Google introduced the Home smart speaker back in 2016, amid fierce competition from Amazon’s Alexa. We wrote about what distinguishes them from each other in our blog, and today, we’d like to talk about the quirky features that make Google Home fun.
Did you know that Google Home has a whole team dedicated to developing the device’s personality? Neither did we. Lead by Ryan Germick, (who also manages the team responsible for Google’s doodles), and including writers from Pixar and The Onion, the team has created a range of entertaining, quirky features that really make it stand out.
So what fun things can you do with your Google Home?
1. Remember stuff
For the forgetful among you, this is essential. While it might not be the most fun feature on this list, if you’ve ever found yourself frantically searching for your passport the day before a flight, worry not – Google has your back.
Say something like, “OK Google, remember my passport is in the third kitchen drawer next to the washing machine.” When you need to find it in the future, say “OK Google, where’s my passport?” and you’ll be helpfully pointed to the exact location, and what date you originally asked Assistant to remember.
2. Questions, jokes, and trivia
It’s not known how many individual responses Assistant has, as Google has never released a full list. Needless to say, it’s probably somewhere between many and lots – some probably haven’t even been discovered yet.
Here’s a small sample of fun questions you can ask Assistant:
- Can you sing a song?
- What’s the meaning of life?
- Can you tell me an interesting fact?
- Do you know Cortana?
- Can you make me a sandwich?
- Can you tell me what you want, what you really, really want?
- What is your voice?
- What are you wearing?
3. Games and kids’ stuff
The smart speaker comes preloaded with a bunch of games to while away rainy afternoons. There are guessing games, adventures games, math and number games, and a host of trivia games where Assistant will act as your game show host.
Here are a few examples:
- 21 Blackjack, the gambling classic; try to hit 21 without going bust.
- Guess My Age, where Assistant will ask you questions and try to guess how old you are.
- 6 Swords, a game based on the first edition of Dungeons & Dragons, where you and up to six friends can explore cities, castles, and dungeons.
- Mad Libs, the classic game where you fill in the blanks with the funniest word you can.
- Number Recall, a sequence of numbers which you have to recall back, and every time you get it right, the sequence gets longer.
Google has added a whole collection of apps designed especially for children, including stories like the classic fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood, and more postmodern pieces like The Chef Who Loved Potatoes.
Assistant also comes packed full of children’s games, so they can keep themselves entertained while you, presumably, hide in the kitchen drinking cocktails, and looking for your passport. Some examples include:
- Talk Like a Chef, where they learn foodie phrases and facts.
- Sporcle Junior, a fun quiz for kids, presumably about sporks.
- National Geographic Bee, which will test their knowledge of places across the globe.
- Tricky Genie, where you are told a tale and asked for ways to help the characters.
- The brilliantly named Ding Dong Coconut is a wacky party game which tests their memory by matching sounds to random words.
Google Home is packed with fun features, and who knows, you might even find a few new ones yourself! Experiment, have fun, and let us know if you find something cool.
