The kids and I recently had the chance to play with a Google Home for a few weeks, thanks to Verizon. We found out it was a really fun and useful gadget to have around the house.
This WiFi speaker device is powered by Google Home Assistant, and can do a wide variety of tasks from playing music (Google Play, Pandora, Spotify, etc.) to controlling your smart home devices (Chromecast, Nest and Philips Hue) and accessing anything you want to ask Google.
Setting up the Google Home device is simple. Plug it in and download the Google Home app to your phone or tablet. We were using our Google Home device within 5 minutes of opening the box.
[Tweet “See how @momfindsout and her kids use the Google Home device #SmartHome”]
Our Google Home spent many, many hours entertaining the kids. Kids love to ask questions, and Google Home never gets tired of answering them. She’d make a great parent in that regard! My kids also love to say, “Hey Google, tell me a joke” or the question that never gets old, “Hey Google, what does the fox say?” (They go into hysterical laughter every single time she answers that one.)
I like to use Google Home to hear the daily weather forecast and news, and to listen to music and podcasts. But Google Home can do much, much more than that. Learn more about Google Home at Verizon Wireless.
Once you get the hang of starting your questions to Google Home with the words, “Ok Google” or “Hey Google,” you will wish everything in your house was so easy to command. Smart home devices like this one can make routine tasks a hands-free breeze.
In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, the kids and I came up with a list of 5 things to ask Google Home. These questions are in some way related to St. Patrick’s Day and/or Ireland. They will help you to get an idea of the kinds of everyday tasks a Google Home can do for you.
5 Things To Ask Google Home on St. Patrick’s Day
1. “Ok Google, play U2 on [name of your streaming service]”
Use Google Home to play tunes from services like Spotify, YouTube Music, Pandora and more. You can also stream music from your phone to Google Home from 100+ Chromecast-enabled audio apps.
2. “OK Google, play The Secret of Kells on the [name of your linked TV].” *If the kids aren’t around, I recommend watching The Fall (British TV series filmed in Northern Ireland.)
Google Home makes watching streaming Netflix to your TV virtually hassle-free using Chromecast.
3. “Ok Google, add Corned Beef and Cabbage to my Shopping List.”
Google Home is always at the ready to be your personal assistant and instantly adds items to your Shopping List. You can also buy things when you shop hands-free with Google Express.
4. “Ok Google, how do I make Corned Beef and Cabbage?”
Google Home is helpful for cooks to have in the kitchen, especially when your hands are busy doing something else and you can’t use them to touch a device screen or cookbook.
5. “Ok Google, What’s a Leprechaun?”
Google Home has access to Google’s knowledge, so it can answer all sorts of questions, even trivial ones. Go ahead, ask Google. See if you can stump the Google Home.
Do you have a Google Home? How do you use your Google Home device?
