1. Was Google Home able to answer all the questions you had?
Mostly. DD asked why pigs had curly tails (and we all learnt the answer!). However, in the vein of asking GH about songs, we tried to ask it to find a film we didn't know the title of. Unfortunately that didn't work. However, once I found the title I was able to play it via GH (using Netflix) on our TV.
We also wanted to play the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang song which GH would only play from something on YouTube. I found loads of copies of the song on the Google Play Music app but GH would only play one when I said the title and artist.
2. What do you think about the music playing functionality?
I've really enjoyed the music playing functionality and have listened to more music at home. I signed up for the two month free trial of Google Play Music in order to test this with the GH. Otherwise, because we use iTunes we would have struggled to test this.
GH could do with locating some more generic playlists (e.g. 90s hits, or 80s pop etc) but once I'd found some playlists on the app and then asked for them by their specific name, it's been great. We've also played the radio but DH likes to listen to catch-ups of The News Quiz on Radio 4 which we haven't been able to listen to (although GH did play The Archers when we asked for that but I can’t remember what I said and haven’t been able to get it to play again). He can cast to the GH from the iPlayer app though and use GH like a wireless speaker.
We’ve all be very impressed with the sound quality of the GH, the speaker really does fill our room and I was very impressed when I turned it on. I could certainly imagine using it for a small party.
3. Has anything in your home routine changed since using Google Home?
DD will ask it the weather every morning and she decides whether to wear her winter school uniform or summer dress. DD and I also listen to lots more music after school, it’s easy to search by artist and DD is able to play things herself. We’ve had some great Beatles singalongs! DD also uses GH for timers. She’s allowed 30mins on the iPad and DD starts a timer, pauses it if necessary, asks how long is left etc. It’s given DD access to information herself without asking me to do things for her.
I use the add to shopping list function all the time. Because the GH is in our dining room just off our kitchen, I can just add stuff as I spot we’re running low. It doesn’t matter if my hands are dirty through cooking. This is the main reason I’ve kept the GH in our dining room rather than move it into the lounge.
DH has used GH to listen to BBC Radio 4 in the mornings rather than using our kitchen radio.
4. What are you finding most fun about using Google Home?
It’s been great fun to watch our children explore GH. Our 7yo DD just loves asking it questions and our 2yo DS is mastering clearing saying ‘hey Google, stop music’!! It’s been lovely watching them both talk to it.
We’ve not really asked any of the random questions on the accompanying card. I think however if we had other connected devices (like a Harmony Hub or lights) we would have loads of fun.
The IFTTT app has also been very interesting and I have several applets to increase the functionality of GH, including adding to-dos into my iPhone reminders app and adding events to my iCal calendar.
5. Is there anything you're finding frustrating about using Google Home?
The setup instructions were poor. I’m really technologically minded and we have lots of tech in the house, yet I had to call in the end. It would be really helpful to have an insert in the box that shows what the lights mean (I had to look that up) and some step by step set up graphics. I suffered with the downloading update problem during initial setup which was disappointing. I had to look online to find out more info and to find a phone number to call. The customer services phone number should be in the box.
I think the lack of calendar functionality is really frustrating. You can’t link multiple google accounts, nor can you put events into a shared calendar. We’ve resorted to using IFTTT app to put events into my existing iCal shared calendar. Because we can’t use more than one Google account with it, my husband has hardly used it because it’s linked to my account.
The shopping list is buried deep within the Google app which is annoying when you’re in Tesco. Would be much better to have this easily accessible.
It has been annoying when we start a song playing and our children change it. We use the mute function, but it would be better if you could turn off various voices from having access at different times (e.g. kids during dinner or at bedtime).
6. What do you wish Google Home could do that it doesn't do currently?
Loads of things….
- Doesn’t work with iPlayer, Channel4, NowTV, Amazon Prime or iTunes
- Access to multiple google accounts
- Add items to shared calendars with ability to add all day events, specific event duration, alerts etc
- Send texts/emails
- Call my phone (available in the US), ideal for when I misplace my mobile.
- Voice recognition: (a) create child accounts which can therefore limit inappropriate content and cast to their own kids only Netflix accounts (b) limit access to my calendar/email etc to only me (c) play my Google Music account and therefore my playlists. I don't want my guests or kids having free access to my personal accounts.
- Native functionality with iPhone apps like Reminders, iCal, Notes.
- Functionality to access other email accounts (I don't really use my Google email, I have an icloud account and use that address mainly).
- Speaking out to-do lists, marking completed items
We’ve really enjoyed testing the GH and it has certainly been quite exciting to have some smart tech in the house. I think, at the moment, we are only scratching the surface of what it can do as it takes time to remember the right phrases. We’re considering a Harmony Hub to control our TV and console in order to expand the functionality.
I really liked the box and it was certainly very sturdy. Our GH had some fluff on the base though, almost like it had been stood on a surface before being packaged. Not great if I’d bought it.