Google home now supports multiple commands at once

Paul_Haskins · November 30, 2017, 5:30pm

1 Echo, 3 dots, and 1 G Mini… I just got the Mini to compare, or voice query Goggle. The 2 at a time thing works, but probably will rarely be used.

The Mini has better audio than a Dot, almost as good as 1st Gen Echo. IF I was doing a lot of multi-room audio - the Mini would be my 1st choice.

Ex70s · November 30, 2017, 6:35pm

Mine too! Love the google skill

SBDOBRESCU · November 30, 2017, 7:02pm

What impresses me is how sensitive the mic is, on the minis. I can whisper from across the room and it hears me…

dytkd · November 30, 2017, 7:03pm

awesome news! this will come in handy with my 3 mini ordered on black friday. LOL

David_Van · November 30, 2017, 7:17pm

get the mini for as little as $22 at lowes when you use a coupon. Plus you get a $10 lowes rebate.

David_Van · November 30, 2017, 7:38pm

UPDATE: someone else in the community shared this walkthrough http://forum.joaoapps.com/index.php?resources/send-a-command-to-google-assistant-from-tasker.297/

Anyone that is interested in automating google assistant commands (executing a command without saying anything) I threw together this tasker task that types a custom google assistant command into the GA app and executes it.

I use it to automatically cast a show from netflix on my bedroom tv when I set my phone next to the bed, and to tell chromecast to turn the TV off after 1 hour

<TaskerData sr="" dvi="1" tv="5.0u7m">
<Task sr="task13">
<cdate>1511922896831</cdate>
<edate>1511925462926</edate>
<id>13</id>
<nme>Turn On Chromecast</nme>
<pri>100</pri>
<Action sr="act0" ve="7">
<code>877</code>
<Str sr="arg0" ve="3">android.intent.action.VOICE_COMMAND</Str>
<Int sr="arg1" val="1"/>
<Str sr="arg2" ve="3"/>
<Str sr="arg3" ve="3"/>
<Str sr="arg4" ve="3"/>
<Str sr="arg5" ve="3"/>
<Str sr="arg6" ve="3"/>
<Str sr="arg7" ve="3">com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox</Str>
<Str sr="arg8" ve="3"/>
<Int sr="arg9" val="1"/>
</Action>
<Action sr="act1" ve="7">
<code>30</code>
<Int sr="arg0" val="0"/>
<Int sr="arg1" val="3"/>
<Int sr="arg2" val="0"/>
<Int sr="arg3" val="0"/>
<Int sr="arg4" val="0"/>
</Action>
<Action sr="act2" ve="7">
<code>1732635924</code>
<label>SELECTS FIRST ITEM IN THE RETURNED RESULTS</label>
<Bundle sr="arg0">
<Vals sr="val">
<ActionId>144,2448</ActionId>
<ActionId-type>java.lang.String</ActionId-type>
<ActionType>16</ActionType>
<ActionType-type>java.lang.String</ActionType-type>
<FieldSelectionType>5</FieldSelectionType>
<FieldSelectionType-type>java.lang.String</FieldSelectionType-type>
<IsFirstAction>false</IsFirstAction>
<IsFirstAction-type>java.lang.Boolean</IsFirstAction-type>
<IsTaskerAction>false</IsTaskerAction>
<IsTaskerAction-type>java.lang.Boolean</IsTaskerAction-type>
<NearbyText>&lt;null&gt;</NearbyText>
<NearbyText-type>java.lang.String</NearbyText-type>
<StoredAction>&lt;null&gt;</StoredAction>
<StoredAction-type>java.lang.String</StoredAction-type>
<TextToWrite>&lt;null&gt;</TextToWrite>
<TextToWrite-type>java.lang.String</TextToWrite-type>
<com.twofortyfouram.locale.intent.extra.BLURB>Type: Point
Value: 144,2448
Action : Click</com.twofortyfouram.locale.intent.extra.BLURB>
<com.twofortyfouram.locale.intent.extra.BLURB-
type>java.lang.String</com.twofortyfouram.locale.intent.extra.BLURB-type>
 <net.dinglisch.android.tasker.RELEVANT_VARIABLES>&lt;StringArray sr=""&gt;&lt;_array_net.dinglisch.android.tasker.RELEVANT_VARIABLES0&gt;%err
Error Code
Only available if you select &amp;lt;b&amp;gt;Continue Task After Error&amp;lt;/b&amp;gt; and the action ends in error&lt;/_array_net.dinglisch.android.tasker.RELEVANT_VARIABLES0&gt;&lt;_array_net.dinglisch.android.tasker.RELEVANT_VARIABLES1&gt;%errmsg
Error Message
Only available if you select &amp;lt;b&amp;gt;Continue Task After Error&amp;lt;/b&amp;gt; and the action ends in 

error&lt;/_array_net.dinglisch.android.tasker.RELEVANT_VARIABLES1&gt;&lt;/StringArray&gt;
</net.dinglisch.android.tasker.RELEVANT_VARIABLES>
<net.dinglisch.android.tasker.RELEVANT_VARIABLES-type>[Ljava.lang.String;
</net.dinglisch.android.tasker.RELEVANT_VARIABLES-type>
<net.dinglisch.android.tasker.extras.VARIABLE_REPLACE_KEYS>ActionId FieldSelectionType ActionType plugininstanceid plugintypeid 

</net.dinglisch.android.tasker.extras.VARIABLE_REPLACE_KEYS>
<net.dinglisch.android.tasker.extras.VARIABLE_REPLACE_KEYS-type>java.lang.String</net.dinglisch.android.tasker.extras.VARIABLE_REPLACE_KEYS-type>
<net.dinglisch.android.tasker.subbundled>true</net.dinglisch.android.tasker.subbundled>
<net.dinglisch.android.tasker.subbundled-type>java.lang.Boolean</net.dinglisch.android.tasker.subbundled-type>
<plugininstanceid>05111644-a45e-4c26-8a58-f994905be432</plugininstanceid>
<plugininstanceid-type>java.lang.String</plugininstanceid-type>
<plugintypeid>com.joaomgcd.autoinput.intent.IntentPerformAction</plugintypeid>
<plugintypeid-type>java.lang.String</plugintypeid-type>
</Vals>
</Bundle>
<Str sr="arg1" ve="3">com.joaomgcd.autoinput</Str>
<Str sr="arg2" ve="3">com.joaomgcd.autoinput.activity.ActivityConfigPerformAction</Str>
<Int sr="arg3" val="20"/>
</Action>
<Action sr="act3" ve="7">
<code>30</code>
<Int sr="arg0" val="0"/>
<Int sr="arg1" val="2"/>
<Int sr="arg2" val="0"/>
<Int sr="arg3" val="0"/>
<Int sr="arg4" val="0"/>
</Action>
<Action sr="act4" ve="7">
<code>1732635924</code>
<Bundle sr="arg0">
<Vals sr="val">
<ActionId>&lt;null&gt;</ActionId>
<ActionId-type>java.lang.String</ActionId-type>
<ActionType>-1</ActionType>
<ActionType-type>java.lang.String</ActionType-type>
<FieldSelectionType>2</FieldSelectionType>
<FieldSelectionType-type>java.lang.String</FieldSelectionType-type>
<IsFirstAction>false</IsFirstAction>
<IsFirstAction-type>java.lang.Boolean</IsFirstAction-type>
<IsTaskerAction>false</IsTaskerAction>
<IsTaskerAction-type>java.lang.Boolean</IsTaskerAction-type>
<NearbyText>&lt;null&gt;</NearbyText>
<NearbyText-type>java.lang.String</NearbyText-type>
<StoredAction>&lt;null&gt;</StoredAction>
<StoredAction-type>java.lang.String</StoredAction-type>
<TextToWrite>good night</TextToWrite>
<TextToWrite-type>java.lang.String</TextToWrite-type>
<com.twofortyfouram.locale.intent.extra.BLURB>Type: Focus
Text to Write : good night
Action : Write</com.twofortyfouram.locale.intent.extra.BLURB>
<com.twofortyfouram.locale.intent.extra.BLURB-type>java.lang.String</com.twofortyfouram.locale.intent.extra.BLURB-type>
<net.dinglisch.android.tasker.RELEVANT_VARIABLES>&lt;StringArray sr=""&gt;&lt;_array_net.dinglisch.android.tasker.RELEVANT_VARIABLES0&gt;%err
Error Code
Only available if you select &amp;lt;b&amp;gt;Continue Task After Error&amp;lt;/b&amp;gt; and the action ends in error&lt;/_array_net.dinglisch.android.tasker.RELEVANT_VARIABLES0&gt;&lt;_array_net.dinglisch.android.tasker.RELEVANT_VARIABLES1&gt;%errmsg
Error Message
Only available if you select &amp;lt;b&amp;gt;Continue Task After Error&amp;lt;/b&amp;gt; and the action ends in 

error&lt;/_array_net.dinglisch.android.tasker.RELEVANT_VARIABLES1&gt;&lt;/StringArray&gt;                
</net.dinglisch.android.tasker.RELEVANT_VARIABLES>
<net.dinglisch.android.tasker.RELEVANT_VARIABLES-type>[Ljava.lang.String;    
</net.dinglisch.android.tasker.RELEVANT_VARIABLES-type>
<net.dinglisch.android.tasker.extras.VARIABLE_REPLACE_KEYS>TextToWrite FieldSelectionType ActionType plugininstanceid plugintypeid 

</net.dinglisch.android.tasker.extras.VARIABLE_REPLACE_KEYS>
<net.dinglisch.android.tasker.extras.VARIABLE_REPLACE_KEYS-type>java.lang.String</net.dinglisch.android.tasker.extras.VARIABLE_REPLACE_KEYS-type>
<net.dinglisch.android.tasker.subbundled>true</net.dinglisch.android.tasker.subbundled>
<net.dinglisch.android.tasker.subbundled-type>java.lang.Boolean</net.dinglisch.android.tasker.subbundled-type>
<plugininstanceid>6983562f-b884-4a5e-909f-ab4fb63ca277</plugininstanceid>
<plugininstanceid-type>java.lang.String</plugininstanceid-type>
<plugintypeid>com.joaomgcd.autoinput.intent.IntentPerformAction</plugintypeid>
<plugintypeid-type>java.lang.String</plugintypeid-type>
</Vals>
</Bundle>
<Str sr="arg1" ve="3">com.joaomgcd.autoinput</Str>
<Str sr="arg2" ve="3">com.joaomgcd.autoinput.activity.ActivityConfigPerformAction</Str>
<Int sr="arg3" val="20"/>
</Action>
<Action sr="act5" ve="7">
<code>30</code>
<Int sr="arg0" val="0"/>
<Int sr="arg1" val="2"/>
<Int sr="arg2" val="0"/>
<Int sr="arg3" val="0"/>
<Int sr="arg4" val="0"/>
</Action>
<Action sr="act6" ve="7">
<code>1732635924</code>
<Bundle sr="arg0">
<Vals sr="val">
<ActionId>1296,1320</ActionId>
<ActionId-type>java.lang.String</ActionId-type>
<ActionType>16</ActionType>
<ActionType-type>java.lang.String</ActionType-type>
<FieldSelectionType>5</FieldSelectionType>
<FieldSelectionType-type>java.lang.String</FieldSelectionType-type>
<IsFirstAction>false</IsFirstAction>
<IsFirstAction-type>java.lang.Boolean</IsFirstAction-type>
<IsTaskerAction>false</IsTaskerAction>
<IsTaskerAction-type>java.lang.Boolean</IsTaskerAction-type>
<NearbyText>&lt;null&gt;</NearbyText>
<NearbyText-type>java.lang.String</NearbyText-type>
<StoredAction>&lt;null&gt;</StoredAction>
<StoredAction-type>java.lang.String</StoredAction-type>
<TextToWrite>
</TextToWrite>
<TextToWrite-type>java.lang.String</TextToWrite-type>
<com.twofortyfouram.locale.intent.extra.BLURB>Type: Point
Value: 1296,1320
Text to Write : 

Action : Click</com.twofortyfouram.locale.intent.extra.BLURB>
<com.twofortyfouram.locale.intent.extra.BLURB-type>java.lang.String</com.twofortyfouram.locale.intent.extra.BLURB-type>
<net.dinglisch.android.tasker.RELEVANT_VARIABLES>&lt;StringArray sr=""&gt;&lt;_array_net.dinglisch.android.tasker.RELEVANT_VARIABLES0&gt;%err
Error Code
Only available if you select &amp;lt;b&amp;gt;Continue Task After Error&amp;lt;/b&amp;gt; and the action ends in error&lt;/_array_net.dinglisch.android.tasker.RELEVANT_VARIABLES0&gt;&lt;_array_net.dinglisch.android.tasker.RELEVANT_VARIABLES1&gt;%errmsg
Error Message
Only available if you select &amp;lt;b&amp;gt;Continue Task After Error&amp;lt;/b&amp;gt; and the action ends in 

error&lt;/_array_net.dinglisch.android.tasker.RELEVANT_VARIABLES1&gt;&lt;/StringArray&gt;        
</net.dinglisch.android.tasker.RELEVANT_VARIABLES>
<net.dinglisch.android.tasker.RELEVANT_VARIABLES-type>[Ljava.lang.String;        
</net.dinglisch.android.tasker.RELEVANT_VARIABLES-type>
<net.dinglisch.android.tasker.extras.VARIABLE_REPLACE_KEYS>TextToWrite ActionId FieldSelectionType ActionType plugininstanceid plugintypeid 

</net.dinglisch.android.tasker.extras.VARIABLE_REPLACE_KEYS>
<net.dinglisch.android.tasker.extras.VARIABLE_REPLACE_KEYS-type>java.lang.String</net.dinglisch.android.tasker.extras.VARIABLE_REPLACE_KEYS-type>
<net.dinglisch.android.tasker.subbundled>true</net.dinglisch.android.tasker.subbundled>
<net.dinglisch.android.tasker.subbundled-type>java.lang.Boolean</net.dinglisch.android.tasker.subbundled-type>
<plugininstanceid>9c198d2e-16e3-4cd5-a686-486deb5d290a</plugininstanceid>
<plugininstanceid-type>java.lang.String</plugininstanceid-type>
<plugintypeid>com.joaomgcd.autoinput.intent.IntentPerformAction</plugintypeid>
<plugintypeid-type>java.lang.String</plugintypeid-type>
</Vals>
</Bundle>
<Str sr="arg1" ve="3">com.joaomgcd.autoinput</Str>
<Str sr="arg2" ve="3">com.joaomgcd.autoinput.activity.ActivityConfigPerformAction</Str>
<Int sr="arg3" val="20"/>
</Action>
</Task>
</TaskerData>

rontalley · November 30, 2017, 7:59pm

Up to 27 Alexa enabled devices now in my setup. I would say that I am fully invested as well. My wife would literally kick me out the house if I brought home a Google Home Device. But…I sooo want one!

6 Dots
3 Echos 1st gen
1 Echo 2nd gen
2 Fire TV
5 Fire Sticks
1 Tablet HD 10
2 Tablets HD 8
4 Tablets 7
1 Dash
2 FABRIQ Portable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Smart Speaker With Amazon Alexa

Sad thing is, I have soooo many ways of controlling things that we hardly even use Voice Activation any longer! Oh the Irony.

Correction 5 Fire Sticks! OMG I totally forgot about the one in the garage still NIB. I need help.

01f6626f43523a3e2b7379780deb041366d3ad1f11

SBDOBRESCU · November 30, 2017, 10:02pm

I need to show this to my wife… She tells everyone that I am obsessed with voice assistants and I’ve been telling her that it could be worse. Now I have proof!

SBDOBRESCU · November 30, 2017, 11:43pm

Speaking of google…

David_Van · December 1, 2017, 1:33am

Does Alexa have any of these features?

SBDOBRESCU · December 1, 2017, 1:44am

Which features? To 9to5’s point, at least Amazon delivered on all of their promises, I think…

bamarayne · December 1, 2017, 4:58am

Yeah, I thought I was bad with a couple of extra Dots just laying around in the boxes… lol

vseven · December 1, 2017, 7:24pm

I just want to say thanks for the suggestions guys. I now have Google Assistant running through Alexa. It was a PITA to setup but it does work:

http://alexamods.com/guide-install-google-assistant-alexa-skill/

I still hope Alexa gets better at answering questions but when it doesn’t I can just say “Alexa, ask Google …” and get the answer that way.

I even customized the skill and added Google icons and suggestions to it so it looks more official. Works well. Too bad I can’t publish it for others:

btrial · December 6, 2017, 6:47pm

I tested double commands today and i am disappointed. You cannot say for instance “turn on amplifier in kitchen and bedroom” or “turn on amplifier and lamp in bedroom”.

You must say “turn on amplifier in bedroom and turn on lamp in bedroom” ;(

This is not i expected and it is not user friendly.

JDRoberts · December 6, 2017, 7:06pm

Some of some of them, it depends on the specifics you’re looking for.

Echo show has visual responses and the regular echo can cast them to a fire tablet. I’m not sure about the fire TV, but I think so.

As far as support for more video channels besides just YouTube and Netflix, Google home works with chromecast. Echo devices don’t work with Chromecast, but they work with echo fire TV or Logitech Harmony plus Roku and you can do way more hands-free in this area as long as you have the streamers as well. (I’m quadriparetic with limited use of my hands, so I pay a lot of attention to this area.) so Echo has almost all the channels shown in that screenshot except google movies as long as you also have one of the streamers. Initially, Google home was better with Netflix, but Amazon has now caught up. Both companies are essentially leapfrogging each other as far as features.

Amazon has just announced the ability for some skills to push notifications, but it’s still brand new and limited in which skills can do what. And Google Home has always done commute reporting better. So that one’s going to be hard to rate. I think Amazon will get to notifications first but it will be on a skill by skill basis.

David_Van · December 6, 2017, 8:37pm

Good to hear alexa has gained the casting abilities, I have both but I have used google primary for the last 6 months. We initially went the google route for voice control of video content but also because it was already embedded into our phones. Although I will say I am disappointed in the lack of voice control of netlfix on the Shield TV.

As far as notifications go you can hack your way there with google home using cast-api [RELEASE] cast-web 0.1 - Chromecast Device Handler & SmartApps With google minis on sale for less than $30 it encouraged me to try it out and so far I am impressed.

Is there any way to automate casting content with alexa/fire TV like you can with tasker/autocast or the tasker/auto intent workaround that I posted above? I’m beginning to feel like an automation addict I finally have voice control but now I want more… I dont think I’ll be happy until I get mind control

goto10 · December 6, 2017, 10:50pm

I have three dots and two Google Homes, the Amazons were, until recently, better for home automation tasks (I could say “Amazon, turn on the uplighter” - and it’d do so - if I said to Google “Ok Google, turn on the uplighter” I’d get “Sorry, I don’t know how to help with that yet” - it was because I said THE uplighter, I’d have to omit ‘the’, like so: “Ok Google, turn on uplighter” it’d then react correctly.
It was far too fussy - but in recent days I’ve noticed that they’ve finally fixed that issue. It’s a slight PITA having to remember which device I’m asking - I also much prefer the ‘Amazon’ key word too, ‘OK Google’ doesn’t flow very well.
That said, on balance I favour the Google Homes over the dots.

David_Van · December 7, 2017, 1:03am

The ability to change Alexas hotword to things like “computer” is a huge plus over google home. The new"Hey Google" is a little better but hotword customization is one feature Google has yet to match Alexa with.

goto10 · December 7, 2017, 11:14am

Ha, I didn’t know that they’d added ‘Computer’ as a wake word, must’ve been pressure from the Trekkers!
If Google added that option it’d mean I could start a query with the same hot word, irrelevant of which device I’m standing near. A man can dream…

David_Van · December 7, 2017, 3:13pm

Im guessing they will avoid completely custom hot words for that reason, who knows that might open a black hole or something

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Google home now supports multiple commands at once

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