Google Nest: 8 commands you need to know (and use)

Speakers connected to the Google Nest allow you to do countless things with very useful everyday controls. Here are some.

“Ok Google”may already be part of your daily routine, but chances are that the Google Assistant can still do some things you didn’t know you could, like suggest a recipe to you in the kitchen, run a robotic vacuum cleaner, or translate a foreign language into real time mode. The Google Nest range of smart speakers can do a lot, including things that Amazon Echo and Apple Siri can’t.

Here are some important commands that you might want to use very regularly.

control the light

Equipping your home (or even a private room) with light bulbs and other connected lights is a good way to take advantage of Google Home or Nest. These light bulbs are more expensive than regular light bulbs, but being able to control everything with your voice or your smartphone is life changing. “Ok Google, turn on the lights”and the room lights up. “Ok Google, turn off the lights.”You can even fine-tune the brightness and color.

To add new lighting fixtures, go to the Home app, then Add > Set Up Device > New Device > Next, and follow the on-screen instructions.

Control the temperature

With the Nest thermostat, you can accurately control the temperature in your home from a distance. After adding an accessory to the Google Home app, you can ask Google to set the thermostat to a specific temperature. You can also make incremental changes: “Ok Google, raise the temperature by 1 degree.”

You can also control the thermostat from the app by clicking on the thermostat icon and then “change temperature”. What’s more, Nest Thermostat learns from your habits and adapts to them. For example, it will lower your temperature when you go to bed and raise it when you get up. It can also remind you to change the air filter.

Alarm clocks and other countdowns

Asking Google to wake you up in the morning is easier than setting an alarm on your smartphone or a regular alarm. Say “OK Google, set an alarm for [time]”. To stop him when he calls, just say “Stop”.

And you can also use timers: “Ok Google, set the timer to [desired delay]”. To stop him from calling, just say “stop”again.

Music, news and podcasts

To play your favorite songs and other podcasts, make sure your streaming app—YouTube Music, Google Play Music, Spotify, Pandora, or Deezer—is linked to the Google Home app. When you’re done, just say, “Ok Google, play [whatever you want].”It works with specific titles, artists, playlists or even genres. To stop playback, say “Ok Google, stop the music.”

You can also use the smart speaker for podcasts, but you must request a specific podcast. And if you stop in the middle of an episode, playback will resume where it left off.

For news and current events, you can set up your favorite sources in the Google Home app and change the order in which they are announced.

Weather forecast

Do you need an umbrella today? Is it really cold? Ask Google what the weather is like and the Assistant will give you the current temperature and forecast for the day. Google may even give you forecasts for the upcoming weekend and next week.

Make cleaning easier

Google Nest is compatible with most robotic vacuum cleaners that have an app. Depending on the make and model, you can use the Google Assistant and Nest speaker to start, stop, or pause cleaning. You can even ask to clean a specific room or find it if you no longer know where it is.

Search for movies in nearby cinemas

When you ask “OK Google, what movies are nearby?”Google will list the movies and ask what interests you. From there, you can even select a session and, if necessary, go as far as paying for a seat.

speak a new language

Google Home can translate up to 50 languages ​​in real time, which can be very handy in many situations.

To switch Google Assistant into translator mode, simply ask what you want to translate: “OK Google, translate from Japanese to Dutch”, “OK Google, I need a translator for English”, or “OK ​​Google, what is the Korean word for “hotel”. ‘?