Google Assistant

Google Assistant is prepping to expand in a big way this year. We’re expecting new hardware directly from Google, but today third-party manufacturers have announced new hardware that brings Google Assistant to a wider ecosystem. Earlier today we saw Mobvoi’s TicHome Mini, but Google’s partners aren’t stopping there.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Google Assistant’s answer to the Amazon Echo arrived in the form of the Google Home last year, but to this day it remains the only option on the market. It’s a great option which is well priced, but for some, a form factor like that of the Amazon Echo Dot would be a better choice. Thanks to Mobvoi, Google Assistant is finally getting that option.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Thanks to last week’s Google app teardown, we gained a much clearer understanding of “Bisto,” its features, and how they function. These Google Assistant-running Bluetooth headphones will likely adopt an OEM model, with one possible form factor featuring an over-the-ear design.

Another look at the strings suggests that three devices are in the works and reveal their possible codenames.

Expand
Expanding
Close

When it comes to virtual assistants, the Google Assistant has quickly grown to be one of the best the market currently has to offer. That might sound a little biased considering the nature of our site, but when compared to the likes of Siri, Alexa, and others, Google has the upper-hand in many key areas — that is, unless you’re talking third-party integration.

Thankfully, with the Android 8.0 Oreo update, this won’t be the case any longer.

Expand
Expanding
Close

The latest beta of the Google app on Monday yielded a wealth of information about “Bisto.” First encountered in April as a new device type possibly related to headphones, this teardown confirmed it and detailed features, functionality, and operation.

Expand
Expanding
Close

At the second annual Google for Indonesia event today, the company announced a slew of updates coming to the country. Major production additions include Assistant now working in Bahasa Indonesia and YouTube Go, while Google also announced a number of humanitarian programs.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Before all of the excitement surrounding the announcement of Android Oreo, we tore down the latest Google application and found strings in the code that hinted that the mysterious “Bisto” device might actually be a pair of Assistant-powered headphones.

Would you purchase headphones from Google if they featured Assistant built-in?

Expand
Expanding
Close

When someone buys a car from Genesis, they’re given three complimentary years of the company’s “Connected Services.” These services include the ability to remotely lock, unlock, start the vehicle, and much more. Announced today, users will now be able to control their Genesis cars through Google Assistant on smartphones and Google Home…

Expand
Expanding
Close

Android Wear 2.0 brought a lot of big changes to Google’s wearable version of the Android OS — one of those highlights being Google Assistant. Unfortunately, a lot of Android Wear users are now reporting a bug that essentially renders the Google Assistant useless…

Expand
Expanding
Close

Back at Google’s developer conference, it was announced that the company would update the Home to allow for phone calls to be made through the smart speaker. Thanks to a teardown of the most recent Google app, we know that we are now one day closer to that functionality becoming available.

Do you plan to use your Google Home to make phone calls?

Expand
Expanding
Close

Actions on Google first launched on Google Home in December of last year before expanding to Android and iOS at I/O 2017 in May. Those launches were mostly local to the US, but Google is today making them available in British English for the United Kingdom.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Over the last couple of months, we have seen more and more code commits to the Chrome OS project that hint at the addition of Google Assistant and new keyboard function keys. Now, a screenshot has leaked which appears to show how Google plans to update the Chromebook keyboard layout…

Expand
Expanding
Close

Last week, we reported that commits throughout code for Chrome OS had been spotted that revealed the incoming launch of Google Assistant on Chrome OS. This was evident thanks to code referring to keyboard shortcuts that would allow the Assistant to be prompted.

Now, yet another commit has been spotted that further reiterates Google Assistant’s imminent launch on the operating system.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Google Assistant debuted last year in an ever-competitive market. With Amazon’s Alexa dominating the game, it had a ton of ground to make up for. In yesterday’s Alphabet earnings call, Google CEO (and recently appointed Alphabet board member) Sundar Pichai made mention of how many Assistant devices are now available, and it’s a pretty incredible statistic.

Expand
Expanding
Close

We’ve been hearing a ton of new details lately regarding the upcoming launch of Google Assistant on Chrome OS, and recently, more and more moves are being made behind-the-scenes to prepare for the change. Today, it’s been discovered that Google has tossed out the current hotword support on Chromebooks to make way for the Assistant.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Late last month a new commit in Chrome OS’s code gave us a hint that Google was working on a new high-end Chromebook called “Eve.” Along with it, code was found that hinted at Google Assistant coming to Chrome OS and a dedicated physical button to launch it. New code commits have now been discovered that point to a keyboard shortcut for launching Assistant on older Chromebooks as well as new top-row keyboard shortcuts…

Expand
Expanding
Close

Following a Canadian release last month, Google Home is continuing its international expansion with upcoming launches in Germany and Australia. Availability in the latter country is being coupled with Google Wifi and taking place this week, while Germany will have to wait until early August.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Since launching late last year on the Google Home and Pixel handsets, the Google Assistant has gotten smarter and has gained more functionality. Unfortunately, there have been some bugs along the way. The latest issue that is currently plaguing the virtual assistant is the ability to accurately tell the time in Arizona, in which Assistant believes the state to be on the East Coast…

Expand
Expanding
Close