Google joins race for robotic assistants with ‘Home’
Google joins race for robotic assistants with ‘Home’
The future of smart home tech is an interactive voice-box
Alexa, meet Home.
Thanks to Google, tech-forward homeowners now have something else to drool upon besides the Amazon Echo.
On 18 May, the technology company unveiled Google Home, an Internet-connected speaker that performs a myriad of tasks from switching lights to streaming music, all at the prompt of your voice.
In keeping with Google’s core business, the device lets users perform intuitive Google searches by so much as asking. In short, the speaker will basically answer you back.
This will not set the device apart too much from Amazon’s own smart device, the Echo, which currently retails for USD180.
Where the Echo is powered by Alexa, the sentient-like voice behind Amazon’s virtual assistant, Google is banking on its not-too-shabby database.
More: Here’s what happens when a former Google exec designs a smart home
In a test conducted by The New York Times, Google’s virtual assistant emerged as the most capable in terms of basic tasks.
Held with one hand by Mario Quieroz, vice-president for product development at Google, Home also appeared to be much shorter than Echo. Plus, the former will come in various colours, while Echo comes only in black.
Google has not disclosed the price tag for its own device, which is due to launch around fall in North America.
Amazon has made great strides in partnering with third parties, greatly enhancing Echo’s user experience. In addition to voice-controlled searches, Alexa can hail Uber cars and play tracks off Spotify.
Source: Property Report