Google I/O 2017: Assistant on iOS, Bluetooth Streaming on Google Home, and Easy Sharing With Photos

[cfedu]

The “assisted” home is clearly a two-person race between Google and Amazon now...but I personally find one major flaw in Google’s Home Speaker/Chromecast pairing...Unles I am missing something, doesn't the TV already have to be ON for you to get your queries answered? Speaking for myself, if the TV is turned on, then it’s because I’m watching something already...and if it isn’t, then I’ll need to reach for the remote, and by that point I might as well reach for my phone...right? Until the TV’s have their assistants built-in from the factory and are “always in standby”, ready to show you your agenda or whatever, then go right back to sleep, I am NOT sold. An interim alternative: Have the tiny speakers come with a short-throw projector that throws your answer onto the wall behind it, in those cases when a visual is desired/needed.

Tv does not need to be on, just say "play YouTube videos on tv" and it will turn it on, put it to the correct input and play the video. That being said it does have to be a newer tv with CEC which most tvs in the last 10 years will have.
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I'm in the process of switching back to Android (trialing an S8+)...Google is making it hard.

Why would I when they keep putting their apps on iOS? Guess I'll stay here...

I would ditch my iPhone in a second if google had no apps for iOS. The only reason I'm using iOS in the first place is because I got a free iPhone SE.

 

[C DM]

That's an iOS limitation enforced by Tim Cook to take away the freedom of choosing your own default apps.

What does that have to do with that? You can open Chrome or Google Maps from the Gmail app just fine, for example.

 

[RodoBobJon]

Tv does not need to be on, just say "play YouTube videos on tv" and it will turn it on, put it to the correct input and play the video. That being said it does have to be a newer tv with CEC which most tvs in the last 10 years will have.

I've never had a TV where CEC was reliable. It's a complete crapshoot whether the TV will turn on when the peripheral turns on. In my opinion, no tech should depend on CEC for its primary functionality.

 

[cfedu]

I've never had a TV where CEC was reliable. It's a complete crapshoot whether the TV will turn on when the peripheral turns on. In my opinion, no tech should depend on CEC for its primary functionality.

Not sure what application with CEC that you were having trouble with, but google chrome works on both my older TV's. I'm happy I did not have to spend money to upgrade my setup. The problem with CEC is that manufacturers use different implementations, but for a simple device like google chrome, I'm sure it would work in most scenarios. Another option would be to get a harmony hub, which would still be cheaper than getting a brand new TV.

 

[patseguin]

I genuinely don't see the point of Google Home. Is it too hard to use your phone or computer for that sort of thing?

The Google Home is always there in that one place listening. If I am sitting in my recliner watching TV and my phone is not text to me, I have to get up and go find it and then ask Siri something. The Google Home is a stationary device which for me makes it very useful even though I have an iPhone. Plus it does thing Siri doesn't like control my Nest thermostat and control my home theatre components.

 

[usamaah]

What does that have to do with that? You can open Chrome or Google Maps from the Gmail app just fine, for example.

On app can link to another app (Gmail > Maps, or Gmail > Chrome), but "default" apps cannot be changed. When you ask Siri to do a task ("email my mom") it will use the default mail app (which is Mail). You can ask Siri to "open Chrome" but if say "open www.apple.com" it will open it in Safari, because you cannot change the default browser.

Android let's you change default apps, so if I say "open www.apple.com" it can be opened with Firefox or whatever I have set as the default app.

Android values open, iOS values security (Apple, where they argue they only want their apps as default for security reasons).

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I've never had a TV where CEC was reliable. It's a complete crapshoot whether the TV will turn on when the peripheral turns on. In my opinion, no tech should depend on CEC for its primary functionality.

Having Home throw a video onto the TV using Chromecast is not either device's primary function. These are two distinct devices that have their own purpose, and Google is connecting the two to make our life easier.

That being said, I've been pleasantly surprised by how well it works when it does. I have a Sony Android TV in the living room and a cheap no brand Roku TV in the kitchen, both with Chromecast, and the Sony Android TV appropriately turns on but the Roku TV will turn on but not switch to the right HDMI port. At my parents' home, the cheap Toshiba TV, the nice Vizio TV and the nice LG TV both work appropriately with Chromecast and switch on and to the right input.

Anyway the scenario you gave is a reasonable one. But also let's say you're watching cable TV then decide you want to watch Netflix or YouTube; you can use Home + Chromecast and the TV will automatically switch to the right input (since the TV is already on), and this is potentially better than reaching for the remote or your phone.

 

[C DM]

On app can link to another app (Gmail > Maps, or Gmail > Chrome), but "default" apps cannot be changed. When you ask Siri to do a task ("email my mom") it will use the default mail app (which is Mail). You can ask Siri to "open Chrome" but if say "open www.apple.com" it will open it in Safari, because you cannot change the default browser.

Android let's you change default apps, so if I say "open www.apple.com" it can be opened with Firefox or whatever I have set as the default app.

Android values open, iOS values security (Apple, where they argue they only want their apps as default for security reasons).

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Having Home throw a video onto the TV using Chromecast is not either device's primary function. These are two distinct devices that have their own purpose, and Google is connecting the two to make our life easier.

That being said, I've been pleasantly surprised by how well it works when it does. I have a Sony Android TV in the living room and a cheap no brand Roku TV in the kitchen, both with Chromecast, and the Sony Android TV appropriately turns on but the Roku TV will turn on but not switch to the right HDMI port. At my parents' home, the cheap Toshiba TV, the nice Vizio TV and the nice LG TV both work appropriately with Chromecast and switch on and to the right input.

Anyway the scenario you gave is a reasonable one. But also let's say you're watching cable TV then decide you want to watch Netflix or YouTube; you can use Home + Chromecast and the TV will automatically switch to the right input (since the TV is already on), and this is potentially better than reaching for the remote or your phone.

Yes, there's the whole piece about "default" apps, but that wasn't quite what was originally brought up, simply what was deflected to (simply for the sake of just another dig at Apple/Tim), which is what I commented on.