Build a DIY Google Home
WITH JUST AN OLD SMARTPHONE AND A SPEAKER, YOU CAN CREATE YOUR OWN DIGITAL HOME ASSISTANT!
VOICE ACTIVATED, SMART assistants such as Google Home can be amazingly helpful, but are not exactly super affordable. Not to mention, it’s not really much more than trimmed down hardware running Google’s Assistant, paired up with a speaker and some LEDs. Rather than shelling out $200 for Google Home, it’s possible to combine an old smartphone and speaker to build your own voice-activated assistant. Sure, Home is still better, but it’s an easy way to experiment with gear you likely already have laying around. Or maybe you already have a Google Home, but want can’t justify a second one for the garage, kitchen or bathroom, and want to go DIY. To help get you started, we’ve put together a guide to creating your own Google-based digital helper. Relevant links are included using Google URL shortener — don’t forget to copy them exactly, including upper and lower-case letters.
GOOGLE ASSISTANT
Our home brew Google Home needs a somewhat recent phone that supports Google Assistant. Most Nougat or Marshmallow (Android 6 and 7) devices will work just fine, and we had no problems using a Nexus 6P launched back in 2015. Google also lists the hardware requirements as at least 1.5GB of memory and a 720p screen resolution.
Google is still rolling out Assistant to languages other than US English on phones aside from the Pixel, so there are a few steps we need to take to get it running. First up, run the Google app, open the menu, and then select ‘Settings > About’, and check the version number is 6.13 or higher. You can update it via Google play if not ( goo.gl/pDb1D). You also need to make sure you have the Google Play Services (Beta) installed ( goo.gl/k9KFF).
Next, we need to change the default language to US English. Jump into the Google app menu again, then ‘Settings > Search language’ and select ‘English (US)’. Your phone should now automatically get Google Assistant — check under the Google app menu, and the top option should become Google Assistant. It may take a little while, or require a reboot before it appears. If you are still having problems, Google has a more in-depth guide to getting started with Google Assistant on your phone here ( goo.gl/3b6Rwt).
If you can’t get Google Assistant, you can still build your DIY Home using Google Now voice commands, but it will lack some functionality.
THE SPEAKER
Realistically, just about any speaker will work, but some are better than others. About the only key requirement is a speaker that does not auto power off, as some portable Bluetooth models do, even when connected to mains power. While you can connect via Bluetooth, we found using a 3.5mm wired headphone cable much more reliable than wireless. Some portable speakers include a microphone themselves, but in our testing, this didn’t offer any compelling advantages over the inbuilt phone mic. For those who listen to a lot of music, connecting into an existing stereo or TV surround system can work well, as long as you don’t have to switch to the AUX input each time. Using a portable Bluetooth speaker has an advantage over the
POSITIONING
Microphones are fairly omnidirectional,
so your smartphone can sit just about anywhere. It doesn’t even have to be near the speaker, especially if connecting wirelessly. Using a portable Bluetooth speaker means you can move the DIY Home around with you — something the real Home can’t do. That said, we found it worthwhile to use a cheap car phone mount to give the ideal angle to also interact with the device using touch. This can be handy for assistant results that bring up actual results on the phone, such as opening a specific app using a voice command. This way, the phone can also be used to control other aspects of your smart home, such as tech that does not yet support direct control via Google Assistant.
PHONE SETUP
Getting up and running is quite easy. Make sure your phone is fully updated, plugged in and connected to your Wi-Fi, as well as the speaker. Open up Google app (swipe left for those using the Google Launcher) and touch the icon in the top left to open the menu. Select ‘Settings > Voice > ‘OK Google’ Detection’. Select ‘From any screen’, which will prompt you to train your voice by saying “OK Google” three times while the app listens. If using an external microphone, whether wired or wireless, in headset mode, it needs to be enabled. Head back to ‘Settings > Voice’, and make sure ‘Speech output’ is on. Under the Voice menu, select ‘Hands-free’ and make sure both ‘For Bluetooth devices’ and ‘For wired headsets’ are selected. Now just say “OK Google” and start asking questions!
COMMANDS
Google Assistant has loads of functionality so the best bet is to just experiment and see. You can also ask the assistant what it can do for a list of options. All your normal Android voice commands work, such as performing searches, setting alarms or playing music. If you have a Chromecast Audio, you can tell the assistant to play your music to a specific speaker, rather than just playing it locally. One of our favourites is location-based reminders — for example, you can ask your Google Assistant to remind you to buy a certain item next time you go to a specific shop. Try controlling your phone as well — the assistant can open apps, search through your photos, snap a picture, check how long a car trip will take and more. You can just talk to the assistant, too, and there are all sorts of fun Easter egg surprises in the responses.
TIE-IN SERVICES
You can get a lot more utility from your home brew Google Home by linking in other services and hardware. Google Assistant can integrate with services such as IFTTT, which allows interaction and control into wider home automation and custom commands. Hardware such as the D-Link Smart Plugs can be controlled directly via Google Assistant, making it easy to turn lamps or appliances on and off using voice commands.