Google is taking on Amazon and its massive line of Echo products with the introduction of the Google Home Hub, which features a video screen. The Google Home Hub is similar to Amazon’s Echo Show, though there are a few notable differences.
The Google Home Hub has hit the market, and it’s a nice evolution for those that have built their smart homes around a Google interface. The device boasts “help at a glance” thanks to a video screen – a first for Google’s smart home line.
The Google Home Hub is smaller than the Echo Show, and it lacks a camera (though for some people that is a plus). It is priced at $150, which is about $80 less than the Echo Show. It is available in four colors: chalk, charcoal, aqua, and sand.
Here are some of the main features of the new device:
Routines
- Personalized morning routines can display your schedule, information about your commute, task reminders and more with a simple prompt.
- Evening routines give you an easy way to wind down for the night, without having to go through a long checklist. Just give the voice command, and your Google Home set up can do things like lock the doors, set alarms, and turn off lights.
- All-Day help is available on the home screen also, giving you access to recipes, timers, tips for using Google Assistant, and recommendations, including YouTube videos.
One View
- You can use the Google Home Hub to connect and control compatible devices – and you’ll have thousands to choose from, including cameras, thermostats, lights, and even TVs.
Visual Answers
- With a simple voice command, you can get enhanced answers. With the built-in screen, you’ll get immersive answers that can include pictures of local business store fronts, how-to videos for recipes, and highlights for sports inquires.
Entertainment
- The Google Home Hub isn’t just helpful – it’s also entertaining. You can stream music from Spotify, Pandora, and iHeartRadio, and you can listen to and watch music videos on YouTube. You can also access and display images from Google Photos.
Once you get your Google Home Hub, the hardest thing you’ll have to do is decide where to put it. Since there is no camera, the device could easily be incorporated into a bedroom. It could serve as an alarm clock, a bedside TV, and a morning productivity buddy. If having a smart device in your bedroom still weirds you out, you might consider placing this in the kitchen so that you have access to helpful and detailed recipes for the holidays, or just for everyday meals. It also works well in a shared living space, since it can be used as a digital photo frame as well. You may want to consider getting more than one of these things!
No matter where you decide to set up your Google Home Hub, consider getting some additional Google Home devices, as well as compatible products, to take your smart home to the next level.
