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15 awesome things you can do with Google Home

Virtual assistants like Amazon’s Alexa are becoming more and more integrated into our daily lives. Recently, Google launched its competitor to Amazon product. Aptly named Google Home, the Google Home Assistant can help you in amazing ways you might not have noticed at first. Here are 15 features that may surprise you.

1. Use it as a speaker

It is common knowledge that it comes equipped with a Bluetooth speaker. However, it is not limited to just connecting to your phone and playing playlists. You can connect to many music streaming services, such as Spotify and Pandora. Not only that, but with a Chrome browser built into any computer, you can easily connect your computer and use it as a desktop speaker.

2. Read the news from 1851

It has a database of news headlines dating back to 1851. All you have to do is ask for the news on a specific day. Next, you’ll read the headlines for that day and summarize the news contained in that article.

3. Find your phone

With just a simple phrase, Google Home Assistant can place a call to your phone to help you find it. If your phone is on silent or vibrates and it’s compatible with Google Home, it will even come out of silent mode so you can hear your ringtone.

4. Turn your lights on or off

It is advertised as the central hub for all your smart devices. If you have compatible lights, like Phillips Hue bulbs, you can ask it to turn your lights on and off for you without flipping a switch.

5. Use touch commands

It is equipped with touch sensitive technology that knows where your fingers are and can register many gestures. You can touch the top to pause and resume music and swipe to the side opens the volume control. Google has promised more touch command features in the future.

6. Get an Uber

By connecting your Uber app to Google Home and specifying a few settings, you can request an Uber and one will come directly to your home in a matter of minutes.

7. Cooking recipes

Perhaps one of the most useful features, you can search over five million recipes across various databases, such as the New York Times and the Food Network. Google Home Assistant will review the recipe step by step and can even prompt you for ingredient conversions and substitutions.

8. Play 20 questions

It is connected to Akinator, which is an online version of 20 questions. Just think of something and Akinator, through Google Home, will ask questions to narrow it down. It’s perfect for when you’re bored or want to keep your kids busy.

9. Keep a shopping list

Google Home has a lot of functionality in the kitchen. If you notice something is missing, just ask Google Assistant to add the item to your shopping list. That shopping list is automatically sent to any integrated phone or smart device.

10. Integrate with Chromecast

If you have Chromecast, Google’s home TV option, you can use Google Home and voice commands to control it. You can request specific videos or tell it to go back, forward or jump to a specific time.

11. Know your traffic

By adding your home and work locations to your app, Google Home Assistant can tell you about traffic conditions and potential alternate routes you can take to save time.

12. Impress your guests

Let your guests use it too. All they have to do is pair their device with Google Home, a step that literally takes seconds. Once paired, they can issue commands and ask questions just like you.

13. Watch your photos on TV
You may be given access to your photo accounts, such as Google Photo and Photobucket. Once you do, you can use Chromecast to display your images on TV and even request specific images based on location and date.

14. Relax

It comes with over 15 ambient sounds, including forest ambience and crashing waves, to help you relax or fall asleep.

15. Listen to a joke

You can even tell jokes. Just ask, and you shall receive.

With all these things you can do with Google Home and more features added soon, now is a great time to buy this fantastic home assistant.

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