Skip to main content

Google release new touch-screen Google Home


Well, that's a headline I long to read. Unfortunately, Google has lagged behind in the personal assistant device game for some time now. In September of this year, Amazon announced a plethora of new Alexa powered devices, which are now hitting stores.

  • The Echo Show, which enables video calling.
  • The Echo Look, which is intended for fashionistas.
  • The Echo Spot, which is like a really fancy alarm clock.
  • The Amazon Tap,  aka portable Echo.


We all hoped that the Google announcement a few weeks later would bring something exciting and disruptive to steal the thunder from Amazon, but unfortunately, we got a pebble (Google Home Mini), and large square speaker (Google Home Max), and some new colours for the existing air purifier (aka Google Home).
All extremely underwhelming. Sorry Google, but I was expecting video calling, I was expecting Youtube videos, I was hoping to search through my photos, I was at least expecting two-way communication between devices! I'm not saying I don't like the Google Home range, I have 6 of them dotted around the house, and as I've recently posted, the family love Google Home. I was just expecting so much more, especially with all the rumours around project "Manhattan" in September of a Google Home Smart Hub stating that:-
the device will offer YouTube, Google Assistant, Google Photos and video calling. It will also act as a smart hub that can control Nest and other smart home devices.
But there seems to be hope, in a recent article Variety revealed that Google is looking for someone to"work on the next generation of Google Hardware to enable the best multi-touch user experience".
Hopefully, this new role will help Google take the fight to Amazon, as the market for personal assistant devices heats up with Facebook and Apple also planning to release devices soon.

So Google, this is what I want to see in the next-gen Google Home range:-

  • Two-way conversation, including drop-in feature (like Amazon Echo)
  • Video calling (but please don't release yet another video calling app)
  • YouTube, Chrome, Maps integration etc.
  • Show my family photos 
  • Integration with G Suite accounts
  • An awesome family game



Comments

Popular posts from this blog

GDPR Compliance - The Sky Is Falling

Over the past few months, I've been speaking to more and more business owners about their concerns regarding GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), which becomes law on 25th May 2018. The concerns appear to come from misinformation and fake news over GDPR. There are the scaremongers, reporting on the increase fines that an organisation could face. While it's true GDPR has increased the levels of fines to 2% of an organisation’s global turnover, and for more severe incidents €20 million or 4% of turnover, whichever is the larger, it's unlikely that fines will rocket. Elizabeth Denham, the information commissioner for the UK, stated in a recent blog , it’s scaremongering to suggest that we’ll be making early examples of organisations for minor infringements or that maximum fines will become the norm. Denham continued to say that; " The ICO’s commitment to guiding, advising and educating organisations about how to comply with the law will not change under the GD

5 things you can do to improve cybersecurity

As I mentioned last year, phishing attacks are on the increase. Recent studies have shown that many small businesses are seriously underprepared to deal with a security breach. With its employees being a small businesses most valuable asset, it is important to understand how you can protect them and your business from a cyber attack. Here are the top five things you and your employees need to know about cybersecurity:- Cybersecurity knowledge Many users believe that all IT security is the responsibility of the IT staff, or that some magical shield has been implemented like a technological Patronus Charm which will save them from the bad guys. Unfortunately, many small businesses can't afford top security experts so it is important that employees understand they play a critical role in protecting your organisation. Employee training is the first line of defence against cyber-criminals. Make sure that all employees are have been correctly onboarded into your organisation. Make

What is the difference between Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

After my recent article in which I discussed the future of work , and how AI technology will be used to disrupt once safe traditional roles, I felt that an article explaining the difference between Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) was needed. Unfortunately, I realise that many people in the tech industry often use these hot buzzwords interchangeably. So here is my understanding of these terms and I hope it helps. Artificial Intelligence. You've probably already seen AI being incorrectly referenced on social media and in the news. Then thinking about AI think of it as a broad set of different technologies in which a computer is able to answer a question without being programmed to do so. Machine Learning is an application of AI which uses a large set of data and advanced statistical analysis in order for machines to determine the answer from previous similar question and answers. The way I see it, AI is more of a vision, a direction of travel with only a
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...