Google Announces Release of Google Home, Hoping to Rival Amazon Echo

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 | May 18, 2016 | By Margo Gothelf

Better watch out Alexa!

Google has announced the release of their newest project, Google Home. The product was announced at the annual developers conference Wednesday morning and is very similar to the Amazon Echo speaker, Alexa.

For those who don’t know, Alexa is the voice service that powers the Echo, which “provides capabilities, or skills, that enable customers to interact with devices in a more intuitive way,” Amazon states on its Developer website. Alexa can answer questions, read audiobooks and the news, report on traffic and weather, provide local business info, give sports scores and schedules, as well as control lights, switches, and thermostats (as long as they care compatible).

Just like Alexa, Google Home will be able to answer questions and complete tasks when you speak to it. However, unlike Amazon’s device, Google is claiming that Home is much smarter. The new algorithm allows the device to “change colors and keep the conversation going,” shared Mashable.

Google Home works alongside the new Google Assistant Software and has a similar look to Google’s OnHub WiFi router.

Google hopes that the product will be integrated throughout an entire household, connecting with other speakers in all rooms of a house.

Google Home has rich highs and deep bass, streams music from your fav music service & works like Chromecast Audio pic.twitter.com/hD7YemQQjB

— Raymond Wong (@raywongy) May 18, 2016

Along with the typical day-to-day questions and requests, the product will get to know its owner better over time (with permission that is). Google hopes that the product will “learn your preferences and interests, and serve you up information accordingly.”

The device was a surprise at the conference and was believed to still be in development. While Google Home won’t make its official debut until the fall, the announcement was meant to put Google back in the game for their smart home presence. Apple is also rumored to be developing a similar product to unveil at their annual Apple Worldwide Developer’s Conference next month.

Look’s like Amazon is about to get some stiff competition. Check out the promotional video for Google Home below.