Where Google Assistant Will Arrive First

Earlier, Google shared that it had planned to roll out the Assistant during the Mobile World Congress (that recently occurred). So, who gets to receive the big update first? Android users located in the United States will be the first to get their hands on Google Assistant for Marshmallow and Nougat phones. After that, Australia will receive access to the update, followed by Canada, the United Kingdom, and then Germany.

Read More: Google’s Security Patch Improves Pixel’s Audio Issues

How the Update Works

How will the Google Assistant update work? Fortunately, it’s easy. There are no extra apps to download and enable. Instead, you will simply receive an update notification on your device. Once you enable the update, Google Assistant will become available on your phone, just like it is on the Google Pixel. Then, you can ask questions, have it do things for you (like dial your mother), and tell you whatever other information comes to mind. It’s just like typing your question into Google, but without any of the extra work. Instead, Google Assistant is voice activated and will do the work for you, instantly providing you with the answer you need.

Few Android Users Will Receive the Update

Google has stated that the only drawback to the much-anticipated update is that only compatible devices will receive the update. Roughly 31% of Android users currently have compatible Android devices. For now, users are guessing and hoping that their Android smartphones will soon gain the new function so that they no longer have to resort to using the Allo app in order to access Google Assistant.

Android Users Can’t Wait for Google Assistant

Why is there so much excitement surrounding the update? Google Assistant is an easy-to-use helper. The more you use Google Assistant, the better the smart assistant will get over time, as it will learn more about your interests and your preferences.

Once the update arrives on your Android device, you’ll be able to hold down the home button to activate Google Assistant. Set up is then easy; just follow the prompts.

Google Assistant
By far one of Google Home’s best features is its intelligence. Unlike Amazon Echo, Google Home allows you to search Google, control your smart home, and manage your affairs through Google Assistant, the smartest assistant around. Google Assistant can learn your behaviors and preferences (like with Google Now), for a more pleasant and satisfying experience with the smart hub. Those are features that Amazon Echo simply can’t compete with.

Read More: How to Best Utilize Google’s Voice Assistant

Google Assistant can manage your calendar’s events, online orders, travel itinerary, and all of your Google-related questions. Google Assistant understands what you want to know and can provide you with quick answers to your questions (from a Google search), in addition to information from any follow-up questions. It can even read you passages of text from a web page. Try asking it questions about monetary conversions, text translations, or even the schedule of a local movie theater.

Google Home As a Speaker
Google Home works as a Wi-Fi speaker for playing music. Connect your phone to play music from your phone, or ask Google Assistant to play music from services like Google Play Music, Spotify, or Pandora.

Google Home As a Smart Hub
Through Google Home, you can adjust the temperature of your home, change the lighting, and even manage other smart hubs in your home. Further, you can use Google Home to control your smart TV.

Enhanced Voice Recognition Software
Google Home will be able to understand your voice commands even when there’s background noise from music or a TV show.

Different Color Options
Google Home offers a variety of different colored speaker bases, in addition to different types of materials, to ensure that your device matches your tastes or home décor. Few smart hubs offer such customization options.

1. Google Now
   What does Google Now do? Well, a lot of things, it seems. It DJs, identifies songs, performs calculations, will Google anything, and keeps drivers up to date on traffic. It can even tell you where you parked if you’re having a panicky I-have-no-idea-where-my-car-is moment. Some people believe that Google Now is a more proactive version of Siri. As it gathers user data from your Android, it will begin to come up with suggestions based on your search history — it gets to know you in a way that Siri does not. For example, if you’ve looked up an item recently and you walk by a store that carries it, Google Now will let you know.

Read More: Four Calendar Apps to Replace Your Planner

2. Cortana
   The coolest thing about Cortana, and what makes it different, is that it can work across platforms (meaning it is transferrable between an Android phone and a Windows computer or tablet).
   Otherwise, it seems that Cortana operates much like Siri — a voice-activated system that can tap into other services within the phone, like Google, Spotify, alarms, and calendars.

3. Jarvis
   Jarvis is has pretty standard features, but with a cool male British voice to help you along instead of a robotic American female one.

4. Maluuba
   The best part of Maluuba is that it is free. Maluuba appears to be a pretty basic alternative to Siri. You connect your Google account and voilà! It is a personal assistant designed to help you navigate the web, play music, set reminders, and all of the other good things that Siri does.

5. Robin
   Robin, unlike most Android versions of Siri, brings in the attitude that characterizes Apple’s product. In other words, Robin talks back. She is a sassy assistant, if that’s what you’re looking for. Oh, and it’s also free!

6. Assistant.ai
   Another humorous option — like Robin, a robot with some personality. And, like Google Now, Assistant.ai makes suggestions for you based on your preferences and history.

7. Smart Voice Assistant
   Customizable. Ooh. Aah. Meaning you can choose what features your voice activation has control over. Otherwise pretty standard, it seems.

8. Dragon Mobile Assistant
   A basic alternative to Siri. Responds when you say “Hello, Dragon” instead of “Hey, Siri.” Also customizable to meet your preferences and needs.

There are a few more alternatives out there, but these cover the bases with a wide range of feature options. Which one you choose is really up to your own preferences. Siri is certainly not the best personal assistant out there, and Android users are lucky to have so many options to choose from.