Find out what testers had to say about the new Google Home. £300 voucher to be won!NOW CLOSED

[PoppyMumsnet]

This is the feedback thread for those MNers who tested the new Google Home worth £129.

Here’s what Google has to say about the product: “The time we get to spend at home with our family and friends is pretty special. So what if technology could help us make the most of those moments, instead of sometimes pulling our attention away from them? Google Home is a hands-free smart speaker powered by the Google Assistant that does just that. Whether you want to get answers from Google, enjoy your music*, manage your everyday tasks and control compatible smart devices around your home, all you have to do is say “Ok Google”.

*Google Home is optimised for selected music services only. Subscriptions/payments may be required.

Below is a video about the product:

Testers:
These are the feedback questions Google would like you to answer:

1. Was Google Home able to answer all the questions you had?
2. What do you think about the music playing functionality?
3. Has anything in your home routine changed since using Google Home?
4. What are you finding most fun about using Google Home?
5. Is there anything you're finding frustrating about using Google Home?
6. What do you wish Google Home could do that it doesn't do currently?

Everyone who posts will be entered into a prize draw to win a £300 voucher.

Many thanks,

MNHQ

Standard T&Cs apply

1. Was Google Home able to answer all the questions you had?
Not all the questions. It didn't understand some of them. I had answers to opening times of the local library and the weather of course and a lot of meanings which was helpful if the children were doing homework.

2. What do you think about the music playing functionality?
I was a bit upset with the fact that it was not compatible with Google Play Music or Spotify unless you had a subscription. ( I have Alexa and you can use it as a remote speaker so you can stream spotify without the premium service). The radio streamed well. Although I was happy with the 3 months free service of Google Play. It would be nice for it to not really on Chromecast so much.
Also it would be nice to have it compatible with iTunes.

The one redeeming point is that the sound is far superior compared to the Amazon Echo.

3. Has anything in your home routine changed since using Google Home?

In a way. I check weather with Google instead of on the phone. I also listen to more music and the radio which was normally kept for driving. I don't have Hive or Philips Hue so I could not check this functionality.

4. What are you finding most fun about using Google Home?
Asking it ridiculous questions and getting answers. I like having to not pick my phone up for everything.

5. Is there anything you're finding frustrating about using Google Home?

I had a problem with set up so I had to call up support. They said there were some issues and a few products had the problem but they were working to fix it. Customer service was great and they kept me informed when they had a fix.
Setting up music etc was much more complicated as I had already tried Google Play Music and then had to reset the whole set with my husbands email so I could avail of the 3 month's free offer.

6. What do you wish Google Home could do that it doesn't do currently?
Act as a remote speaker.
Connect to a TV on the same WiFi network.
Not require a subscription for Spotify, Google Play Music.

1. Was Google Home able to answer all the questions you had?
Most of them. It is sometimes a question of phrasing the question in the right way which can be a little bit annoying.

2. What do you think about the music playing functionality?
Love it! Have signed up to the free trial of the Google music service and will probably continue with it. There hasn't been a song yet that we haven't been able to listen to. The speaker is great quality and the children LOVE demanding it to "turn up"!

3. Has anything in your home routine changed since using Google Home?
We listen to music a lot more - especially in the mornings when DC are putting music on instead of the TV. We also sit and do the trivia quiz most evening after tea! We love that feature! Also, everyone can ask Google how to spell words instead of having to ask me All. The. Time!

4. What are you finding most fun about using Google Home?
Again, just the random questions you can ask it. DS2 (5) thinks the sandwich question is the funniest thing in the world.

5. Is there anything you're finding frustrating about using Google Home?
The app is not at all helpful or user friendly. It needs to be much improved. I would love to try it with the lighting and plugs etc for a full "smart home" experience but they are all SO expensive!

What do you wish Google Home could do that it doesn't do currently?
I wish you could set calendar reminders that would go to your phone. It would also be helpful if you could add to a shopping list on a specific online shopping site.

Thank you so much for choosing us!

1. Was Google Home able to answer all the questions you had?

Google home was able to answer around 80% of our questions, which is fairly good. My 8 year old daughter was able to ask it a wide variety of Q's (from school work to the completly random stuff). I used it a lot for weather, the time and music. I was surprised it couldn't do things like let me know the lotto results. Thankfully it understanded our accents too which was a relief.

1. What do you think about the music playing functionality?

I signed up to Google music's free trial and have really enjoyed using this on Google home. We listen to music every evening when we eat dinner at the table and like to match our music to the type of food we are eating (eg mexican music with mexican food), however I found that just saying "ok Google play mexican music" just came back with either a sorry I can't do that response or it would just play sone random pop song instead. I would end up having to go into the app on my phone and find the music I wanted manually then sync it to my Google home - bit of a faff. However, I did like being able to listen to pretty much any specific song / artist and also any radio station too. Also the sound quality was very good too.

1. Has anything in your home routine changed since using Google Home?

No not really - I wouldn't say the Google Home has really changed our routine in any way but that's not to say we don't enjoy using it.

1. What are you finding most fun about using Google Home?

Prob, listening to music. The kids seem to like it best, my 2 year old walk up to it and says "ok doodle Fireman Sam' when he wants to listen to the fireman sam theme, that's pretty cute.

1. Is there anything you're finding frustrating about using Google Home?

Just what I mentioned in the music section really where it won't play something I have asked for and I have to go into the app to do it manually. Also, the app in general is a bit meh.

Thanks for letting us test this one, it was really fun

1. Was Google Home able to answer all the questions you had?

Mostly but the results it choses to give are still in the early stages I think. I asked for a cup cake recipe, it could tell me the method for cooking but not give a list of ingredients or quantities.

Additionally if you ask who someone is, you only get a result if they have a Wikipedia page so it cant yet find lesser known people.

1. What do you think about the music playing functionality?

I'm really impressed with the music, we have never really listened to music at home. it always seemed like a lot of effort and expensive to find something everyone likes. the google home makes it very simple and fun for everyone.

the only problem I have found is that the device often misses my children's instructions while music is playing, even if the volume is only on 4.

1. Has anything in your home routine changed since using Google Home?

I have never allowed tv or screen time before school, but now when they are ready and have had breakfast I let my boys put music on, they dance about till its time to go out.

1. What are you finding most fun about using Google Home?

For me I like asking how long till Christmas, just for the red and green lights. you need to add lights for Halloween etc!

my children love asking random questions. My 8 year old spent over an hour asking questions about the Romans the other day as that is his current topic at school.

1. Is there anything you're finding frustrating about using Google Home?

When I forget to say play before the song I want.

The app needs work, its not very user friendly yet, but its still fairly new technology so I signed up knowing it was still in development. The whole system works a lot better than I was expecting when I signed up for the trial.

I was a bit disappointed to realise that Id need chromecast to connect it to the TV.

1. What do you wish Google Home could do that it doesn't do currently?

Id like to improve the search and response to recipe requests, maybe it could even send the recipe to the phone app.

A quiz for children, they love doing the adult one but its a bit hard for them.

I would like to be able to set profiles for different family members.

I meant to add, ive blocked explicit songs on the google play app but I don't think this block links to the device as when I put the play stations on there is some pretty bad language in some songs.

Overall I have loved this product test, probably more than any I have done. its an item I wouldn't have thought to buy but now I wouldn't be without it.

1. Was Google Home able to answer all the questions you had?

No not all, it said it was still learning to quite a few questions.

1. What do you think about the music playing functionality?

I was so impressed that my foster son could ask it to play music from his birth country and it did. Although sometimes struggled to understand his accent.

This is the thing we've used most, i absolutely love it and signed for the two week free trial. Unfortunately we are broke and cannot afford the £9.99 per month subscription. My other son wants to use it for his birthday party so will maybe sign up if we can just do a month only.

1. Has anything in your home routine changed since using Google Home?

We play lots more music and my son takes it wherever he is in the house.

1. What are you finding most fun about using Google Home?

Listening to music and asking lots and lots of questions.

1. Is there anything you're finding frustrating about using Google Home?

I have to ban my son from using it sometimes as we'll be happily listening to music and he is constantly asking questions which is very annoying.

1. What do you wish Google Home could do that it doesn't do currently?

Not have to be plugged in to work.
Send emails.
Not have to pay such an expensive music subscription.

Thank you - we love it and sure will use more and more as more features are added.

1. Was Google Home able to answer all the questions you had?

No, had a number of occasions where it couldn't do this.

1. What do you think about the music playing functionality? Haven't got a Spotify or google play account. Have listed to some radio stations but it can't seem to understand us asking to listen to the local station. Gather we can somehow load our iTunes into google play? If so then can see us using it a lot more in the future, but due to my dad dying, we haven't had chance to load the music. Am impressed with the sound quality.
2. Has anything in your home routine changed since using Google Home? Yes, listening to the radio a lot more and boys enjoy asking it silly questions.
3. What are you finding most fun about using Google Home? The quizzes are a novelty with my sons and they like asking how many days until Christmas to see the lights alter, plus asking how many days until their birthdays
4. Is there anything you're finding frustrating about using Google Home? Setting it up was a problem, it wouldn't load properly. I don't like the app at all.
5. What do you wish Google Home could do that it doesn't do currently? Link up to iTunes as we have most of our music on there or via Amazon prime

Great feedback! Been looking at these for a while now!!

What do you wish Google Home could do that it doesn't do currently
we would like it to play music on spotify as it keeps going wrong. Maybe play music for free with no subscription. Also not require to be plugged in all the time. That said we love it and have enjoyed testing. Thank you

1. Was Google Home able to answer all the questions you had?
No not at all. It constantly says I can't help with that. My DD loves asking it questions but she has to word it carefully otherwise it doesn't understand what she's asking if it's too wordy.

2. What do you think about the music playing functionality?
I haven't used this as you have to pay £100 to get Google music for a year or Spotify. It's a shame it doesn't play YouTube.

3. Has anything in your home routine changed since using Google Home?
No other than DD waking me up at 6am today with the sound of Google answering her. I've found the volume settings now.

4. What are you finding most fun about using Google Home?
Just listening to DC asking it random things and the witty replies.

5. Is there anything you're finding frustrating about using Google Home?
Not being able to play music without a package. Not being able to answer most questions.

6. What do you wish Google Home could do that it doesn't do currently?
Play music easily. Set reminders. Link to TV.

1. Was Google Home able to answer all the questions you had?

No. There were lots of things it couldn't answer from "what noise does a bison make" to "what is the uk number one single"

2. What do you think about the music playing functionality?

Fabulous. For me this alone would make me buy it (my teens are keen to have their own!) The sound quality is excellent. The only downside is that it doesn't link to Amazon Prime music (perhaps understandably) which is what I have a subscription to. A teen son linked to his fathers spotify account for the purposes of this trial but that's not a long term solution! The radio is wonderful though and on all day.

3. Has anything in your home routine changed since using Google Home?

The first thing I say in the morning now is "Hey Google, play radio one" and I'm listening more

4. What are you finding most fun about using Google Home?

Just the ease of music really. My daughter (11) likes to ask stupid questions though.

5. Is there anything you're finding frustrating about using Google Home?

The app. It is truly dire. Functional items like the shopping list and volume control are hidden away. I wanted to increase the volume from the garden and had to click several things before finding where I could change it on the app. Ditto when it was too loud to hear me asking it to turn down the volume.

There were several times I was told there was a glitch and I wish it had a longer power lead or had an internal power source that charged when the unit is plugged in.

6. What do you wish Google Home could do that it doesn't do currently?

Reminders.
I'd also like to be able to change its name from "google". Being able to set it to something like "Hey, Bob!" would make me ridiculously happy.

I was looking at one of these for the bedroom but must admit I am more that happy with the Amazon Echo. More so because if you are a member of Prime you're already getting all the benefits plus the music you want through the Echo as standard - not sure what else you get with Google or what more it can bring to the table that Echo does not already do. It's like the new Apple product and equivalent - you would need to sign-up to Apple music to get music on the device yet you do not get much more! I like the look of this Google product as an air freshener but much prefer my Echo hands-down.

but much prefer my Echo hands-down.

How would you know given you've not tried the google one? Also, not everyone has, or wants, Amazon prime.

What music services does Echo support?

Anyway, this is something that you only need one of so youoick your supplier and that's it. There probably is very little to choose between them.

I'd imagine all three (Apple included) will do exactly the same thing but with their own brands. This trial and the fact that I like GH a lot means that I won't go for the Apple equivalent when it appears despite being a confirmed Apple fangirl. You've pipped them at the post Google! I'll stick with this and likely expand on it now I have it.

We already have 3 amazon dots in the house so I was interested in seeing how Google Home compared. Both offer the ability to do things hands-free. I really enjoy being able to walk into a room and ask for the radio to be turned on or switch the channel easily. I like the fact that I can easily check what the weather is going to be.

1. Was Google Home able to answer all the questions you had?

No, surprisingly there were quite a lot of questions that Google couldn't answer yet. We did use it too check some homework facts though and had fun asking Google what noises animals make.

1. What do you think about the music playing functionality?

I haven't had time to sit down and link it up to itunes yet so this function was limited. I did use Google to play the radio.

1. Has anything in your home routine changed since using Google Home?

Not really. I probably listen to a little bit more radio.

1. What are you finding most fun about using Google Home?

I enjoy using it to play the radio. The kids are having fun playing the quiz. I have to admit they both enjoy their amazon dots a lot more - Alexa has a load of fun questions which seem easier to find than Google.

1. Is there anything you're finding frustrating about using Google Home?

She sometimes tells me she can't do that when I haven't asked her to do anything (and haven't said anything which could remotely sound like Google). I also don't like the App. I find it extremely user-unfriendly although this may be because I am using an iPad. I want to be able to quickly press a button not hunt through several pages. The Amazon app is much easier to use.

1. What do you wish Google Home could do that it doesn't do currently? I would like to be able to call it something other than Google.

1. Was Google Home able to answer all the questions you had?

No. We asked it for details like tide times but it couldn't access them. It did answer most.

1. What do you think about the music playing functionality? Very easy. Linked to the free trial of the music player and the library of music is huge.
2. Has anything in your home routine changed since using Google Home? The kids love to get a weather check every morning from it.
3. What are you finding most fun about using Google Home? Finding out fun facts. The jokes are terrible though
4. Is there anything you're finding frustrating about using Google Home? A couple of times it misheard a conversation and butted in that it didn't understand when we hadn't actually activated it. But other than that..no.
5. What do you wish Google Home could do that it doesn't do currently? Better jokes?

The unit is quite small and has nice long pier lead. It was easy to set up via the app and connected to internet easily. The built in speaker is actually very good considering the size. Not tinny at all so was fine for playing music. The only downside was the inevitable on/off/on/off moments when children chose music the others didn't want to hear..,,amazed it didn't burst into flames!! Oh..and can you please stop the availability of xmas music...my sons driving us mad with it
Overall. Very impressed but the price may be a put off as it's not strictly a necessity. But it's fun ad not intrusive at all, as I feared it maybe. Quizzes and obscure facts are now a daily event. We have really enjoyed trying it out. Thanks Mumsnet.

Anyone else not able to play she google play music on GH this evening?

We have had so much fun testing this out! :

1. Was Google Home able to answer all the questions you had? Answered most things
2. What do you think about the music playing functionality? - Great so far although disappointed that it doesn't link to Amazon Prime music
3. Has anything in your home routine changed since using Google Home? The kids talk to it every morning and we check the weather more often!
4. What are you finding most fun about using Google Home? Love the jokes and the facts
5. Is there anything you're finding frustrating about using Google Home? - Not being able to play music without a package. Would love it to be able to play it just from the internet
6. What do you wish Google Home could do that it doesn't do currently? - Play music more easily / Be good if it didn't have to be plugged in all the time

Thanks so much! It is a really fun product

How did people manage to get a three month free trial for the music? I only got two weeks.

Babytoboris our Google music stopped working yesterday as well, it's not playing through Google home and the app on my phone won't work either, I've tried clearing cache etc but still not working. apparently there is no music in the universe, have opened Spotify account, they offer premium account for 99p for 3 months while I hope Google sort there music play out.

Ah Jib that would explain why mine wouldn't work on Saturday! I'm sure it said 3 months when I signed up to it though. I also can't find anywhere in the app where you could continue with the subscription if you wanted to though, can anyone else find it?

I've just checked in the settings on music app not home app and it says I have free account!!! Definitely said 2 months on signing up, soooo confused why it's not working, a friend has paid subscription to Google play and hers not working either!!!!

Can I add to my feedback that I really wish it had Bluetooth as well so I could play my audiobooks through it whilst cleaning!

1. Was Google Home able to answer all the questions you had?

Yes mostly but sometimes we had to rephrase them. It didn't always understand my daughter.

1. What do you think about the music playing functionality?

Good but you need to sign up for a premium service for functionality.

1. Has anything in your home routine changed since using Google Home?

Yes, personally I have found I listen to music more and generally it has slowed the morning get out of house routine down as the kids are always talking to it and talking over one another to get to it.

1. What are you finding most fun about using Google Home?

Asking what the weather will be like and the shopping list. How did we manage before?!!!

1. Is there anything you're finding frustrating about using Google Home?

Yes the fact that you have to be a premium subscriber for the full music functionality. Additionally having to rephrase questions sometimes to be understood.

1. What do you wish Google Home could do that it doesn't do currently?

Blue tooth an i pod to it...that would be good.

Thanks so much for choosing me to try out google home. We love it and it is here to stay.