Amazon Echo vs Google Home

[Jawloms]

Hi all,

 

I've been interested in the idea of the Echo for a while but want to play with one properly before dishing out £70ish. My Dad now has one and I was quite impressed with it. Has anyone got experience of it and the Google offering and can give any opinions? I was wondering about getting the Google one as presumably this will tie in with my android phone better, but will my, my wife's, my daughter's, and my son's mobile phones all start listening if I say "OK Google" to it?

 

Thank you

 

Stuart

[tj2419]

I had an echo and echo dot and have just replaced them with Google Home and Mini.

 

Google experience for me is way better. If you are using it with multiple people with different Spotify accounts, for example, Google will play must from your account when you ask but your wife's when she asks. With my echo, it was linked to one account so my wife kept nicking my music when I was at work and she was at home. The questioning with google seems much freer as well, being able to ask general questions and getting a response. Plus if you've got Chromecasts you can tell it to play Netflix on your living room TV and it will start playing.

 

As for the "OK Google". My phone has to be unlocked to pick up the voice but even when I have been on my phone and asked google home to do something. The box pops up on my phone but then closes and does what I ask on google home. Don't know if it is coincidence or if they have something set up to recognise that situation.

Edited November 27, 2017 by tj2419

[AJWhite1970]

I'm currently looking as the OH might get one for Christmas (well that or a new horse but they are a pain to wrap and keep still under the tree...) and have been looking at this review

 

Google Home vs Amazon Echo - Tech Advisor

 

Still undecided at the moment so will watch this thread with interest

[hardtailstar]

As for the "OK Google". My phone has to be unlocked to pick up the voice but even when I have been on my phone and asked google home to do something. The box pops up on my phone but then closes and does what I ask on google home. Don't know if it is coincidence or if they have something set up to recognise that situation.

 

it does that by default.

 

Ive had a Google Home since UK release. I dont think Ive had any issues with it so far. The only annoying thing is when I watch tv and an ad or something im watching says 'Ok Google'. My google home starts chattering away.

Edited November 27, 2017 by hardtailstar

[penfold]

I was tempted with the Google Home mini currently on offer. My only concern was the speaker - I would want to use it to listen to the radio but I'm not sure if the speaker quality is good enough. Anyone have any experiences with the mini? Would it be OK as a radio in a living room?

[Rob_D]

The only annoying thing is when I watch tv and an ad or something im watching says 'Ok Google'. My google home starts chattering away.

 

We have the same problem with Alexa on the echo. Not helped by the fact one of the South Today presenters is called Alexis.

[gds64]

I was tempted with the Google Home mini currently on offer. My only concern was the speaker - I would want to use it to listen to the radio but I'm not sure if the speaker quality is good enough. Anyone have any experiences with the mini? Would it be OK as a radio in a living room?

 

I have a Google Home mini, and whilst the speaker is much better than that of the Echo Dot that I also have, neither are brilliant. You can however, cast audio to a Chromecast device connected to a better speaker from the Google Home mini - but this is where the Echo Dot wins, because you can connect it to a bluetooth speaker (I use a Samsung R1) without the expense of a Chromecast.

[penfold]

I have a Google Home mini, and whilst the speaker is much better than that of the Echo Dot that I also have, neither are brilliant. You can however, cast audio to a Chromecast device connected to a better speaker from the Google Home mini - but this is where the Echo Dot wins, because you can connect it to a bluetooth speaker (I use a Samsung R1) without the expense of a Chromecast.

 

I do already have a Chromecast for the TV which was used with netflix (which now doesn't really get used as the TV has netflix built in - that and the laptop controlling it is so slow it can become painful to use). I also have an audio cast on the little stereo on the kitchen but again the phone being used to control it was so slow and the battery was so poor it was a pain to use and needed to be plugged in. All of which kind of made using the Chromecast a bit of a painful experience. Don't get me wrong on my phone it was fine, but for the wife she found it too much hassle.

 

I was just wondering if by getting home mini might make it a bit easier to use rather than relying on old phone/laptops to stream content? At the minute she tends to use the laptop to stream the radio via bluetooth to the stereo It's not always the best streaming but I'm not sure if that's bluetooth or the laptop. If the mini home speaker was good enough for listening to the radio I might get one.

[mavhc]

I do already have a Chromecast for the TV which was used with netflix (which now doesn't really get used as the TV has netflix built in - that and the laptop controlling it is so slow it can become painful to use). I also have an audio cast on the little stereo on the kitchen but again the phone being used to control it was so slow and the battery was so poor it was a pain to use and needed to be plugged in. All of which kind of made using the Chromecast a bit of a painful experience. Don't get me wrong on my phone it was fine, but for the wife she found it too much hassle.

 

I was just wondering if by getting home mini might make it a bit easier to use rather than relying on old phone/laptops to stream content? At the minute she tends to use the laptop to stream the radio via bluetooth to the stereo It's not always the best streaming but I'm not sure if that's bluetooth or the laptop. If the mini home speaker was good enough for listening to the radio I might get one.

 

Why are you streaming via your laptop? Just use your phone to tell the chromecast (audio) to start playing audio/video

[DCUK6]

Have the Echo 1st gen. Really like it.

At the time google had its version out (The one that looked like a perfume canister) but listening to them both the Echo sounded so much better.

 

Have the Echo linked up to the lights and eventually planning to have tv etc hooked up so i can use as a remote.

 

Get home, Hue turns the lights on auto when im near, Alexa either gets paired to phone or play Magic FM. Good sound.

[CAM]

Why are you streaming via your laptop? Just use your phone to tell the chromecast (audio) to start playing audio/video

 

Netflix app isn't very good. Dies after 5mins of playing and have to restart it.

[mavhc]

Netflix app isn't very good. Dies after 5mins of playing and have to restart it.

 

Which netflix app? What device?

[strawberry]

Paid for the mini, When I get in the bath I shout "hey google play radio1" . It does it smoothly and with a decent sound quality. I can then cast from my phone if I want to. Easy as pie.

[MrMat]

We now have two mini's, one in the kitchen and one in the bedroom and so far, i'm really impressed. The communication with Lady Googs is great and generally the voice recognition is spot on etc. Plus for it's size, the sound quality if surprisingly good providing you don't try and blast it out etc. Obviously it lacks bass and any real oomph but it's pretty decent for some tunes while cooking or a podcast while getting ready.

 

Might even be tempted to pick up a third for the shed

[penfold]

Why are you streaming via your laptop? Just use your phone to tell the chromecast (audio) to start playing audio/video

 

Laptop is for streaming radio via bluetooth. For streaming to the Chromecast my phone is OK but the Mrs wasn't. Very poor battery life and it was soooo slow it became almost impossible to play anything quickly and she would just give up.

[mavhc]

But why stream at all, the chromecast should be downloading itself.

[penfold]

But why stream at all, the chromecast should be downloading itself.

 

OK, wrong wording. We stream tunein radio from the laptop to the Stereo (living room) via bluetooth - this doesn't use chromecast. For the chromecast connected to the stereo in the kitchen controlling it from the phone is a problem as it takes so long to get the app connnected (this doesn't have anything to do with the chromecast - just the phone that was used) once it is playing it's fine. My phone has always been fine, but it's the wife who has had problems - this is to do with the phone, not the chromecast.

 

My idea, was to use the mini as a radio in the front room (if the sound was ok) and also be able to control the audio chromecast in the kitchen rather than use a phone.

[CAM]

Which netflix app? What device?

 

Android app on my phone. Works fine on PC over wired with Chrome plug-in so I just use that.

[mavhc]

OK, wrong wording. We stream tunein radio from the laptop to the Stereo (living room) via bluetooth - this doesn't use chromecast. For the chromecast connected to the stereo in the kitchen controlling it from the phone is a problem as it takes so long to get the app connnected (this doesn't have anything to do with the chromecast - just the phone that was used) once it is playing it's fine. My phone has always been fine, but it's the wife who has had problems - this is to do with the phone, not the chromecast.

 

My idea, was to use the mini as a radio in the front room (if the sound was ok) and also be able to control the audio chromecast in the kitchen rather than use a phone.

 

Ah, yeah, should work, if you can voice activate the things you want.

[MrMat]

OK, wrong wording. We stream tunein radio from the laptop to the Stereo (living room) via bluetooth - this doesn't use chromecast. For the chromecast connected to the stereo in the kitchen controlling it from the phone is a problem as it takes so long to get the app connnected (this doesn't have anything to do with the chromecast - just the phone that was used) once it is playing it's fine. My phone has always been fine, but it's the wife who has had problems - this is to do with the phone, not the chromecast.

 

My idea, was to use the mini as a radio in the front room (if the sound was ok) and also be able to control the audio chromecast in the kitchen rather than use a phone.

The Home should then be of use to you as your phone doesn't actually have to be connected for it to work. We have a Google Play Music subscription (also works with Spotify), the Home signs in as me so then doesn't have to rely on the phone to stream etc, you just ask it to play whatever you want and it'll play it. This also works with Podcasts and as Radio is free and online etc, i'm assuming it will do the same thing.

[penfold]

The Home should then be of use to you as your phone doesn't actually have to be connected for it to work. We have a Google Play Music subscription (also works with Spotify), the Home signs in as me so then doesn't have to rely on the phone to stream etc, you just ask it to play whatever you want and it'll play it. This also works with Podcasts and as Radio is free and online etc, i'm assuming it will do the same thing.

 

That's what I thought. I took the plunge last night and ordered a home mini. Thought it was worth it at the price as it's not too expensive if it doesn't get used too much then.

[MkII]

I'm just getting really interested in home automation. Just changing the light switches and power sockets at home.

 

It looks like Google are going to win this race. As one reviewer said: Google are improving the software; Amazon have focused on device spread. The Dot is still best for compatibility with the most devices, and it's obvious link to shopping. I'm interested in that compatibility, and If I do plunge for voice control it'll be the Dot at the moment. I have an Android phone and 3 Chromecasts that get used a lot. Not a huge fan of voice control but my son is.

[mowgli82]

i have a Pixel and a Google Home, the pixel hands off requests to the home when they both detect the "Hey Google" or "Ok Google"

 

You can stream music directly to the google home itself, I can stream music from my desktop pc to my Google Home, they can sync the sound across multiple rooms/devices or play different music in different rooms.

 

I have a phillips Hue lighting system and some E We Link inline wireless switches for lamps etc - also just ordered a Harmony Hub for xmas

[MkII]

That Harmony is interesting. Especially at £70 now.

 

I was thinking of getting the Broadlink Pro for £30. I'll have more than 15 devices (all that the Harmony supports?), but no native Alexa support bothers me with the Broadlink.

Edited November 28, 2017 by MkII

[Zoom7000]

I bought a Google Home Mini a few weeks ago for £34. Today is the last day to purchase it at that price if anyone is interested:

 

Google Home Mini - Google Store - £34, down from £49

Google Chromecast 2nd Generation - Google Store - £19, down from £30

(Promotion period starts 22 Nov 2017 at 12:00 am GMT-8 and ends 28 Nov 2017 at 11:59 pm GMT-8)