Are you the proud owner of a Google Nest speaker? This smart voice assistant is one of the best in its class. It does exactly what it's supposed to, but there are some exciting things you can do with it that aren't immediately apparent. If you want to get more use out of your Google Nest speaker, here are some cool tricks you can try right now.
1. Turn Your Google Nest Speaker Into Your Personal Interpreter
You got yourself a smart speaker, so why not put it to work? Simply say:
"Hey Google, be my [supported language] interpreter".
Google's smart speaker will do precisely that: translating conversations into different languages. This is an excellent way to practice your language skills while making friends with someone who doesn't speak the same tongue as you.
The Google Nest speaker currently supports 32 languages for this feature and is constantly working to add more so that everyone can enjoy this fantastic function.
2. Make Duo Calls With Your Speakers or Displays
Are you a fan of Duo, Google's video calling app? You can use your Nest speaker for this too. Just say:
"Hey Google, call [contact name] on Duo."
Voice assistants have been great at recognizing names lately, so don't worry if the contact has more than one or two nicknames. This is a great way for families and friends to keep in touch and chat face-to-face, even if they live on the other side of the world.
There are plenty of Google Duo features you can use, like making calls from the Dialler app on your phone or sending messages so that your friends can see what you're up to even when you can't talk.
3. Enable Guest Mode
If you like to share your Nest with others and don't want them to access the rest of your Google devices, there is a dedicated Guest Mode. It's pretty simple to enable, just say:
"Hey Google, turn on guest mode."
Everyone who uses the device will only be able to access the things that pertain specifically to guest mode. This is great for sharing your device with friends while keeping your privacy intact, and you can even let Google Home entertain them. From playing games to sharing the day's news, your speaker can act as a concierge for anyone visiting your home.
4. Track Packages Out for Delivery
If you like to keep track of deliveries, this one is for you. Simply say:
"Hey Google, track my package."
The speaker will automatically access your Gmail account and notify you when a new tracking update has been received.
You don't need to check your email every hour just to see if the package has arrived. Be more productive and let your smart speaker do all the work. It's just one of the many things that make life more convenient.
5. Find Out What's Playing on TV
You've had a long day and finally get home to relax, so you turn on the TV. But what were you watching? The last thing you remember was the latest episode of your favorite show.
Luckily, there is a command that will help:
"Hey Google, what's on TV?"
The Google Nest speaker will pull up the information and start to play it, so you can see who's in what show and what it's all about. It's even easier if you're using a Chromecast because you can control it with your voice.
From there, you can ask your Nest speaker to do things like turn up the volume, pause, or even stop the show. No more fumbling around for the remote or trying to remember where you left it.
6. Keep Your Home Secure
With Nest products, there are several things you can do to improve your safety at home. For example, smart alarm systems will automatically sound if someone tries to break through the front door while you're not there.
If you are away from home but want to make sure everything is OK, simply say:
"Hey Google, I'm leaving home."
This will let the speaker check your Nest security system to make sure everything's in place. You'll get a notification on your phone if anything goes wrong.
A good smart home security system, along with the Google Nest speaker, is a great way to keep your home and family safe. It's one less thing you have to worry about when you're not there.
7. Find Your Lost Belongings
Being a forgetful person can be tough, but at least you can get a helping hand from your Google Nest speaker.
Wouldn't it be very helpful if the speaker could tell you where you left something important?
Here's how to do it:
"Hey Google, remember my [important thing]."
For example, "Remember my passport is in the bottom drawer of my nightstand."
This will let your device store that information and then tell you where to look when needed. You can also use this command to find out what day you asked for something to be remembered.
8. Order an Uber
You're in a rush to get to that important meeting on time, but you just realized you forgot your wallet at home.
Luckily, this isn't a problem anymore because Google has partnered with Uber to make it easier for you to catch your ride without worrying about cash or cards.
All you have to say is:
"Hey Google, order me an Uber."
Then sit back while the speaker calls up a car. You can track it on your phone, so you know when to get ready and head out.
9. Get Help With Your Homework
When we were kids, our parents would often tell us to do our homework. That was before the era of voice assistants. Now, with the smart speakers in almost every household, it's like having an automated teacher that does all of our school work for us.
If you're doing homework, simply say:
"Hey Google, it's homework time."
Google will offer to help with just about anything—from history lessons on ancient wars or math homework problems for younger kids who need some extra tutoring time. You can always take a break and have a laugh with Google Home by asking it to tell you some jokes.
Just remember that it can’t do everything for you. You'll still have to put in some effort if you want good grades.
10. Delete Your Voice History
If you've been using your smart speaker for a while, there is probably some interesting data on it. Did you know that the product keeps tabs on all of the requests made by its users?
Luckily, you can delete this info whenever you like. Just say:
"Hey, Google, delete everything I said [today/this week/this month/this year]."
The device will handle the task automatically, so you can rest easy knowing that everything gets deleted.
Hey Google, What's Next?
Google Nest speakers are great devices to have in your home. They're easy to use and incredibly versatile so that you can get a lot of value out of them.
Now that you've seen these cool tricks, you can start using your Google Nest speaker to its full potential.