Neowin News Feed for: Assistant

Google finally combines Assistant and its Bard generative AI

Paul Hill — Wed, 04 Oct 2023 15:02:01 +0000

Google has announced Assistant with Bard where generative AI will finally arrive on Assistant. It's a natural step for Google to take and it should make Assistant much more useful. Read more...

Google shifting work from Assistant over to Bard as generative AI war heats up

Paul Hill — Thu, 30 Mar 2023 04:38:01 +0000

Google has done a shake-up of the Bard and Assistant teams, according to an internal memo. It suggests that Google is moving its focus away from the ageing Google Assistant to the newer Bard. Read more...

Facing issues with controlling lights via Google Home? You're not alone

Usama Jawad — Thu, 17 Feb 2022 15:16:01 +0000

Google is reportedly investigating some issues with its Assistant-powered Home devices not recognizing voice commands related to light controls. The problem apparently does not impact everyone. Read more...

Google will turn on SafeSearch by default for people under 18

Usama Jawad — Tue, 10 Aug 2021 15:38:47 +0000

In a bid to make the internet a safer space for teenagers, Google is making changes to many of its major products. SafeSearch will be enabled by default for teens and YouTube uploads will be private. Read more...

You can pick up a refurbished Echo Show 5 at up to $30 off

Steven Parker — Mon, 26 Jul 2021 16:00:01 +0000

With the launch of the 2nd gen Echo Show 5 kicking off last month, Amazon is now offering deals on surplus the 1st gen smart devices. You can get with or without stand at up to 36% off. Read more...

Google announces new family-focused Assistant features

Abhay V — Thu, 06 May 2021 17:28:02 +0000

With Mother's Day approaching, Google today announced new Assistant features such as cross-device broadcasts called Family Broadcasts, new Family Bell reminders, new stories for kids, more. Read more...

Google Assistant could let you perform quick tasks without saying 'Hey Google'

Jay Bonggolto — Sat, 24 Apr 2021 04:46:01 +0000

Google is reportedly working on a new feature for Assistant that will let you skip saying "Hey Google" when you want to perform quick tasks like answering a call or stopping an alarm. Read more...

Google unveils new Workspace features, Assistant's expansion, and more

Jay Bonggolto — Mon, 01 Mar 2021 22:00:01 +0000

Google announced today a bevy of new features for Workspace designed to help customers who opt for a remote work setup. Assistant features for Workspace are also exiting the beta testing phase. Read more...

Android Auto finally brings wallpaper support, adds a shortcut for Assistant actions

Abhay V — Thu, 11 Feb 2021 22:24:01 +0000

An Android Auto update has finally brought the ability for users to switch background wallpapers for the in-car screen. It also adds a shortcut button to access Assistant actions such as Routines. Read more...

Lenovo Smart Clock Essential review: Just buy a Smart Clock

Rich Woods — Sun, 15 Nov 2020 07:28:01 +0000

Lenovo's new Smart Clock Essential brings the Google Assistant-powered clock to an even lower price point, but you might be better off just getting a regular Lenovo Smart Clock with its LCD screen. Read more...

Lenovo Smart Clock Essential with Google Assistant unboxing and impressions

Rich Woods — Sat, 24 Oct 2020 14:00:01 +0000

Lenovo's new Smart Clock Essential is a smart speaker that fits inside of a regular old digital alarm clock, but it comes in at only $49, and built right into it is Google Assistant. Read more...

Google internally testing proximity-based Assistant activation for its smart displays

Abhay V — Wed, 21 Oct 2020 18:56:01 +0000

A new video posted on YouTube shows off a Nest Hub Max running an internal firmware that lets the user enable 'Blue Steel', the ability to trigger Google Assistant by just walking up to the device. Read more...

Google revamps its Smart Displays' UI, brings dark theme, new features, and more

Abhay V — Mon, 19 Oct 2020 17:50:01 +0000

Google unveiled a major redesign for its Assistant-enabled Smart Displays, bringing a new touch-friendly, tabbed UI, a bunch of new features like dark theme, multiple account support, and more. Read more...

Google working to let health apps integrate with Assistant for easier health tracking

Abhay V — Wed, 07 Oct 2020 21:46:01 +0000

Strings found in a teardown of the beta version of the Google app hint that the firm might be working to let the Assistant integrate with health services to provide sleep data and health suggestions. Read more...

Google unveils a redesigned security alert, Guest mode for Assistant, and more

Jay Bonggolto — Wed, 07 Oct 2020 20:50:01 +0000

Google unveiled a new way of delivering critical alerts to users when it detects security issues with their accounts. There's also new feature in Assistant meant for the privacy-conscious users. Read more...

Lenovo announces a premium Android tablet with an OLED display, a new Smart Clock, and more

Rich Woods — Mon, 31 Aug 2020 13:00:06 +0000

At IFA 2020 today, Lenovo announced a couple of new tablets, including its first premium tablet, which comes with a Snapdragon 730G processor, an QHD+ OLED display, pen support, and more. Read more...

Google Assistant gets Family Bell reminders, select room broadcasts, and more

Abhay V — Tue, 04 Aug 2020 18:56:01 +0000

Google is adding a few new features aimed towards kids, including Family Bell reminders for school schedules, the ability to broadcast to specific rooms, new smart display visuals, and more. Read more...

Google brings Assistant to Stadia gameplay on Chromecast

Paul Hill — Thu, 02 Jul 2020 03:16:01 +0000

Google has launched a new update for Stadia. It comes with several enhancements like State Share beta within the newly launched Crayta game, and the ability to use Assistant on Chromecast. Read more...

Lenovo's Smart Clock is on sale for half of its launch price on Best Buy

Usman Khan Lodhi — Sat, 30 May 2020 12:54:01 +0000

The smart home device can be purchased for $39.99 on Best Buy. It's powered by Google Assistant, which means you can use it to control your smart home, play music, answer queries, and more. Read more...

Google Assistant's sleep timer feature for media seems to be broken for some users

Abhay V — Fri, 01 May 2020 16:30:03 +0000

Increasing user reports on Reddit and Google's Forums suggest that the Google Assistant's sleep timer feature for smart speakers is broken. There are a couple of workarounds to get it to work. Read more...

New Roku OS update improves voice control, adds Google Assistant and Alexa support

João Carrasqueira — Tue, 31 Mar 2020 15:46:01 +0000

Roku has announced a new software update is coming to its streaming devices in the coming weeks, adding new voice control capabilities and support for Google and Amazon's digital assistants. Read more...

Lenovo Yoga Smart Tab review: An all-in-one personal entertainment device

Rich Woods — Sun, 08 Mar 2020 16:00:01 +0000

Lenovo's Yoga Smart Tab is a device that I like more than I thought I would. It's a standalone Google Assistant smart display, but it's also an Android tablet that has plenty of use cases. Read more...

Spotify is reportedly testing 'Hey Spotify' voice activation for its app

Abhay V — Thu, 05 Mar 2020 20:18:01 +0000

Spotify is reportedly testing a 'Hey Spotify' voice activation feature for its app. The wake word activates the voice commands feature and can be accessed only when the app is open and running. Read more...

Lenovo Yoga Smart Tab with Google Assistant unboxing and first impressions

Rich Woods — Sat, 29 Feb 2020 15:00:01 +0000

Lenovo's Yoga Smart Tab doubles as an Android tablet and a Google Assistant smart display, with a 10.1-inch FHD screen that can be used for a variety of things like displaying your photos. Read more...

The Google Assistant can now help you find your Tile trackers

João Carrasqueira — Mon, 03 Feb 2020 19:16:01 +0000

Google has announced a new integration for the Google Assistant that lets users find and ring their Tile trackers through voice commands. The feature is available in the Google Home app. Read more...

Lenovo announces the Smart Frame, a digital picture frame

Rich Woods — Mon, 06 Jan 2020 19:30:14 +0000

Lenovo announced a pair of smart home devices today, including the Smart Frame. The device is a 21.5-inch FHD picture frame, and the company also announced a new Google Assistant smart display. Read more...

Google kills Xiaomi integration after Home Hub showed stills from other Mi cameras

Jay Bonggolto — Fri, 03 Jan 2020 02:36:01 +0000

Google has revoked Xiaomi's integration with Home and Assistant devices after one user inadvertently gained access to images from other home cameras through Xiaomi's Mijia security camera. Read more...

Microsoft releases the November 2019 Xbox One Update with Google Assistant and more

Rich Woods — Fri, 15 Nov 2019 15:20:01 +0000

Microsoft released the November 2019 Xbox One Update, or version 1911 today, and the big new feature is support for Google Assistant. It contains a number of other improvements as well. Read more...

Chosen YouTube Premium and Google Assistant users are getting free Google Home Minis

Ather Fawaz — Fri, 11 Oct 2019 19:14:01 +0000

The prompt to claim a Google Home Mini for free is cropping up on both Assistant feeds and the YouTube app. The lucky users can claim the smart speaker for free, minus the cost of shipping. Read more...

Action Blocks now lets you add Google Assistant shortcuts to your homescreen

Ather Fawaz — Wed, 02 Oct 2019 19:06:01 +0000

With Action Blocks for Google Assistant, you can add shortcuts to any voice/text commands that are supported by the virtual assistant right on your homescreen where they can be reached easily. Read more...

Google launches new privacy features for YouTube, Maps, and Assistant

João Carrasqueira — Wed, 02 Oct 2019 18:50:01 +0000

Google has launched new privacy tools for some of its services, including an incognito mode for Maps and the ability to automatically delete your YouTube history after a set period of time. Read more...

You can now control your Xbox One with Google Assistant

Rich Woods — Thu, 26 Sep 2019 14:12:01 +0000

After introducing Amazon Alexa support last year, Microsoft today announced that Google Assistant support is coming to its Xbox One consoles. You can start using the preview right now. Read more...

Lenovo unveils new Smart Display and Smart Tabs with Google Assistant

Rich Woods — Thu, 05 Sep 2019 18:30:08 +0000

Today, Lenovo once again expanded its portfolio of virtual assistant devices, including a new seven-inch Smart Display, and some new dockable tablets that include Google Assistant. Read more...

Google announces Assignable reminders to keep you organised and productive

Paul Hill — Thu, 15 Aug 2019 13:04:01 +0000

Google will start rolling out Assignable reminders in the coming weeks to users in the U.S., U.K., and Australia who speak English. These reminders let you remind others about events. Read more...

Lenovo Smart Clock with the Google Assistant review: A clock you can talk to

Rich Woods — Mon, 03 Jun 2019 14:00:01 +0000

Lenovo's Smart Clock is exactly what it sounds like, a clock that you can talk to. It's powered by Google Assistant, meaning that you can use it to control your smart home and more. Read more...

Google announces improved conversational AI with Assistant

Rich Woods — Tue, 07 May 2019 17:54:27 +0000

At Google's I/O 2019 keynote today, the company showed off new conversational technologies for its Assistant. The feature will let you continue to make commands without calling the Assistant again. Read more...

Google Assistant's Interpreter Mode now available for Google Home and Smart Displays

Abhay V — Tue, 05 Feb 2019 21:48:01 +0000

Google Assistant's Interpreter Mode feature that helps translate speech in real time is now available to all Google Home devices, some smart speakers with Assistant built-in, and all Smart Displays Read more...

Lenovo announces new smart devices with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa

Rich Woods — Tue, 08 Jan 2019 19:00:10 +0000

Among Lenovo's CES announcements are some new smart devices, including two tablets that have an attachable speaker, powered by Amazon Alexa. There's also a Smart Clock with Google Assistant. Read more...

Google rolls out Duplex to a select few Pixel users

Paul Hill — Thu, 22 Nov 2018 17:14:01 +0000

Google has started rolling out is restaurant-booking Duplex feature to more Google Pixel users. Duplex can only make reservations at restaurants in select cities right now but Google will expand this. Read more...

Hands on with Google's Home Hub: The smart speaker for everything

Rich Woods — Wed, 10 Oct 2018 20:02:01 +0000

Google announced its Home Hub yesterday, a smart speaker with its Assistant that has a seven-inch display on it. The device adds a new dimension to the traditional smart speaker model. Read more...