VA test: Google Home is so good that the search giant wants to "free up quality time"

The joy of missing, Jomo, instead of The fear of missing, Fomo.

Global Product Manager Chris Chan said Google's work with the voice-activated speaker, including Google Home Assistant, has been announced in light of the launch of the week in Sweden. After deploying Google Assistant in smartphones earlier this year, Google is the first to offer smart speakers in Sweden.

"It's not always about being first, it's about building the best product, we have leading products in their respective categories, and Google Home unites them in a unique way," he says. declared to Veckans Affärer.

Ikea, Spotify and Ica are companies that have already created features for Google Home – Ikea with a diminutive of voice-controlled lighting, Spotify as an alternative to Youtube Music and Ica with suggestions for tips for dinner.

Well to the proof.

I say "ok Google". It flashes four lights on a light gray round camera and I ask "what temperature is it today?"

The device responds with a voice that actually looks like a human, but that sounds metallic "it's five degrees here."

As a journalist, I have only tested a few products, but I realize that Chris Chan is probably right when he says that we are facing a paradigm shift in the use of the digital technology.

This change means that we are releasing time when we, instead of taking the plate or mobile phone, get more quality time with loved ones.

This is not a coincidence.

The big difference compared to when Apple's Iphone changed our way of using digital technology and that people were walking like zombies looking at their mobile, that's that Google has gained growing criticism that the computer giants have deliberately made us addicted.

"We're completely obsessed with milliseconds to reduce the response time of Google search so you can do something else, and with Google Home, we're at least as obsessed with helping the user free up quality time." said Chris Chan.

He describes how Google Home has helped him to devote more time to his favorite interest: playing drums. After studying computer science, he created a company comprising no less than the founder of Napster, among which investor Sean Parker and Chris Chan are convinced that his experience, combined with work with a capital-based company, risk, is focused on the influence of technology on consumer behavior. expert in the field.

I meet Chris Chan at the Google office at the Royal Bridge in Stockholm. I'm appearing in a room and sitting on the couch to show how the vocal command launches the Netflix "The Crown" series.

When Google Home was introduced to the United States, Nielsen analyst measurements quickly showed that whoever acquires a speaker in a room often buys more than others.

"The technology will be present in many parts of the house and will allow us to have more time to spend time with others instead of sitting and watching the screens."

Bearing in mind that Alpha Go's Alpha Go and Alpha Go Zero's suite have recently powdered any human resistance in the old Go board game, it seems like the number of issues that Google Home still needs is light years away before voice assistants even tackle the intelligence.

But on the other hand, what can you expect from a product where the big brother – Google Home – costs $ 199 in trade and the little brother – Google Home Mini – costs SEK 649.

Regardless of the obvious flaws, the close connection to Google Search nevertheless gives you a wonderful sense of freedom to write nothing in what you want to look for.

In addition, the link to Google Maps allows you to easily find the closest questions to the pizzeria and their extent. Regarding the important security issue for Google, discussions with several security companies along with the connection to Nest Camera cameras already allow remote monitoring of different rooms.

"There is no alarm, but you must also have staff that responds and sends cars.We do not intend to become a security company too", said Chris Chan.

For now, he's also aware of how Google Home can change business:

"Google Home has a lot of potential and we are currently in a testing phase where companies are trying to experiment with voice assistants to see how best to use them for their purposes."

Google Home was introduced in Sweden on October 24th:

– Google Home and Google Home Mini are both activated via the "Hey Google" or "Ok Google" voice command.
– You can schedule your day and define, for example, that you already want to receive news of everything from Ekot to Omni, the weather and a traffic update. However, Google Home has not yet connected to SL.
– Can, thanks to the integration of services such as Google Search and Google Maps, quickly and easily indicate where different restaurants are and how far they are.
– Can play music, for example, Youtube Music and Spotify.
– Through the Chromecast link, the automatic launch of movies and TV shows on Netflix or Viaplay spools is also controlled by voice.
– Connecting to the Nest Camera allows you to view photos directly on the TV or via the phone, for example in the garage.
– Can enter reminders to call parents, set as hours and add items to shopping lists and others
– Through third-party ICA integration, you can make hints tips for dinner and send recipes to your cell phone. When dinner is ready, Google Home can inform people in other rooms with Google Home.
– Google has also created a Google Actions development platform where businesses can develop their own Google Home features.