Is Google Home everything you hoped it would be? [Poll of the Week]

Last week's poll summary: Out of over 5,500 total votes, 30.1% of our readers said they would have preferred an AMOLED display on Huawei's Mate 9 flagship. 24.2% of our readers said they would have liked a Quad HD display, while 21.3% said they aren't a fan of the company's EMUI 5 software skin.

Google's first big Amazon Echo competitor, Google Home, was officially announced way back at the I/O developer conference in May. While it took the company about six months to put the finishing touches on the product, we're happy to say that you can finally purchase the connected speaker from the Google Store and other retailers for about $130.

Six months of waiting around is a pretty long time, though, and if you're like me, you were chomping at the bit to see what Google Home could bring to the table that the Amazon Echo couldn't.

• What voice commands can I use with Google Home?
• How to set up and use Google Home

We've been using Google Home for over about two weeks now, and there's certainly a lot to like about it. Not only does it come with the new Google Assistant (the same one that's powering the Pixel and Pixel XL), it works seamlessly with Chromecast, Philips Hue, Nest Thermostat devices and a few more connected home products (mostly thanks to IFTTT integration). Plus, this is a very well-built piece of hardware – it looks good in most rooms throughout the house, and sound quality is very impressive for a speaker of this size.

Google Home shines in many areas, but is very much lacking in others

With all that said, there are a few areas where Google Home could improve. It isn't compatible with too many applications yet; only a handful of Google apps and third-party services are supported. And of the Google apps that are supported, integration could be much more robust. For instance, Google Assistant is only able to add items to your shopping list in Google Keep, and asking what podcasts are available in Play Music is like pulling teeth. Perhaps the biggest downside to Google Home right now – at least for families – is the lack of multi account support. This means if anyone in your house needs to get directions to their place of work or ask what's on their agenda, Google Home will give them information based on your Google account. Support for multiple accounts may be on its way in the future, but unfortunately it's not here yet.

See also:

Google Home first impressions: It'll get better

5 days ago

So, we want to know – is Google Home everything you hoped it would be? Or are you not impressed? Be sure to cast your vote in the poll below, and if you have anything to add, feel free to leave a comment below. We look forward to hearing what you have to say!

from Android Authority http://ift.tt/2gauHDa
via IFTTT