New Google Home Speaker?
Author
Discussion

Acuity31

Original Poster:

373 posts

11 months

Wednesday 12th August
quotequote all
Has anyone picked up the latest gen?
I use Gemini on my phone to turn lights on and off and it works well, but it often doesn't hear me properly because, well it's a phone. So I was thinking of picking up the latest Google Home speaker which was designed for gemini, just to follow basic commands 'turn living room light on, set it to 50% brightness' and the like.
For £100 i'd hope it's good, ideally with a reasonable listening range

AlexC1981

5,796 posts

247 months

Thursday 13th August
quotequote all
I haven't because the old devices still work quite well and have been upgraded with Gemini. On that basis, I expect the new model will be fine. The listening range of the speakers seems better than my Hub Max (combined speaker and screen).

I have various types dotted around the house. There is an option in the software to reduce or enhance the listening range. I reduced mine because I'd ask one a question and one in the next room would sometimes answer instead.

They work well with my smart bulbs, Nest thermostat and doorbell. Handy for the random questions that pop into your head when cooking or getting jobs done around the house and you can't be bothered to stop and search. It's much better for this since the Gemini upgrade.

Edited by AlexC1981 on Thursday 13th August 07:09

the-norseman

15,828 posts

201 months

Friday 14th August
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Not the newest one but we have the home hub max in the kitchen and the older home hub in the bedroom which are both use for a mix of Spotify, turn the lights off, set the heating, whats the weather etc.

All of them have got better since Gemini came on them over assistant.

Acuity31

Original Poster:

373 posts

11 months

Wednesday 26th August
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So I got a Nest Mini 2nd gen in the end as after some research, the new speaker doesn't really offer better performance since they both supposedly support Gemini.
Only thing is the device isn't running Gemini currently. It's just using Google Assistant, unlike my phone which is running gemini.
I've followed all the steps to get it to run Gemini but it still isn't. Maybe it takes a few days I'm not sure?

AlexC1981

5,796 posts

247 months

Wednesday 26th August
quotequote all
You need the Google Home app on your phone. Click on your profile top right, then click on Home Settings and look for something about Gemini in there. You might have to click on early access features.

Acuity31

Original Poster:

373 posts

11 months

Thursday 27th August
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Did all the steps for early access etc but still wasn't updating. Signed up to the free month of home premium which allowed me to access a human customer support, who said it is still being rolled out in stages across the UK so it's just a case of waiting. Also sent a feedback request so hopefully wont take long as the basic assistant is crap compared to Gemini

Acuity31

Original Poster:

373 posts

11 months

Monday 31st August
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Took a few days but Google sent me the update this morning. All working well. Much better system than the basic home assistant. It can be a little bit slower actually carrying out an action but the ability to request several things in one sentence and have it do them all at once negates that.