by Staff | Dec 30, 2022 | Reviews, Smart Home
Nowadays, streaming content on the go has become a standard norm, and because of this, TVs and speakers that allow users to do this are rapidly growing in popularity. One of the similarities among devices that support on-the-go content consumption is that they allow casting with Chromecast. I’ll admit, one of the things I find myself doing regularly is sharing video or content with family and friends via my phone. Having that ability to cast it to my TV is an awesome feature.
Using Google’s Chromecast, you can stream music and videos to compatible devices. In addition to this, you can use many mobile apps for accessing your favorite TV shows and playlists without any additional login requirements.
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What Is Chromecast Built-in?
To keep it simple, Chromecast uses Wifi to allow you to cast media from your smartphone, tablet, or computer to other compatible devices. The Google casting technology is a built-in feature for certain selected television sets and allows you to cast your favorite seasons, sports, games, and much more onto a big screen. Additionally, you can use Chromecast to stream podcasts, music, and even the radio to compatible speakers.
One thing that stands out about Chromecast is that it allows you to cast content without any disruption. Using its multi-task features, you can send texts and accept calls without interrupting what’s being streamed to the big screen.
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How Does Chromecast Work? (H2)
Chromecast uses Wi-Fi to connect to compatible devices and allows you to stream content from anywhere in your house. You can also connect a Chromecast dongle to your TV’s HDMI port and stream your favorite content. It allows you to use your smartphone or tablet as the cast controller for browsing, queueing, and controlling the content.
Chromecast works by using over 1000 Chromecast-enabled apps and allows you to stream over 200,000 tv shows and more than 30 million songs. Simply open a supported app, find something to watch or listen to, and simply tap on the cast button.
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In addition to this, you can also use a Google Assistant device or app to control the cast with voice commands. It works wonders with Chromecast built-in devices, but some older models may not function as you’d expect them to.
Devices For Chromecast Built-in
Although many television sets support built-in Chromecast, Google’s own Chromecast dongle is a great entry point for those looking to start with Google’s smart home tech.
Other options, in addition to the Chromecast dongle, are also available. Casting with Chromecast is a built-in feature that comes with the Google Nest Hub Max and the Google Nest Hub. These smart display devices will appear as Chromecasts on your network and allow you to cast video and audio content to them from anywhere in the house. Although many video apps recognize Nest Hubs as a display option, it’s possible that some of the apps may not be compatible. In this regard, it’s an app-by-app basis on compatibility.
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As for audio, Google Home speakers are a reliable option because they seamlessly integrate with Chromecast and allow you to enjoy the audio content without any interruptions. You can have your friends and family connect to these speakers as well.
Best Chromecast Built-in Speakers
Google’s own kit is the best go-to option for Chromecast built-in speakers, but other more premium options are also available. If you’re someone who doesn’t mind spending some money, consider the Naim Audio Mu-so Qb. It has the great audio quality and gives control over style and substance.
However, the Marshall Uxbridge Voice can also be a great option if you’re on a budget. It’s compatible with wireless streaming and allows you to cast audio from your smartphone or tablet. Along with these, there’s a wide array of Chromecast built-in speakers, each one with unique functionalities, that you can choose from.
Best Chromecast Built-in TVs
Generally, any television set that comes with Android TV supports Chromecast standard built-in, and you don’t need to buy any additional devices to cast your content.
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Sony has been committed to launching Android TVs that support Chromecast capabilities. Some of these TV sets include the Bravia XR Z9K, Bravia XR A95K, and the Bravia XR A90K. In addition to Sony, other manufacturers that provide Chromecast built-in TVs and displays include Philips, Skyworth, and Vizio. You can also connect the Nvidia TV Shield or the Nvidia TV Shield Pro to your existing TV’s HDMI port to enable Chromecast capabilities.
Setting Up Google Chromecast
You’ll have to set up Chromecast with your TV or speakers to cast your media. You must plug a Chromecast device into your TV and download the Google Home App.
Then simply search and select the devices you want to connect, and enjoy casting your favorite movies, shows, or music to any TV or speaker in your house.
Chromecast: A Solid Casting Option For Families
Google Chromecast is the best option for those who want to consume content on the go. Numerous devices support Chromecast built-in, and additional devices can be connected to an existing TV’s HDMI port for casting as well. Once connected, casting with Chromecast will allow you to cast your favorite movies or tv seasons to the big screen or listen to music or podcasts from anywhere in the house.
by Staff | Dec 28, 2022 | Reviews, Smart Home
Google Assistant is a powerful tool that can help you with everything from setting alarms to checking the score of your favorite team. But what if you want Google Assistant to help you out with more than just regular tasks? Google Assistant can do a lot of incredible things when it comes to smart home automation. We wanted to show you how to add devices like smart lights, thermostats, and even microwaves to Google Assistant so that you can control them with your voice and really leverage the power of smart home automation. Google Assistant is useful in our daily tasks, and it really can make your life easier. Adding devices to Google Assistant is actually quite easy. Getting your devices connected with your assistant will allow you to control your own home from basically anywhere.
Why Add a Device to Google Assistant
If you haven’t already, you should definitely add any and all compatible smart devices to your Google Assistant. Here are a few reasons why. First of all, it’s really about convenience. You can use your voice to do things like set timers, add items to your shopping list, or play music. And since Google Assistant is always getting smarter, new features and capabilities are always added. There are a TON of cool things you can do with your Google Assistant. Secondly, it’s a great way to stay connected with your family and friends. With Google Assistant, you can make hands-free calls or send messages without ever having to pick up your phone.
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Another reason, it’s just plain fun! With Google Assistant, you can ask it anything you want and get a response. Finally, adding a device to your Google Assistant making it part of your smart home ecosystem will unlock your smart device’s true potential. I love being able to tell my smart home to shut down at night. This triggers smart locks to lock, Wifi to shut down on my kids’ devices, shut my garage door, and a list of other clever smart home features. Whether you’re curious about the weather forecast or just want to hear a joke, Google Assistant is a great assistant for your smart devices.
LEARN MORE: The Best Google Routines
How To Add Devices To Your Google Assistant
One thing you need to know before buying a smart device (if you want to connect it through Google Assistant) is to make sure it is compatible with Google Assistant. Most newer smart devices are compatible with both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, so it shouldn’t be an issue for more. But you’re going to want to double-check. Adding a device to your Google Assistant is rather easy.
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Getting The Google Home App Situated
First, download the Google Home App and sign up for a new Google Account or Sign In to a preexisting account. And then, “Get Started”. To get started, you’ll need a Google assistant-enabled speaker (Google Nest Speaker, for example) and a secure Wi-Fi network. If you’re using an iPhone, turn your Bluetooth on. Now, open the app and tap setup. If you don’t see the setup, tap the device icon in the right corner of the app’s home screen to add your new device, and also you can choose multiple devices.
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After the app connects to your Google Home, you will hear a chime. Then select “Yes”. If will not hear any chime then tap “Try Again”. It really is too easy to mess up. I love Google’s installation and device integration processes. Your Google Home is now ready to use. Just follow the steps on your screen and you’ll be ready to go. Now, you’ll be able to control the added devices to Google Assistant with your voice commands. If you want to connect multiple devices then go to device settings and tap “Multipoint” and now you’ll be able to connect more devices.
You can rename devices in the Google home app. Doing so gives a much clearer overview of your smart home as it’s easier to control devices by conversational voice commands rather than irritating names. You can proceed with setting up Google Assistant once you are connected to Wi-fi. The activation of voice match is the first option. If multiple people are using this Google Home and you want personalized results, this might be helpful. Additionally, you can set Google Home to only respond to your voice. So, with Google Assistant just utilize your favorite smart home devices and add devices to Google Home to create useful routines with how your daily life works.
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Adding Your Devices To Google Assistant
Adding devices to your Google Assistant is easy and can be done in just a few simple steps. Here’s how:
1. First, open the Google Assistant app on your mobile device.
2. Tap the menu icon in the top left corner of the screen.
3. Select “Add Devices.”
4. You’ll be prompted to choose what kind of device you’d like to add. Choose from options like “Smart Displays,” “Speakers,” and “Chromecast.”
5. Follow the instructions for each type of device to complete the process.
That’s it! As a side note, not every device will communicate as seamlessly as what is described above. If you run into that, one of the most helpful tricks (and I know this will sound cliche) is to perform a search in Google. Simply query, “connect (your device name) to Google Assistant”. I’ve had to do this with a few devices and every time I’ve found a forum thread through Google Support to help.
by Staff | Dec 26, 2022 | Reviews, Smart Home
Smart lighting is one of the most important aspects of smart home and a definite favorite among smart home lovers. In fact, market forecasts show that global revenue for smart lighting is expected to surpass $22 billion by 2025 and nearly double by 2030.
Smart lighting solutions allow homeowners to control their lights using an app remotely. In addition to just turning them on and off, you can also set timers and schedules for your lights. We’ve talked quite a bit about smart home automation and having smart lighting as one of the most vital components of basic automation. Among many others, Philip Hue offers some of the best smart lighting solutions currently available on the market, and you don’t have to break the bank to buy them.
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What Is Philip Hue?
Philip Hue is a smart lighting provider with a wide range of options for smart home lovers and newbies. They work similarly to any other smart light setup and can connect using WiFi or other Zigbee signals. They allow you to use an app or a physical remote to control these lights’ brightness, color, and timings.
You can even integrate these lights with other smart techs in your house. Along with being controlled by an app, these lights can be with Google Assistant or Amazon’s Alexa, allowing you to control them with nothing other than your voice.
LEARN MORE: Home Automation FAQs
Philips Hue Starter Kit
The Philip Hue Starter Kit is all you need to set up the smart lighting system for your house. It comes with a hue bridge, smart LED bulbs, and other smart accessories that are quite easy to install. You’ll need to consider factors such as which room you will get the kit for and how many lights you need to figure out to choose the best starter kit for you.
Currently, Philip Hue has 3 Starter kits that provide either a white ambiance or a white and color ambiance. The number of smart LED bulbs you get with each light varies, and prices start from just $69.99.
>>Get Your Philips Hue Starter Kit Here <<
Philip Hue Smart Lights
Philip Hue has a wide range of smart lights you can choose from depending on your needs and requirements. Your choice will depend on where you want to install the lights in your house. Let’s take a quick look at some of the Philip Hue lighting options:
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Smart Light Bulbs
These smart light bulbs come in different shapes and bases and can fit into almost any light socket. This makes adding smart lights to your house quite a simple and easy thing to do.
>>Get Your Philips Hue Smart Light Bulbs Here <<
Smart LED Lightstrips
Philip Hue offers different colored and gradient smart LED strips for you to choose from. They are suitable for both indoors and outdoors and create a smooth ambiance where required.
>>Get Your Philips Hue Smart LED Lightstrips Here <<
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Table Lamps and Floor Lamps
These smart lamps are a great option for your house and can function as a reading light or just as decor. Although smart floor lamps provide gradient lighting, smart table lamps offer color and gradient lights.
>>Get Your Philips Hue Smart Lamps Here <<
Smart Ceiling Lights
These ceiling lights offer warm to cool and colored lights and come in different sizes and styles. All the lights are Bluetooth enabled, and options are available for almost every room in the house.
>>Get Your Philips Hue Smart Ceiling Lights Here <<
Smart Outdoor Lights
Smart outdoor lights offer soft-warm lighting and colored lighting. Similar to all other lights, they are also Bluetooth enabled and are a suitable option for the front lawn and the backyard. In addition to these smart lights, Philip Hue also provides a bathroom-specific range called the Philip Hue Adore, which comes with innovative smart lights and the Adore white-lighted mirror. Along with these smart lights, Philip Hue also offers a wide range of smart accessories, including the Hue Bridge, smart buttons, smart plugs, dimmers, and much more.
>>Get Your Philips Hue Smart Outdoor Lights Here <<
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Setting Up Philip Hue Lights
Philip Hue lights come equipped with a Hue Bridge, which is the first thing you’ll have to set up. When setting up the Hue Bridge, you must plug it into the power socket and connect it to the internet. Then, open the Philip Hue app and add the new bridge.
After installing the smart lights in your desired location, simply connect them to the bridge using the app. As opposed to using the bridge, you can also use Bluetooth to connect to the smart lights, limiting your control over them.
Philip Hue Lights and Smart Assistants
In addition to using the Philip Hue App, you can also use Google Assistant, Apple Home Kit, and Amazon Alexa to control the smart lights as well. Along with allowing you to control the smart lights with voice commands, you’ll be able to take extra security measures such as having the lights turn on if motion is detected as well.
Final Thoughts
Philip Hue offers smart lighting options for every room in the house and for the front yard and backyard as well. They provide many options, including smart LED bulbs, lighting strips, smart accessories, and more. I’m a huge fan of Philips’ smart lighting technology. Not only is it a brand I trust, but the technology also integrates seamlessly with most smart home assistants. In addition to being set up and controlled from the app, the Philip Hue lights can be connected to various smart assistants allowing you to control them using voice commands as well.
by Staff | Dec 21, 2022 | Smart Home
With increasing advancements in smart home technology, homes are now becoming more than just a place to live in. Along with living in your house, these smart home gadgets allow you to interact with it as well.
They are rapidly growing in popularity and recent forecasts show that the number of smart homes in the United States is expected to cross 77 million by 2025. If you’re someone who’s interested in these products, you can save yourself a lot of time by simply looking for the Z-wave logo on the gadgets you buy.
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What is Z-Wave?
Unlike other gadgets, Z-Wave isn’t a product or system but a wireless protocol that helps you turn your smart home dream into a reality. The Z-wave technology entered the United States in 2002 and was bought by Silicon Labs for a price of $240 million in 2018.
Z-Wave uses low-energy radio waves to enable communication between devices and ensures that they can operate with each other. This allows you to work across multiple product categories to create seamless automation within your smart home. Most smart home products are equipped with various versions of Z-Wave.
LEARN MORE: Home Automation FAQs
They come equipped with features such as the SmartStart, which allow you to experience the true potential of the smart home technology by simplifying the inclusion process of other devices. These versions include: (WARNING: TOTAL GEEKNESS INCOMING)
Z-Wave Plus
The Z-Wave Plus, also known as the Z-Wave 500 series, increases the range and battery life of the initial technology and is a commonality among current smart home products.
Z-Wave 700
The Z-Wave 700 series improved upon the gaps left by its predecessors and provides a connection range of 1 mile and a battery that can last up to 10 years.
Z-Wave 800
Their latest version, the Z-Wave 800, extends the connection range to more than 1.5 miles and is equipped with both the S2 security framework and the Secure Vault.
Z-Wave LR
The Z-Wave Long Range (LR) was announced in 2020 and aims to extend the connectivity beyond the boundaries of smart homes and really wants to compete with technologies in the commercial sector.
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How Secure Is Z Wave Technology?
One of the most important things to consider when choosing a home automation system is how secure it is. We sometimes easily forget how vulnerable our personal data is. You want to make sure that your personal data and information are safe and secure and that no one will be able to access them without your permission.
With Z-Wave technology being one of the most popular types of home automation technologies, it is also known for being very secure. The Z-Wave standard uses 128-bit AES encryption, which is the same type of encryption that is used by banks and other financial institutions. What this means is your data will be safe and secure and that no one will be able to access it without permission. In addition to that, Z-Wave devices are also equipped with tamper-resistant hardware, so even if someone tried tampering with your device, they most likely wouldn’t be able to.
Why is Z-Wave Important for Smarthomes?
As mentioned, Z-Wave is a wireless protocol that communicates between devices enabling them to function together and is essential for smart homes. Z-Wave’s SmartStart feature makes installing a new device as simple as turning it on.
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When turned on, a device is automatically recognized by the network and all you have to do is follow a few prompts to connect it. In addition to the easy installation, any Z-Wave certified device can work with other Z-Wave devices, allowing smart homeowners to choose from an unlimited number of options.
How Does Z-Wave Work?
The Z-wave technology operates using radio frequency between 800-900MHz, ensuring that the communication among devices doesn’t suffer from any major interference. Unlike Wifi, these devices connect to each other, form a mesh network, and then send signals from one device to another.
However, not all such devices are capable of repeating a signal. This necessitates a Z-Wave repeater to receive and send signals from one device back to the Hub.
Z-Wave Hub and Apps
A hub is where all the behind-the-scenes actions of your smart home take place. It allows you to control and manage your smart home devices from wherever you are and can also send alerts from these devices.
Smarthome owners can use the hardware hubs from Samsung SmartThings and Aeotec to manage their devices. A great thing about these hubs is that they can also integrate with Z-Wave and other smart home technologies. Along with these, other smart hub options are compatible with Z-wave.
However, if you’re looking for a Z-Wave specific hub, then Aeotec’s Z-Stick 7 is the best option. In addition to hardware hubs, many products that are equipped with a Z-Wave kit provide apps that can be used to control these devices.
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Z-Wave Devices
Currently, there are more than 3600 Z-wave certified products on the market and over 100 million people are using the products equipped with the many versions of Z-wave. All of these devices are compatible with each other, regardless of which manufacturer they are from. Z-Wave compatible products are available in categories such as locks, switches, thermostats, and much more.
Some of the many devices that use the Z-wave technology include:
Smart Home Integration Is The Key
Smarthomes are rapidly growing in popularity across the United States. And this means homeowners are constantly looking for devices that are compatible with each other. Searching for such devices can be a problem that many people face, but it can easily be solved by looking for the Z-wave logo on your smart devices.
Z-wave uses wireless communication protocols to help ensure that smart home devices can be integrated with one another. And this is what we want! Nothing is more frustrating than getting a new smart device only to have it not integrate with the rest of your smart home. Z-wave allows owners to work across multiple devices and make their smart home dream a reality.
by Staff | Dec 19, 2022 | Smart Home, Tech Living
Google Home App has introduced a very useful feature that allows users to make calls to all their contacts rather effortlessly. What’s nice is this added feature lets a person set up a Google Home App and then use its modified features to make calls from smart speakers to businesses or personal contacts. If the technology was completely synced with all of your smart devices (smart watch, smartphone, wireless earbuds), I could see how this would be a major component for your smart home. But some of these wishes just aren’t there yet. And to be honest…despite what you might think, the process of setting this up is quite simple. You just have to make sure you have the latest software version and follow the steps to make calls through Google conveniently.
Setting Up Calls On Google Home
- The first step in making calls to your desired (business or personal) contacts is to configure the prerequisite settings on the device.
- To make a call to your Google contacts, you must go to Settings. In the settings, you have to tap on the “more settings” feature.
- Locate the tab named Devices
- Here, you have to add the desired contact by selecting a speaker of your choice.
- While doing so, you must ensure that your personal results toggle is turned on.
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Syncing Your Contacts
The process of syncing the contacts on Android or iOS works differently.
For Android
- You have to go to Google Home App.
- In the Google Home app, select manage your Google account.
- In the Google Account, there is a feature named People and Sharing.
- In this feature, tap on contact info from your devices, and simply turn on save contacts from your signed-in devices.
For iOS
- Go to the Google Home app and tap on settings.
- In settings, hit the more settings tab and select voice and video calls from the services tab.
- Here, select the Mobile Calling tab that appears, and turn on the ‘Contacts uploading’ tab.
- After that, a pop-up will appear asking for permission. If permission is granted, the contacts will successfully be synced.
LEARN MORE: The Best Google Routines
Add Or Hide Your Number:
In the Google Home app, you can hide your number and appear as a private caller or with your identity.
- Click on the Settings tab, tap more settings, and select Services.
- In Services, tap on Voice and Video Calls and Mobile Calling to change your name from Private to your name.
- You will be asked to confirm the action via an SMS.
- Once the technical formalities are done, your number is added to the selected name.
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Making Phone Calls On Google Home:
To make a call to your desired contact, you will have to say, ‘Hey, Google, call (contact)’. From here, there are two possibilities:
- If you want to call any popular business, you just have to mention the name of that business. Google can automatically take you to the phone line of the business.
- If you want to call any personal contact, you have to say the number out loud for Google to connect to the caller. The person you call doesn’t have to go through any prerequisites to receive the call.
How To End A Call?
Voice commands such as, “Hey Google, stop/disconnect/hang up/end the call” can be used to end the call. But Google provides users with other options as well.
The other options include Google Nest Hub, Hub Max, and Google Nest Mini.
- In Google Nest Hub, a button on the screen allows you to decide on your calls (answer/decline/hang).
- In Google Nest Mini, one can tap the speaker’s top to answer or hold a finger down to decline the call.
- Additionally, if you have a Google Home Max, you may answer calls by tapping the line on the top or side of the speaker, depending on how it’s oriented, or by pressing and holding the line.
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Setting Up Voice Match For Google Home Calls:
If you have a Google Home App running on your phone, the next step is to train your Google assistant. After that, the assistant will work by recognizing your voice. The only real necessity of this is that your personal accounts must be synced so that it picks the calls and access your contacts based on the settings you have selected.
Bottom Line
Making calls from Google Smart Speaker has enabled people to shift from obsolete ways of calling and bring communication into the future. Previously, Google Assistant helped people in making calls. Now, the Google Home App has made it possible to contact anyone essentially from any part of the world with just an app.
There are a lot of nice things about making phone calls using your smart speaker. In a lot of regards, it is convenient. For example, the Google Home App detects the speaker’s voice once the setup is completed. You have to personalize all the settings to make use of the feature to the fullest. Once everything is set, you just have to say the command, and Google will dial up that call for you.
Now…this isn’t something I use often. Most of the time when I make calls through a smart speaker, it’s when I don’t have my phone or wireless headphones near me. In this regard, this feature is awesome. But having the ability to make a phone call through my wireless buds (connected to my phone) or even through my smartwatch is much more convenient than doing it through one of these smart speakers. Nonetheless, for those that don’t have these smart accessories that pair with their smartphones, making a call through your Google smart speaker definitely has it’s purpose.
by Staff | Dec 14, 2022 | Smart Home
Most people know about Google Assistant and the devices it’s on. And most people are getting a ton of benefits from its use in daily life. I’ve talked about my favorite Google Routines and how much they simplify life instead of having tech make things worse. But one thing I’ve noticed is about 1% of the people I know effectively use Google Assistant. Yes, it’s fun to ask it what time it is and ask it questions about something you don’t know, but…there’s a whole world of utility-type functions that Google Assistant can do that are super efficient and not a lot of people use.
LEARN MORE: The Best Google Routines
The Most Valuable Google Assistant Tips:
So what else can you do beyond the usual tasks with Google Assistant rather than ask it about the time and weather? Granted, those are important and very popular voice commands, but here are some valuable Google Assistant tips that I think most people are either unaware of or haven’t realized how efficient they can make life:
1. Find Your Phone
Do you not know where your phone is located? You can simply say “OK Google, detect my phone” from an account-connected smart speaker with Google Assistant enabled. To locate your phone, just listen for the ringing (or pinging). In the unfortunate event that you forget your phone, Google Assistant makes it simple to locate it.
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2. Allow Google to Screen Your Calls
Why not let Google Assistant handle the spam calls? If you get a call from a hidden number or from anyone with whom you don’t wish to speak, tap the screen-appearing Screen Call button. A live transcription of the conversation will be provided by Google Assistant when it answers the call. You can either hang up or jump in.
Another fun phone hack is reducing the time you waste waiting on hold for customer support. If you have the Phone app by Google, go to Settings, then Hold for Me. What this does is every time you are on hold with a customer support rep (or any toll-free number), Google Assistant will give you the option to hold the call until the phone rep comes on. Please note that this is only available on Google Pixel Phones and select Android phones.
3. Control Phone Setting
You can easily control many important phone settings with your voice including Bluetooth and Wi-Fi settings. Using a phrase like “OK Google, activate airplane mode”, or “OK Google, activate do not disturb” or “OK Google, activate the flashlight” you can communicate with Google on some of these more frequently used phone settings.
4. Make A Phone Call
You can easily make a phone call simply with voice commands. And it’s not just those in your personal contacts either. You can place a phone call to any publicly listed business. Another cool little hack, just say, “on speakerphone” after your request and Google Assistant will automatically activate your phone speaker so you don’t even have to touch your device.
5. Control Your Data And Settings
With Google Assistant, you can control and examine your data and activities. To control your data simply say: “OK Google, remove the last things I said to you.” Similarly, you can delete your data from the last week or month as well. To review your privacy settings and to learn more about how Google Assistant uses your personal data, you can also ask Google, “Ok Google, what do you do with my data?”
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6. About Location
Using Google Assistant, you can easily get your location. Using location-based Google Assistant commands is one of the power features with Google. I just don’t think it is used enough. Even when running a task or errand to a location I’ve been to a hundred times, I’ll use location-based commands and I’ve avoided construction delays and traffic jams even going to places I know. This little nuance is not an exercise in futility. You also find out more about the location where you want to go and set reminders with general locations too. Again…leveraging your Google Assistant to tell you about directions and the distance from your destination (even if you know the location) is a valuable tip.
7. Google Assistant At The Lock Screen
You can communicate with Google Assistant even if your Android phone is locked. Ask for a weather prediction, or reminder, or get control without locking the screen. All you need to do is go to Assistant settings and under All settings select Lock screen. From there, turn Allow Assistant on the lock screen on or off.
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8. Set Reminders
Setting reminders is probably one of the most useful tips for using Google Assistant. These can be simple reminders such as “OK Google, remind me to call the doctor on Friday” or “OK Google, remind me to take out the trash every Tuesday at 9 PM.” Or they can be a little more complex like “OK Google, remind me to walk Gladys’ dog every Tuesday and Thursday at 9 AM this month at Riverside Park on Arthur Avenue.”
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9. Sending A Text
The voice-to-text technology with assistants has come a long way in just a few short years. At first, I wasn’t a big fan because I found myself going back and editing the text I said anyway. Wasn’t a valuable tool for me. But in recent years Google Assistant’s voice-to-text has been phenomenal. You can literally send a text without edits and without even lifting a finger. A little bonus: if you have the Messages app from Google, you can even ask Google Assistant to read text messages to you.
Here’s Your Challenge…
So here’s your homework assignment: this week I want you to use just one of these. Pick the one you think will be the easiest for you and use it this week. Google Assistant is a great tool that seriously makes remedial tasks in life really simple. And it’s not just for the professional who wants to stay more organized and streamline business operations. Anyone can benefit from these effective tips and tools in Google Assistant.
