Underwhelmed with Google Home, a bit

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Gimli_

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So have been putting off playing with Google Home (any smart home ecosystem really) for a long time but thought I might install Google home this weekend see what the fuss is about.

So the Assistant is good for a laugh and I can see that it can be kind of usefull to set alarms and reminders, and play music on demand.

I setup Google Home App on my phone and connected my Android TV box... I don't have any other smart devices to connect (I told you I've held off this stuff)
As a source for music I wanted to assiciate my Spotify account to the Google Home, but nada. Tried Deezer? The same thing.

Turns out Google Home is not 'in' South Africa yet. You can buy smart speakers etc directly imported by someone else, but officially google home is not supported in South Africa, and therefore it seems we have limited functionality.

After pretending I was in the UK via VPN, magically, I was able to associate my Spotify and Deezer accounts, and after I dropped the connection..... they vanished. Only service available was youtube music.

I also noted that even after how many years the Google Store is not available in South Africa yet.

What's up with Google??
 
We are a backwards country why would they bother? Also I don't have any other music linked to my smart speakers I just ask it to play what ever on what ever music service.
 
Lupus said:
We are a backwards country why would they bother? Also I don't have any other music linked to my smart speakers I just ask it to play what ever on what ever music service
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I do have my own playlists and would like to listen to them, not random playlists. So to me that is an issue.

Backwards country it might be, but what does it take for them to activate it in this country? A bank account and a software switch?
 
Everyones-a-Wally said:
If my phone performed like Google home I would not use a Google phone. At least it performs its secondary function well. There is a reason Google home isn't popular though. They are so buggy.
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I was expecting you to stick to the issue of tracking. But I guess that isn't an issue as long as the phone is essential and 'working well'?
 
I got the mini for under 1k (dont remember the price now) and it sure is useful sometimes. If you have a chromecast it's often easier to instruct it to play whatever on netflix than it is to find your phone. Speaking of which, "make my phone ring" is easily a function which (to me) makes it worth it. If I find myself looking for my phone for even half a second I just yell it now
 
I prefer Alexa - and the biggest things I use it for are :

Smart lights on/off
Reminders
Shopping List

I haven't used Google recently though
 
Running all my lights via Google Home. Its much easier using voice, especially for lights left on after hours.

Or switching on as arriving home late or left on. Also allow random control when on holiday.

Broadcasting via speakers useful, especially if l locked out.

Yes find my phone great function.

Smart plugs allow me to see if any devices (freezers and fridges critical of course) off after a power trip. Have UPS for entire house but power sometimes trips. Even had random trips.

Streaming camera cctv (Reolink and Wyze) footage to a chromecast device tv or hub using voice quick and intuitive. Does sometimes misunderstand but works 90%.

Switching on TVs and aircon linked to universal infra red/wifi remote controllers (Bakeey brand).

Btw see options for linking music services as per screenshot via Google Assistant?

Missing:
1. Routines but use Smart Life and eWelink app for that
2. Training Google to recognise some names. Workaround by using recognisable names but irritating.
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Yes Google has reminders and Shopping list.

Daily recurring tasks of kids removes debate of whose turn it is
 
Uhm?

Chromecast?

I literally do everything from my phone.
I don't need to hassle with anything and only use the Home App to change settings.

I'm adding Home compatible lights in future to automate it.
You won't ever catch me talking to a device, PC or Asssistant. Unless I want to hear jokes from Alexa.

Can you Cast media to your Android TV from your phone? Or at least control it from your phone?
 
Gimli said:
I setup Google Home App on my phone and connected my Android TV box... I don't have any other smart devices to connect (I told you I've held off this stuff)
As a source for music I wanted to assiciate my Spotify account to the Google Home, but nada. Tried Deezer? The same thing.

Turns out Google Home is not 'in' South Africa yet. You can buy smart speakers etc directly imported by someone else, but officially google home is not supported in South Africa, and therefore it seems we have limited functionality.
Click to expand...
I use Spotify on my Home speakers, but I had that issue as well. What I would suggest is deleting the app, and connecting your Spotify account when you're doing the initial setup.

I also use it for lights, music, alarms/alerts/timers and WiFi camera monitoring.
 
RanzB said:
I use Spotify on my Home speakers, but I had that issue as well. What I would suggest is deleting the app, and connecting your Spotify account when you're doing the initial setup.

I also use it for lights, music, alarms/alerts/timers and WiFi camera monitoring.
Click to expand...
I'm getting a mixed perception here between Google Home and the Home App.

The Home App is for basics.
I just thought about it a bit more and with my WiFi network setup I wouldn't even need to get Home compliant devices.

Everything has an App these days.
My Synology NAS gets remotely shut down and started from it's App.
Plex Casting to Chromecast. Spotify. DSTv.

Home in itself is irrelevant.
 
|tera| said:
I'm getting a mixed perception here between Google Home and the Home App.

The Home App is for basics.
I just thought about it a bit more and with my WiFi network setup I wouldn't even need to get Home compliant devices.

Everything has an App these days.
My Synology NAS gets remotely shut down and started from it's App.
Plex Casting to Chromecast. Spotify. DSTv.

Home in itself is irrelevant.
Click to expand...
Most stuff can be integrated into Home, so you can use Google assistant via voice or routines to trigger the stuff from one place, e.g. Set up routine for alarm on one thing, light on another and have Spotify play in another.

Spotify worked fine on my Google Home, only issue was that it's limited to around 200 or so songs for shuffle if directly played off the device, not sure if they've fixed it yet as have been playing mostly daily mixes the last year.

Tbh, Google home is really not a big thing unless you actually have smart devices, e.g. Lights, otherwise just a Google assistant set up once and then forget about it.
 
I honestly find the Chromecastability of my Google Home minis the most useful feature, because Home Assistant can play voice notifications over them.

That and the kids each have a mini that they use as a little white-noise speaker (created a 12-hour long white noise track that I cast from Home Assistant's Media Player).
 
Personally love ability to switch lights on or off with voice. Switching on tv or aircon with voice.

Ability to stream music or videos via voice. Ability to stream security cameras to home hub or TVs (via chromecast) via voice.

Finding phone via voice useful as well.

Can even track my wallet with its Tile in it.

Yes you can use phone but I dont have it on me all the time. And kids specifically switch bathroom and toilet lights on or off with their voice all the time.

Ultimately its preference. I like it.
 
Oh and of course broadcasting ability. Only issue is it goes to all devices and not specific ones?
 
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