Auto-made Google Home: How the old phone becomes a smart speaker

Bringing Old Devices Back to Life

Google Home's smart speaker announces news or weather, turns off kitchen lights, or plays your favorite song. With 149 euros, the smart speaker but also no business. We'll show you how to turn your old smartphone into Google Home in no time.

Smart speakers like Google Home or Amazon Echo are on everyone's lips. Not everyone is willing to spend 100 euros and more for these gadgets. But you do not have to, you can also build a Smart Speaker yourself. Finally, the voice badistants that are used in the speakerphone "feel" at home on the smartphone. Here's how to turn your old phone and speaker into a Google Home brand.

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To turn your old smartphone into a smart speaker, you need a cell phone with the Google Assistant. Although some features can also be managed through the Google Now predecessor, the wizard is much smarter. The service is available for Android 5.0 Lollipop smartphones with at least 1.5 gigabytes of free memory and an HD screen.

Generally, the wizard is automatically installed on your smartphone via the update. If this is not the case, you can also install the application via Google Play.

You need these applications

In addition to the Google Assistant, you also need to install some apps to emulate as many Google Home features as possible with your self-made smart speaker. If you want to hear online radio on the speaker, you need the free TuneIn application. Alternatively, the music can also be heard via various streaming services. Google Assistant currently serves Spotify, Deezer and Google Play Music.

If you want to control your smart home with the self-made speaker, then you must also install the applications from your respective provider. Of course, all the mentioned applications must be configured before the first use of the Smart Speaker and, if necessary, coupled with the devices to be controlled.

You must enable these settings

If all applications are installed, you will need to make a few adjustments to have the smartphone listen to your word. First, open the Google app on your smartphone. Then press "Settings" and select "Language" from the following menu. Then press the "Voice Match" menu item.

If you have not yet deposited your vote in the Google Assistant, you must fix it now. Follow the instructions on the screen. Then activate the options "Access with voice correspondence" and "Unlock with voice correspondence". All the steps we have summarized for you in the media gallery.

Connect devices

If you have all the settings, you can start. Connect your smartphone to your Wi-Fi, a power outlet and a speaker. The connection to the speaker can be via Bluetooth, jack or USB C. The speaker must or must of course also be powered.

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For those who prefer something extraordinary, you can also order a smartphone docking station with bluetooth speaker integrated. Appropriate solutions can be found on the internet for around 25 euros.

Restrictions

Many older Android smartphones do not allow access to the Google Assistant for lack of computing power when the screen is turned off. It's obviously boring. However, the problem can be addressed as follows:

• Some devices already have their smartphones plugged in.
• You choose the longest time before the screen turns off.

You have sometimes configured unlocking methods such as PIN, pbadword, fingerprint or pattern. Problems with access to the brand Self-made Smart Speaker. If you are using the cellphone only at home, we recommend that you turn it off.

The microphones of older smartphones are very small compared to those used in real Wi-Fi speakers, so you should speak as loud as you can or be near the speaker. In the test, we were able to get away up to half a meter from our self-built Google Home. The Self-made Speaker brand is therefore particularly suitable for use in small rooms (bathroom, kitchen, study) or for testing purposes.

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Information about the article

This article has been used with the tags
Mobile, Smartphone, Speaker, Google Home and Google Assistant.