It may have taken almost a year, but Google’s most impressive product yet is finally available in Australia this week – Google Home will be available for $199 from Thursday.
This is just the start of the digital assistant wars, with Amazon expected to enter Australia likely to bring their Echo assistant, and Apple’s HomePod with Siri coming at the end of the year.
Why? Because we can. Talk to your assistant – in this case Google Home and do some research. How long does it take to boil an egg? Turn on Netflix, Turn off all the lights – these and many many more things are possible simply by waking up your Google Home with two magic words : “Ok Google”.
Google Home will greet you at the start of the day, can tell you what’s in your diary and even read you the news from Fox Sports, ABC, The Aus, Huff Post and Sky News.
Plus, everyone in the house can do it. Up to six accounts can be linked to one device, with voice recognition used to determine who’s talking.
The delay, in part, is due to the customisation of the device for Australia. Google Home has an Aussie voice, and knows what the “servo” is and can help you with “brekkie” ideas.
At the same time, on Thursday, and for the same price, Google is also launching Google WiFi. A mesh WiFi system in the same style as the Netgear Orbi and Linksys Velop, building a large WiFI network around your home.
Google Wifi is also $199, or $499 for a three pack, making it outstanding value compared to the competition – though we haven’t tested the range at this stage.
You’ll find both at Officeworks, JB Hi-Fi, Harvey Norman and the Good Guys, as well as Telstra and Optus stores, and of course online at the Google Store from Thursday.
