As you speak, your query will appear as text on the screen. When you launch Google Assistant it will be immediately listening for your query, as indicated by four moving coloured dots (see Fig 1 above). Or, if you have voice activation enabled you can say the “ OK Google” command and the Google Assistant window will open, Fig 1.Pressing and holding the ‘ Home’ button until the Google Assistant window appears.If your device has Google Assistant installed you can launch it by:
Using Google Assistant Launching Google Assistant Examples of what Google Assistant can do.From there, pair your Google speaker with your Amazon speaker to enjoy hi-fidelity sound from your stereo speakers. Just open the Google Home app and tap Settings > Device settings > Default music player > Enable pairing mode. From there, it's a breeze to connect your Google Home to the Echo Dot with Bluetooth. The fix: I hate to lean on Alexa again, but this works about as well (and for as little money) as anything: I picked up a couple of older second-gen Echo Dots ( $40 at Target) from Amazon Warehouse Deals, which I plugged into two sets of high-quality speakers. Unlike any Google Home speakers, Amazon Echo has an aux out port.
Google Home devices have no such ports, which means the only way to connect them with an external audio source is via Bluetooth. The problem: Even though phone-makers have all but eliminated the humble 3.5mm headphone jack from smartphones, Amazon Echo devices still have an audio output port for delivering audio to a more capable stereo system.
HOW TO NOT INSTALL GOOGLE ASSISTANT ANDROID
Whether you have any Amazon Echo devices or not, you can download the Alexa app and set up location triggers on your Android phone or iPhone. The fix: A good assistant should know where I am - wherever I am - and behave accordingly, so until Google implements full-blown location-based triggers I'm furtively using the Alexa app on my iPhone. So when you leave work, for example, or arrive at school, you can have Alexa execute a sequence of commands like adjusting your thermostat or turning on the lights. Alexa lets you set up as many routines as you want with location triggers for pretty much any coordinates on the globe. Problem is there's only one home routine and one away routine, and that's the extent of location triggers. Then, finally, Google added home and away routines. The problem: You can set up a Google Home Routine to do just about anything, and for awhile the only way to trigger it was with a voice command. Google Assistant still cannot trigger a routine based on any location, even though Google always knows where you are if you're using Google Maps. Where are the (other) Google Home location triggers?
Basically, it hears you and wakes up to listen, but then promptly ignores whatever command you issue if you use some of these alternatives. This is especially apparent when using them with a Google Home smart display like a Nest Hub, which lets you know it's listening with an onscreen animation. Update: Google appears to have caught on to some of these alternative pronunciations, specifically the one invoking an original ingredient of Coca-Cola. "Hey, Boo Boo" remains my go-to, but I've also used "OK, Frugal," "Egg Noodle," "Go Lay Doo-Doo" and my all-time favorite: "Cocaine Poodle." The fix: Even though Google won't let you choose a different wake word, you can manipulate Google Home's imperfect ear by using similar-sounding words to summon Google Assistant. Alexa lets you choose from several wake word options ("Amazon," "Computer," "Echo"). Don't even get me started on Google being the name of the device (Google Home Max), the AI (Google Assistant), the technology that powers the AI (Google search and services) and the company that owns it all (Google). The problem: "OK, Google" just feels awkward and clumsy to me, and "Hey, Google" is no better. Hey, Boo Boo, can I get a different wake word? "Hey, Google" doesn't exactly roll off the tongue as easily as, say, "Alexa." Until then, here are my top three Google Home pet peeves what I do to work around them. I know you can never expect anyone to change just for you, but that's one thing I love about Google Assistant - Google is constantly evolving the technology. And worse, it's starting to come across in my attitude when I talk to Google Assistant. I'm not saying we need relationship counseling just yet, but my list of pet peeves has grown frustratingly long. You might even say the honeymoon phase is pretty much over at this point. As far as digital voice assistants go, I adore Google Home ( $75 at Walmart), I really do, but that doesn't mean our relationship is always coming up roses.