While Apple has Siri and Amazon Alexa, there's a third major player in the voice assistant game: Google's voice-activated effort, the Google Assistant. It may not have captured the public imagination in the same way as its counterparts, and Alexa in particular, but it's no less useful. In fact, this handy little tool can do some things that most users don't even know it can do. So, to make sure you get the most out of your trusted voice-activated partner, we've rounded up nine handy, but not necessarily obvious, features of the Google Assistant that will make it really useful in the heap. unexpected situations.
1. Find your way home (and check for traffic updates)
By relying on the vast amount of information contained in the Google search engine, the Google Assistant has many potential uses, including the ability to find the best route to a particular location. Just say "Take me home" and you'll get information from Google Maps to show (or tell) you the best route based on your current location. You can also use the voice-activated feature to check for traffic updates and get the latest information on detours and closures. This feature is especially useful if you mainly use the Google Assistant on the go.
After all, the Google Assistant has been designed to help you. So it makes sense that you can do something as banal (but important) as make a shopping list with your voice. No more searching for a piece of paper (only to lose it) or grab one of your erasers, just say "Add (item) to my shopping list". Google Assistant not only collects all these items in one place, but also reads what's on your saved list to make sure you don't miss a thing, so you can spend less time worrying about your day.
3. Listen to the latest news.
Most of us are so busy these days that even taking the time to browse the latest news on Twitter or your chosen RSS feed can feel like a drain on your time. So why not use the Google Assistant to read them for you? This isn't an obvious feature, but if you say "read the news," the assistant will start reading stories from your favorite sources. You can ask it to stop, take a break and play at any time, and even ask it to read stories from a specific source or specialized media site. If you're running around the house looking for your keys while grabbing a toast before work, this is a great way to keep up.
4. Control your smart home
Image Credit: Google / TechRadar If you're like us and have started adding more and more smart appliances to your home, whether it's thermostats, light bulbs or pre-heating ovens, you can use the Google Assistant. to connect to her with one voice. controlled hub. Open the Google Assistant, tap the menu icon in the top right corner of the screen and select Settings. From there, you can add any compatible smart devices (and many devices are compatible) that are currently active in the home. From Philips Hue light bulbs to Honeywell thermostats, many devices respond to your voice-activated controls.
5. Convert money, measurements, and more.
Whether you want to know how many dollars you can get in the pound or how many inches are in a mile, you can trust your voice-activated server to do the math for you. The Google Assistant can perform almost any conversion calculation and read the answer. The same goes for translations. If you're wondering what the Swedish word for “Hello” is, just say “What is the Swedish word for “Hello” and the assistant will instantly respond with the correct answer: “Hej!
6. Filter your phone calls
Google Pixel 3 XL (Image credit: Google) Tired of receiving impromptu calls from automated messages and companies trying to sell you a questionable service? Google Assistant can help you too. If you have a Google Pixel 3 or Pixel 3 XL, the voice-activated service includes a feature that answers certain calls on your behalf. This is one of the many ways that Google is evolving as Assistant, with the call screen feature allowing you to exit Assistant to answer the call and even record a transcript of the conversation to review later. Telemarketers beware...
7. Put your favorite shows on hold on Netflix
A promotional image for the Netflix anthology series Black Mirror (Image credit: Netflix) Netflix has spread to most of our smart devices. Whether you're still in tears over Daredevil's cancellation or looking for a laugh or two at Brooklyn Nine-Nine, the Google Assistant can help connect you to your favorite TV shows and movies, all with voice commands. Just say, for example, "Play Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle on Netflix" and as long as Netflix is set up on your Android device, you're connected to the app, and you've connected it, Google Assistant queues up the movie/show. and start playing it in seconds. It's more convenient on a Google Assistant TV than on other devices, but it's a simple way to bring up a movie to watch on your phone.
8. Check appointments and emails.
If you use the Google Assistant, chances are you're using some of Google's other services, like Gmail and Google Drive. Why not use the Assistant to connect to some of these apps? If you use Gmail as a work account, you can ask the utility to check certain keywords in your emails or see an appointment added to your Calendar app. You can even use the Google Assistant to take notes with Google Keep if you need to quickly rate a thought or idea while you're busy with other tasks. This feature is especially useful if you need to update new emails that you haven't read yet or need to reply to.
9. Let the magician entertain you
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Are you struggling to find someone to enjoy a quick match with? Want to test your gray matter while you have a few minutes to spare? Google Assistant can help you in both cases by challenging you to a game of solitaire or naughty and cross / tic-tac-toe. You can also tell it jokes or puns, and even read an inspirational quote or message if you need a little motivation, you can even ask the Assistant to find something funny. to view currently watching videos on YouTube. .
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