Category: Google Home

It has taken a long time – longer than most wanted frankly – but multiple calendar support has finally arrived on Google Home.  A cloud-side update is currently rolling out to the app that will allow you to have multiple calendars associated with Google Home and thus, you will be able to create events or get calendar information from Google Assistant.

The new feature is found in More Settings>Calendar in the Home app and you will have the ability to add or remove your calendars that you have associated with Home.  Further, you have the ability to set which calendar is your default calendar.  This is important as when you create an event through Google Assistant on Home, it will go to your default (unless you specify the calendar in the command).

The number of services that have come to Google Assistant has grown exponentially in 2017 but really over the course of the last few months.  Dozens of new services have come to the digital assistant and one of the newest is HP.

When you link your Google Cloud Print enabled HP printer to Google Assistant, you will be able to have it print things for you without having to touch your phone or PC.  Admittedly, the service is somewhat limited now but you get a great idea of what can be done in the future.

First, you have to have an HP printer that works with Google Cloud Print natively.  The vast majority of their printers that have WiFi functionality do but double-check yours.  I have an OfficeJet Pro 8650 and it works with no problem.  Next, you will need to setup Google Assistant to link with your HP Printer.

Following in the footsteps of Google’s own Nest, Logitech has announced that the Logitech Circle  home security cameras now integrates with Google Assistant.

Today, Logitech announced Circle 2 home security cameras now work with the Google Assistant on smart speakers like Google Home, eligible Android phones and iPhones, so you can easily ask to watch live video of what’s happening in and around your home. Start by saying, “Ok Google, show me the backyard camera,” to show a live view of your backyard on your TV using the Google Assistant and Chromecast, or a TV with Chromecast built in.

The news is great for consumers as it now provides a choice of home security cameras that can leverage Google Assistant for real time monitoring of your home or apartment.

The integration works with both the original Circle cameras as well as the recently updated Circle 2 models and works on both wired & wireless integration into your home network.  Functionally, it works the same as the Nest cameras do with Google Assistant.  If you have a “front door” camera, you can say, “Hey Google, show me the front door” and it will stream the video feed from that camera to your Chromecast.  Additional cameras are support for other doors or areas in your home or apartment.

Google has quietly made a background update to Google Assistant that allows you to link your HBO NOW account to it.  That means that you can stream content from the service to your Chromecast devices simply by asking Assistant to do so via your phone or Google Home.

HBO NOW is the stand alone streaming service from the premium movie service.  It is $14.99 per month and is for cable cutters who do not have a cable or satellite subscription.  For those that do have HBO as part of their cable package, the app to stream content on your Android device is HBO GO but that cannot be connected to Google Assistant.

Google has made a quick and significant decision to disable to touch activation of the new Google Home Mini.  The decision comes after reports of phantom touches activating the device with it listening or recording ambient noise or conversations without the users knowledge.  The reports of this happening are few and far between but Google is taking no chances.  An OTA update will be sent to all Home Mini devices to disable the touch activation feature permanently.

We’ve decided to permanently remove all top touch functionality on Google Home Mini. We made this decision to avoid any confusion and give you complete peace of mind while using your Mini. The update will be completely rolled out by end of day October 15, 2017.

This means that in order for you to access Google Assistant on the Home Mini, you will need to use the “OK Google” or “Hey Google” just as you do on Google Home today.

Yesterday during the Google product event, a new Find My Phone through Google Assistant was demonstrated.  Using Assistant on your Google Home, it can locate your phone by ringing it, even if it is in Do Not Disturb, so you can find it somewhere in your house.  The question during the demo was when the feature would roll out to everyone?

The answer is right now.

The Find My Phone feature has gone live and now you can simply go to your Google Home and say, “OK Google, find my phone”.  It will then identify the phone you are wanting to find (if you have multiple phones) and will then ask you if you want it to ring your phone at full volume.  So long as you have Find My Phone enabled on your account and Android phone, the feature works – and well.