. That’s so 2010. If you can stream Apple Music on a Samsung TV these days, you should be able to do it with Google Home, too. For people like me who use Apple and Google products and services, the exclusion of my tools is an unnecessary pain.

4. Google Home? Nest? Fix the name please

Let’s do a roll call – there’s Google Home Max, Nest Mini, Nest Hub, and Nest Hub Max. Then there’s the discontinued original Google Home speaker (don’t worry, there seems to be a replacement on the way, underneath the Nest banner), the original Google Home Mini ($ 30 at Best Buy) (replaced by upgraded Nest Mini) and Google Hub (renamed Nest Hub).

Confused? That’s how we are.

It makes sense that Google wants to incorporate its Nest line of smart thermostats, security cameras, and other smart home devices into its Google Home platform (or vice versa). But in doing so, one device at a time has fractured the alignment mark and shuffled the names. For example, “Nest Home” is not one thing, but “Google Nest” is.

5. Pssst! Google Home can’t whisper

Yes, Google Home has a night mode that will lower the speaker volume during the scheduled times of the day, but that’s literally all it does: It takes you down a couple of notches. Do you know what Alexa can do? If you whisper a command to Alexa, Alexa literally whispers back. That not only makes Alexa seem more, well, human, a whisper is less irritating when the kids or a couple are asleep or you’re just trying to enjoy a quiet moment.

6. Hello Google, can we call you differently?

Apple has Siri and Amazon has Alexa. Microsoft – Cortana. Even Samsung has Bixby. But Google? Google just has … Google. We get it: you can’t make any old word wake word. Digital assistants accidentally get into conversations that aren’t meant for them often enough, as long as they say something close enough, like “Hey, Boo Boo,” “OK, Frugal,” and even “OK, Boomer.”

Actually, you can use Google Home’s slightly less-than-perfect ear to trick him into answering those alternatives and more (“Cocaine Poodle” to someone?), But it would be nice if Google at least offered options. Once again, Alexa can. Beyond its name, Alexa may respond to “Computer,” “Amazon,” or “Echo.” Is Google ok?

7. Where’s the audio jack?

Amazon echoes ($ 65 at Google Store) They have physical stereo output ports, which allow you to connect them to a bigger, better, and stronger stereo system. The only way to connect Google Home to other speakers is with Bluetooth, which is not such a high-quality signal. But why would anyone want to connect a speaker to other speaker?

First, when it comes to smart speaker technology, Google Homes (and Amazon Echoes and Apple HomePods) ($ 299 at Apple)), even ultra-premium devices like Google Home Max really can’t compete with high-end equipment like CNET’s best bookshelf speaker for 2020, the Elac Debut 2.0 B6.2. Also because I would not do it you want to put Google Assistant on a killer Bose system?

8. The Google Assistant should take care of it for you

With a smart speaker, someone is always at home. Sorta So if the Google Assistant is going to rest in the house all day anyway, it could also keep an eye on things (err, ear), right? Last year, Amazon released Alexa Guard, which listens for suspicious activity, such as a broken window, when you’re not home. It may not be as robust as a dedicated security system, but it’s still better than just sitting there while thieves empty your jewelry box.

9. You can’t send text messages with Google Home yet

Seriously? You can connect your phone (even if it’s an iPhone!) And make calls from Google Home, so why not send text messages? Alexa can handle SMS if your phone is an iPhone or Android. And Apple HomePod can send your SMS or iMessages if you use an iPhone. Google recently introduced Google Messages (think iMessage for Android), so it’s a mystery why they didn’t add the app to Google Home. Hopefully Google will get is message, however, (and we don’t get left to read) Better sooner than later.

However, despite these shortcomings, Google Home does more than just a few right things. Look at these five things that Google Home can do that Alexa and Siri can’t do. And here are five other things that Google Home does better than the competition. To really tweak your Google Home for the best experience, you should try changing these five settings, you won’t be disappointed.