Google Assistant Gets Clock App Integration, Broadcast Replies, and More

Smart home devices powered by Google Assistant are going to be popular gifts this holiday season, and the company is rolling out a ton of new features to make them more capable. Google is making changes to broadcasts, smart display info cards, routines, and even the Google Clock app. The new features are rolling out right now to your Assistant devices.

Broadcast functionality is built into every Google Assistant speaker. Just tell Assistant you want to broadcast something, say your message, and your voice comes out of all the Assistant speakers in the house. Starting today, people on the other end can reply to your broadcast. So, it’s like an old-fashioned intercom system but more powerful. You can make broadcasts in your home from your phone, even if you’re not there. Replies also appear as transcribed text on your phone.

When interacting with your speakers, you’ll soon be able to exert more control over other devices and services. For example, you can change the playback speed of a podcast or audiobook just by asking Assistant to “play at twice the speed” or just “play faster.” That only works with Google’s podcast and book apps right now, unfortunately.

Users of Android phones will also be able to control some devices settings like do-not-disturb mode from a Google Home speaker. Google also says more kid-friendly content is coming to the Assistant platform in partnership with Nickelodeon.

Assistant-powered smart displays are getting some new features as well. Of course, these are also smart speakers that will get all of the new audio and voice features. In addition, these devices will soon have a new suggested card on the home screen for recipes. The suggestions will be time appropriate, so you’ll get breakfast food in the morning and larger meals in the evening. You can save any recipes you like to your personal cookbook to pull up later. The Assistant Home View interface for managing smart home hardware is also gaining support for Roku boxes, Harmony remotes, and more.

Finally, Google has tied the official Google clock app into Assistant routines. After dismissing an alarm, you can trigger a custom routine. For example, you can turn on the coffee maker, have your Google Home read the news, or get a weather forecast. These routines are managed from the clock app, which will need an update before you can plug into Assistant. Most of the other features will just appear on your Assistant devices in the coming days or weeks.