Google Assistant

Much like how Google Assistant was announced at I/O 16 and initially premiered with the Pixel last year, Google Lens is seeing a similar release schedule. These “set of vision based computing capabilities” for performing tasks like visual search is launching first on the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL.

Expand
Expanding
Close

In addition to promising Google Assistant support next year, Sonos has unveiled its latest wireless speaker: the Sonos One. The new model replaces the Sonos Play:1 in the lineup at the $199 level with models available in both white and now black. Sonos One is the company’s first wireless speaker with built-in voice control.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Google has made quite a few moves with smart speaker devices in the past few weeks, and that’s undoubtedly because the company is preparing to bring a lot of new hardware to the table on its own and with partners. To help users better manage their various Assistant speakers, Google is now allowing the ability to assign those devices to specific rooms.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Several days ago we did a teardown of version 7.12 of the Google app and were able to activate a second voice for Google Assistant. This voice was male, but it was not yet live for users to select. Sometime since then, Google pushed out an update enabling users to switch between the female voice (Voice I) and the male voice (Voice II). Here’s how to do it…

Expand
Expanding
Close

Google, just like Amazon, is working hard to get its virtual assistant on almost every physical platform that it possibly can. This includes phones, speakers, security cameras, appliances, TVs, and more. But as someone who spends close to 80 to 90 percent of my time on a computer, I want an official Google Assistant app that is accessible from both my Apple laptop and Windows desktop.

While we know Google is working to bring Assistant to Chromebooks, and there are ways to build your own Assistant app for Mac and PC, there isn’t an official option that packs with it all of the functionality found elsewhere.

Expand
Expanding
Close

The latest beta of the Google app is rolling out this morning and features a number of strings related to Assistant. Version 7.13 notes new features in the works for Assistant-enabled headphones, as well as what is possibly a new device: “Google Earphones.”

Expand
Expanding
Close

For the past several weeks, we have been able to activate a new rounded interface for the Google Assistant on Android. That new look is now rolling out first to iOS through an update to the dedicated Google Assistant app today.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Google Assistant continues to make its way through the company’s portfolio of platforms and products, but one that’s been oddly neglected is Chrome. Today, however, we’re seeing evidence that Assistant on Chrome, specifically on Chromebooks, might be right around the corner…

Expand
Expanding
Close

Google Assistant on headphones was officially announced last week and launched alongside the Bose QC35 II. While we were able to figure out and layout all of the headphone’s features in our hands-on and full review of the product, Google’s online support documents were a little scarce.

Fortunately, for those who haven’t bought the Bose headphones yet or are waiting for a different model to come to the market, Google has now uploaded three instructional videos to help you get started…

Expand
Expanding
Close

Following weeks of reporting that provided a pretty clear glimpse, Google finally announced their first “headphones optimized for the Google Assistant” this month. The initial pair are made by Bose, but we’ve long speculated that there would be more models from other companies.

In fact, for quite a while now, we’ve heard from our own sources of Google-made headphones in development and today another rumor corroborates that information. What’s not known is whether or not they’ll ever be a real product.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Since I/O 2017, Google has been working on adding Google Lens to Assistant. With version 7.12 of the Google app, we’ve been able to activate Lens and demonstrate what it looks like. Additionally, we were able to initiate the new male Assistant voice that we spotted last week.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Google Assistant is everywhere from your smartphone to your headphones, and today its availability is expanding to the television thanks to Android TV.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Bose is no stranger to excellent audio quality, and the Bose QuietComfort 35 wireless headphones have been a favorite of mine for quite some time. With top-notch audio and some of the best noise cancellation in the business, they’re a tough formula to improve upon. But with the second-generation, just a single addition has really improved the experience as a whole, and that’s Google Assistant.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Google Home was released about a year ago as the first smart speaker with Google Assistant built in, and it’s matured a lot since its release. This year, Google opened up the software needed to bring Assistant to other hardware. Back at IFA, we saw several new options announced, and now we’ve got our hands on one of the first, the Mobvoi TicHome Mini.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Several days ago Google announced that it was officially bringing Assistant to headphones. The first pair getting this upgraded treatment is the second-generation Bose QC35 Bluetooth over-ear noise canceling headphones. Now that they are on sale, we have spent some hands-on time with them.

While there might not be enough of a reason to upgrade from the first generation, the addition of Google Assistant might be enough for hardcore fans to hand over several Benjamins…

Expand
Expanding
Close

After several big leaks, Google finally unveiled headphones with Google Assistant built-in this week. That functionality is debuting on the Bose QC35 II, but Google hasn’t done a good job advertising why this feature is worth buying into. Now, a Googler has given his two cents on the topic.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Google has been working on a project to bring Assistant to headphones for quite some time, and we’ve learned a lot about it in the past few months. Today, though, Google has officially unveiled this new integration, and it starts with the Bose QC35 II.

Expand
Expanding
Close

We’re quickly approaching the release of the first of many headphones with Google Assistant built-in —  the Bose QC35 II. Since our story outing these as the first with Assistant, we’ve been seeing a lot of questions regarding how they’re different from current Bluetooth headphones that have an “action” button that triggers the Assistant. We have a few ideas about that.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Back in May, Nest announced the Nest Cam IQ — a high-end security camera that records in 4K and features smart detection features that leverage machine learning. Along with the launch of an “Outdoor” model today, the now dubbed “Indoor” variant will soon be updated with the Google Assistant.

Expand
Expanding
Close