Google Home Can Now Find You a Plumber

Google Home users will be happy to hear that the smart speaker is about to get fifty-fifty smarter thanks to the introduction of two handy new features.

If you're looking for a plumber, electrician, house cleaner, or another nearby service provider, Google Home can now aid you out with that. But say, "Ok Google, find me a plumber," for instance. The speaker'due south congenital-in virtual assistant will ask you a few follow-up questions and so provide a listing of some local options.

Too Google Dwelling, this characteristic works on the Google Assistant app for iOS and Android, and other voice-activated speakers with Google'due south virtual helper built-in. Google will be rolling out this feature in the US over the coming week.

"In many cities the Google Assistant volition suggest providers that have been prescreened by Google and companies like HomeAdvisor and Porch so you can feel confident they're fix to accept on the task," Google Assistant Product Lead Gummi Hafsteinsson wrote in a Thursday weblog post. "And if you're in a city that doesn't have any available guaranteed or screened providers, you'll yet get an answer from the Banana with other nearby results."

Meanwhile, Google Home can now handle two commands in a row, a characteristic Google quietly started rolling out this week, as was first reported by CNET. You lot can, for case, say "'Ok Google, play jazz music and set the volume to 5,'" and the smart speaker will handle both requests without getting confused, the report notes. Simply don't try to enquire Google Home to do three or more things at once, because it's not that smart yet.

Almost Angela Moscaritolo

Angela Moscaritolo

Angela Moscaritolo is PCMag'south expert on fitness and smart home products. Education yoga for nigh 10 years has helped her in evaluating a range of connected health products including fitness trackers, middle rate monitors, rowers, smart scales, stationary bikes, strength training machines, treadmills, and more. Angela too tests smart dwelling devices from her ranch in Florida, including air purifiers, kitchen appliances, and robot vacuums, but to proper name a few.