In the fall of 2016, Google released its Google Home Smart Column for sale, which was supposed to become a worthy answer to the similar echo device from Amazon. After another year, the American IT giant presented a reduced version of its smart column – Google Home Mini. Consider a read more This device: design, a range of functions, pros and cons.
Google Home Mini Features
When you first turn on the Intelligent Columny Google Home Mini in English, the user is treated with a request to install the Google Home app on a conjugate smartphone or tablet. You need to download this application from Google Play and, following the system prompts, activate communication with a smart column via Wi-Fi. After that, the intelligent column is ready for use.
As with the older fellow, the base of Google Home Mini is based on the voice assistant Google Assistant. This is determined by the set of available functions:
- Management of home appliances belonging to the Smart Home system. The column is able to maintain communication and give commands to a significant number of highly intelligent devices. This list includes devices from companies such as Samsung Smart Home, Philips Hue, Nest, as well as a line of goods that support Google Cast technology. It can be smart sockets, smart locks, lamps, thermostats, etc.
- Work with the Translation Service. It allows you to translate from one language to another as individual phrases and whole texts entered by a speech method
- Get up-to-date information about the weather status in the city or the presence of traffic jams on the road. The Google Assistant user’s location is determined automatically using the geolocation device
- When you connect to the Chromecast Media Player, Google Home Mini enables Voice search of the Internet Video and Audio recordings, with their subsequent playback.
- The smart device also allows you to listen to music from music services such as Google Play Music.
- Using the Bluetooth connection on Home Mini, you can shout music from a smartphone or tablet using it as a regular column.
- The smart column is able to execute various small instructions of the user: to search for a given information in the Internet search engine with resounding results, set the alarm clock, remind the owner of the coming on the day of business, etc.
If on the first versions of the “Big” column of Google Home, the function of the Russian language is not supported, then on the new device the entire interface is fully translated into Russian. Google Home Mini’s voice commands also understand Russian well. Therefore, no restrictions on the use of this device in Russia today are not like Google Home.
Google Home Mini Design
Designers and designers of the company tried to make the appearance of their smart device as friendly as possible. So, in the press releases of the company Google, devoted to the release of the Home Mini speakers, it is said that it looks like a donut. But according to the reviews of most users, it looks like a flattened large column Google home. The mini device is much lower, but wider, with a diameter of 10 cm, and the end faces are rounded.
The range of colors in which the Smart Speaker is available:
- Light gray.
- Oak.
- Dark gray.
The upper part of the smart column is covered with a textured cloth, which fits into the interior of the house. Under the fabric surface there are sensory buttons, as for which you can adjust the volume of the sound from the speaker. On the right is the “louder” button, and the left is “quieter”. They duplicate the voice command, because you can adjust the volume and remotely.
At the bottom of the column there is another button that is not hidden by a cloth. It is intended to set the audio player to pause, to turn off the alarm clock and the microphone. Initially, this button was planned to be placed in the upper part of the device, also under the cloth. But during production there were some problems, and according to representatives of the company, the button was forced to be moved to another place.
And also on the top of the device under the fabric there are 4 multi-colored LEDs that are designed to indicate the user’s feedback. With their help, the intellectual brain column signals the owner that he is listening to him or performing his task. Thus, when processing the query, the LEDs begin to flash slightly, and with a microphone red lights are turned on.
Sound quality
Google Chromecast audio The speaker, made in a full-size version, is equipped with 3 speakers, allowing Google Home to produce a fairly high-quality sound. But the mini version only has one speaker – it just didn’t work out to put more in, given the miniature size of the device. It is located on the top of the speaker, under the same fabric structure as the LEDs and max/min volume buttons.
The column is directed upwards, and the company’s engineers tried to achieve acceptable sound from it, but it turned out to be only partially. The sound of 360 degrees, of course, is not as powerful and as loud as a large version of the smart speaker. However, it is quite enough for comfortable listening to audio files in a small room. Some users in the reviews are true, characterize the sound of the Mini dynamics from Google as “vague and flat”. You can correct the situation by connecting the device to the Chromecast Media Player, which provides the ability to listen to music on more powerful audio devices.
Advantages and disadvantages of the column
Like any technical device, the Home Mini column has its indisputable advantages and obvious disadvantages. Briefly consider the most basic:
- It is able to support Russian in the status of beta. A big step forward compared to the first modifications of Google’s smart speakers, to communicate with whom the Russian user was good for using the Translate service.
- Good voice learning and speech recognition at all. This is especially noticeable against the background of voice assistants installed on smartphones and other mobile devices.
- Good design. The appearance of the column can successfully fit into any interior.
- Excellent combination with chromecast device.
- Available cost. In the Russian Federation, such a device can be acquired on average for 3 thousand rubles.
Among the shortcomings of the Smart Mini speaker should be noted:
- No AUX output. As a result, it is possible to communicate with external devices only by Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connection.
- There is not enough correct recognition of user’s speech when playing in the Music column.
- A limited set of smart devices that can be controlled via Home Mini without using additional hubs.
- Weak speaker, with poor sound volume.
- Among other minuses of the mini speakers, it is for now a small list of devices that can work directly with it. In this regard, it is significantly inferior to Amazon’s Echo smart speakers with their voice Alexa assistant.
- But despite all the listed drawbacks, from the point of view, “cost – an affordable functional functional set”, the device is already excellent and in the future it is worth all the changes that will occur in the development of Intertwine Columns Google Home.
