Best Google Assistant Tricks You Should Try

1. Select Your Favorite Google Assistant Voice

We all know that Google Assistant comes with a female voice with an American accent. However, if you don’t like it you can change its voice as now Google Assistant supports multiple voices which include both men and women voices with different accents. Even if you don’t have any problem with the default voice, I would suggest that you check out the other voices as there are quite a good sounding. To change your Google Assistant’s voice launch it and then go to Settings -> Preferences -> Assistant Voice and select the one that you find the best.

2. Get the Summary for Your Day

One of the first thing that I do before I leave the home for work is to get my daily briefing from my Google Assistant. Not only it gives me useful information such as weather and traffic but it also gives me a rundown of all the tasks that I have on my plate for the day. This allows me to start my day with a good idea of how it’s going to turn out and I can devise the best way to tackle it. The best part is that you don’t have to set it up. All you need to say is, “Hey Google, Good Morning” and it will relay the relevant information to you.

3. Identify Songs

One of my most used feature of Google Assistant is its ability to identify songs. I love listening to songs and whenever I like a song which I like but don’t recognize, I just say, “Ok Google, identify this song” and in just a few seconds it identifies the song for me. The best part is that since every command is stored in a chronological manner, I can just go back to look at the songs at the end of the day and enter them into my playlist.

4. Create and Access Shopping Lists

Google Assistant also makes it very easy to remember your shopping and grocery items. Whenever you want to add an item or even multiple items to your shopping list, just ask the Assistant to do it for you. For example, try saying, “Ok Google, add eggs, milk, and bread to my shopping list and it will do that for you.

5. Unlock Phone, Launch Apps, and Manage Quick Setting Toggles

Google Assistant can also help you in easily unlocking your phone and launching apps. To set up phone unlock with your voice, open the Settings apps and search for Smart Lock. Here, under Voice Match or Trusted Voice, enable the “Unlock with Voice Match” option. From next time, you can just say the magic word (Ok Google or Hey Google), and your phone will unlock right away. Do note that while this feature is convenient it’s not as secure as a password or biometric authentication.

6. Listen to Your Favorite Podcasts

One of the newest additions to Google Assistant is its ability to play podcasts. While Google has released a standalone podcast app, I never use it as I mostly use my voice to listen to my favorite podcasts. I can just say, “Hey Google, play Hardcore History podcast” and it will do that. The good thing is that Assistant remembers your last played location and resume from the exact spot where you left off.

7. Use Location-Based Reminders

If you are someone who always forgets tasks you should use location-based reminders as they come in really handy. I use the location-based reminders for pretty much everything that I need to instantly do when I reach someplace. For example, I say, “Hey Google, remind me to turn on the motor When I reach home”. Now, when I reach home, the Assistant will remind me what to do. This is a very nifty tip and will come in handy.

8. Stay on Top of Sports

Google Assistant is also great for keeping track of live scores or the standings of your favorite team in an ongoing tournament. You can ask questions like,

  • “Hey Google, give me EPL standings.”
  • “Hey Google, how many goals Manchester City scored in the last match?”
  • “Hey Google, when is Everton playing next?”
  • “Hey Google, who’s playing in EPL today”

9. Control Chromecast, Android TV, and Smart Home Devices

Google Assistant can also help you in controlling your Chromecast, Android TV, or smart home devices just with your voice. Some of the commands you can use to do that are,

  • “Hey Google, turn off the porch light.”
  • “Hey Google, play Suits on Netflix.”
  • “Hey Google, play Beebom on YouTube.”

13. Use Multiple Languages to Speak to Google Assistant

One of the newest addition to Google Assistant is its ability to understand multiple languages at the same time. This feature is very helpful for bilingual families as they can use both their languages to ask the questions. Of course, for this feature to work, your language has to be in the supported languages list. Currently, the supported language includes German, French, Italian, Spanish, and more.

To enable this feature, open the Google Assistant’s Settings and then tap on Preferences. Here, tap on “Assistant languages” and then add the second language of your choice. Do note that you can only select two languages at a time.

Also read: 10 Best Google Apps that You Have No Idea About - Try it

An article by Munna Suprathik