STACK #193 Nov 2020

LIFE TECH FEATURE

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Here's a handy idea to ask your Google Assistant that you may not have tried yet.

ECO FRIENDLY continued

choices ranging from the Google Nest Mini with its small but capable speaker through to the Google Nest Audio, which is made to deliver high quality sound. They also have siblings in the Google Nest Hub and Google Nest Hub Max, which each add handy touch screens to the smart assistant mix. Just place your

“Hey Google! What does X mean?” Whether you’re reading a webpage or a book, if you come across a word you don’t know the meaning of, just call out to Google and ask for a definition.

It’s much like programming a computer – but thankfully a whole lot simpler! For example, we have a scene that triggers when we groggily mumble, “Hey Google, good morning” each day. In turn it

wishes us a good morning by our name, tells us the day’s local weather forecast, turns on our kitchen light then plays the ABC news. When it comes to sleepy time, we simply say, ‘Hey Google, good night” and it delivers a personalised message wishing us a restful sleep and then makes sure all of the lights are turned off. When you live alone it can be nice to have somebody to talk to, even if they are a machine. Ultimately, scenes can be as simple or as complicated as you like, with the examples above easily expanded with such functionalities as controlling heating/cooling, playing your favourite tunes, turning devices such as an electric blanket on at night and off in the morning, and even setting that kettle boiling come morning coffee time.

device somewhere central, or you can have more than one dotted about your home and they’ll all get along with each other, and better than most real- life siblings! Why have a screen?

Google Home serves as a one-stop shop for setting up your smart devices – connecting their apps, allocating them to rooms in your home, controlling them manually from the app and setting up automated scenes. MAX POWER! The Google Nest Hub Max really is the big daddy of the Google Assistant family, packing a whole lot of power into one very attractive device. Available in pleasingly neutral either chalk or charcoal colours, it delivers all the benefits of Google Assistant with top quality 2.1 channel sound for your banging tunes, and a high-resolution screen that’s perfect for staying in touch via video calls. It also features built-in Chromecast (see our ‘Casting Call’ section) and even a Nest security camera, so you can check in on your home from

4 MOVIE SMART ASSISTANTS WE DON’T SUGGEST MESSING WITH…

Instead of just hearing the news and weather you can watch it. Instead of having a recipe read out to you, you can watch how it’s done. Or, why not have it display your family photos while idle? You can also use any of the Nest Hub family to catch up on the latest YouTube sensations, stream your favourite content or even monitor your smart home security cameras. IT’S TIME! Fully Google Assistant compatible smart devices are also available from manufacturers other than Google themselves. Lenovo, for example, have a nifty range of Smart Clocks and Smart Displays. Available in various sizes, they also allow one-stop app linking to the extended range of Lenovo smart devices, including light bulbs, plugs, motion sensors and cameras. The Smart Clock Essential is the newest member of the Lenovo

HAL – 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) Edgar – Electric Dreams (1984) VIKI – I, Robot (2004) GERTY – Moon (2009)

FEATHERING YOUR NEST WITH GOOGLE ASSISTANT Google’s range of smart products is expanding regularly, offering all the handiness of their Google Assistant with other helpful features. Whether your smartphone is Android or iOS based, the easy-to-navigate Google Home app will have your home’s IQ climbing into smart territory quick, well, smart!

wherever you may be via your mobile. The excellent and aesthetically pleasing Nest Hub Max is the consummate hub from where you can simply control your entire smart home ecosystem. GOOGLE NEST The first stop for many on their smart home journey, the Google Nest family offers

smart family, and as its name suggests it

concentrates on being the best clock that it can be, while also delivering the Google Assistant benefits that you expect from such

a device. The Smart Clock Essential will do everything from answering a simple question to playing your favourite music to controlling your other home devices. With a big, friendly, classically-styled digital display it’s easily readable from across a room, and even features a handy built-in nightlight to help save you from going bump if you happen to get up during the night.

Here's a handy idea to ask your Google Assistant that you may not have tried yet.

MANNERS MAKETH HUMAN When your Google Assistant does something for you, try thanking it afterwards.

“Hey Google! Did my team win?” Missed the results of your team’s latest game? Google Assistant knows the score.

NOVEMBER 2020

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