Google Home-tell me about it

[Lisa-72]

We are moving house in a couple of weeks and have changed our internet provider to BT, as part of the package we get a google home speaker.
Question-do I need the hub thing too? We won’t have any smart lighting or gadgets like that.
Is it worth getting another speaker like the mini one?
We both have Apple phones, iPads and a MacBook-can’t justify buying the Apple system.
Any help, advice or experiences great fully appreciated.

[wanye]

what exactly do you mean by "the hub thing"? do you mean the 'google home hub', which is basically the touchscreen version of the home mini/etc? if this is the case, no, you dont need that.

smart home kit (including lightbulbs/etc) is a minefield right now, most kit has their own hub/method of control, and it isnt necessarily compatible with the google home hub anyway

we got a free google home mini as part of our spotify family account but havent used it, we will probably give it to family as a present (get yours too if you have spotify family here: spotify/us/googlehome/register/ )

personally, we're an alexa house rather than google home, but theres not that much of a difference.

they are good for listening to music (again, via spotify mostly) or radio. or asking random questions, or asking it to set a reminder or add something to your shopping list. have a play, you'll quickly pick up how to use it

finally, "Is it worth getting another speaker like the mini one" - thats up to you and how you plan on using it... but for now, just play with the free one and see how you get on...

hth

[limmy]

Originally Posted by wanye

what exactly do you mean by "the hub thing"? do you mean the 'google home hub', which is basically the touchscreen version of the home mini/etc? if this is the case, no, you dont need that.

smart home kit (including lightbulbs/etc) is a minefield right now, most kit has their own hub/method of control, and it isnt necessarily compatible with the google home hub anyway

we got a free google home mini as part of our spotify family account but havent used it, we will probably give it to family as a present (get yours too if you have spotify family here: spotify/us/googlehome/register/ )

personally, we're an alexa house rather than google home, but theres not that much of a difference.

they are good for listening to music (again, via spotify mostly) or radio. or asking random questions, or asking it to set a reminder or add something to your shopping list. have a play, you'll quickly pick up how to use it

finally, "Is it worth getting another speaker like the mini one" - thats up to you and how you plan on using it... but for now, just play with the free one and see how you get on...

hth

See more...

Thanks, I thought it was for new customers only. Just ordered ours.

[wanye]

Originally Posted by limmy

Thanks, I thought it was for new customers only. Just ordered ours.

See more...

i did originally too, but when a mate mentioned he had got one, i went back and we got ours delivered a couple of weeks ago. as i said, we've already got echo dots around the house, so no real need for one, ours will probably be a birthday present for a parent or something...

[Nimbus]

BTW, if by the "hub thingy" you don't mean "Google Home Hub" and instead mean the BT Home Hub or BT Smart Hub then yes, you do need this. This is your wifi router modem. Without it you won't have wifi nor access to the internet

Apologies if this isn't what you meant.

[Lisa-72]

Originally Posted by Nimbus

BTW, if by the "hub thingy" you don't mean "Google Home Hub" and instead mean the BT Home Hub or BT Smart Hub then yes, you do need this. This is your wifi router modem. Without it you won't have wifi nor access to the internet

Apologies if this isn't what you meant.

See more...

I wasn’t clear lol, I will have the BT hub but wasn’t sure if I needed the touchscreen hub for Google speaker to work.

[wanye]

no, the google home mini is a completely standalone device