Assistant is Google’s personal assistant that is capable of answering questions, performing automated tasks, and more.
Back in 2018, Google added a “visual experience” to Assistant on Android and iOS that was inspired by Smart Displays. That “Updates” feed in recent weeks has seen a big redesign, and it’s now official for Google Assistant on iOS as “Snapshot.”
As the novel coronavirus has spread globally, it’s vital that the right information to be made available to everyone. In its continued efforts, today Google has added a new “coronavirus tips” shortcut to Assistant, as well as another shortcut for finding the latest news on the subject.
One thing that’s universally recommended to help stop coronavirus is frequent hand washing. In partnership with the World Health Organization, there’s a new Assistant command to make sure you do it properly with “Hey Google, help me wash my hands.”
Line might not be the most popular messaging app in the West, but it might be of more interest thanks to new support for Google Assistant commands.
Google’s Android Auto platform makes it easy to display maps and control music from your car’s display, but sometimes it has some annoying issues. Now, Google has confirmed it has a fix for an ongoing “internet connection” issue with Assistant on Android Auto.
The Google Home app has been getting revamped in a few ways to better support Nest devices and, now, the app is preparing to support emergency calling details on your smart speakers.
Last month, Pixel 4 owners with G Suite accounts started seeing the new Google Assistant. That launch day limitation now looks to be gone with support widely rolling out today.
Over the past several betas, the Google app has been working on a revamp of Assistant settings. This much-needed redesign comes amid a growing list of features and third-party integrations. Our latest look at the preferences reveals something quite similar to Android’s system settings.
Google Assistant makes it easy to control your smart home devices, but it’s long lacked support for types of sensors and smoke detectors. Now, that’s finally been added.
Google Assistant can be a really helpful tool for controlling your smart home, but it’s always frustrating when it doesn’t work properly. Right now, some Google Home owners are reporting that Assistant’s August Smart Lock integration is currently broken at least in part.
Last October, Google tested a drastic revamp to Assistant Updates. More users this evening are encountering the chronologically ordered feed with additional cards and tips.
At I/O 2018, Google unveiled celebrity voices for Assistant, starting with talented musician — and friend of the company — John Legend. Available since last April, the company announced today that it’s pulling Legend’s cameo voice on March 23.
At CES in January, Google previewed what’s coming to Assistant in 2020. A screen reader built in to Assistant and activated by “Hey Google, read this page” is now rolling out on Android.
One of the best parts of Google’s Pixel 4 is the “new” Google Assistant that comes with it. The faster, better-looking Assistant is still limited to only a few regions and just recently started working with G Suite accounts, but a new report claims that the new Google Assistant will arrive in France later this year.
You’d be forgiven if you didn’t know that Google Home speakers and smart displays double as Bluetooth speakers, but they do. For those who’ve been using that functionality over the years, a strange bug has popped up over the past year or so where Google Home devices disconnect from Bluetooth and, now, Google is finally acknowledging the problem.
Google Home Mini is probably one of the company’s most successful pieces of hardware ever, and it’s inspired a lot of fun DIY projects and even some official products. Now, someone has put a Google Home Mini inside of a rotary phone, opening up the ability to literally hang up on Google Assistant.
One of the biggest additions and surprise packages at the Pixel 4 launch event was the newly packaged and redesigned Google Assistant. Unfortunately, the new Google Assistant didn’t work on Pixel 4 devices if you had a G Suite account logged in — that is until now.
Before Sonos sued Google in January, the two companies worked closely to bring Assistant to Sonos speakers. Despite that lawsuit, the integration continues to get new features, including the highly desired ability to set Sonos as the default speaker on the Nest Hub, Google Home, and other Assistant devices.
The Google Assistant Ambient mode for OnePlus devices is rolling out right now, with all previously “flagship killers” also included — as far back as 2016’s OnePlus 3/3T.
Screen search is one underrated Assistant feature that’s gone by the wayside due to the rise of Google Lens. “What’s on my screen” now looks to be returning on Android after disappearing last May.
The smart speaker market continues to grow each year, but Google still has a lot of catching up to do. A report from eMarketer (via TechCrunch) reveals that Amazon is expected to dominate the smart speaker market in 2020 with 70% share while Google lags behind with just over 30%.
Last November, Ambient Mode rolled out to more Android phones following a debut on Nokia and Lenovo devices at IFA 2019. OnePlus announced this evening that the proactive Google Assistant experience will soon be available on its phones.
This week has seen a flurry of YouTube Music developments, including our report today that the promised cloud locker is en route. The Android app is now prompting listeners about being able to like songs with Google Assistant.
Even without direct interaction, Assistant does a lot in the background through alerts. Google is now looking to give users a better way to manage Assistant through unified notification settings for phones.
