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Amazon or google.

  • 31-03-2020 8:19pm
    #1
    from_atozinc
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 2,943 ✭✭✭


    I hope this is the right forum. Maybe not

    My 6 year old is forever asking me questions

    what number is after a trillion?
    where do clouds come from?
    where was sonic the hedgehog born?
    how tall is godzilla etc etc

    is the amazon echo dot somewhat capable of answering these type questions or does it only do very specific things like tell you the weather etc

    I always thought the amazon echo dot was the default choice.......
    But then was told about the google equivalents. (1. Nest Mini (2nd Gen) 2. Google home mini)

    For my basic situation, which device would be best? Any help welcome.


«1

Comments

  • #2
    Davy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,340 CMod ✭✭✭✭Davy


    Both will do exactly this.
    Alexa has dedicated 'skills' for kids to ask these type of questions.

    Either will do, so I would consider what other devices/smart tech in the house you have or will have in the near future and go with whatever will link the best.

    Alexa Kids skills


  • #3
    from_atozinc
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 2,943 ✭✭✭from_atozinc


    Davy wrote: »
    Both will do exactly this.
    Alexa has dedicated 'skills' for kids to ask these type of questions.

    Either will do, so I would consider what other devices/smart tech in the house you have or will have in the near future and go with whatever will link the best.

    Alexa Kids skills

    Hi

    Not a tech savvy house and just looking to get this. Don’t want it for controlling heat and lights etc.

    just for kids to play with. Especially in these times.

    From what I’ve heard google can answer random questions better than Alexa, comments.


  • #4
    Clareman
    Moderators, Sports Moderators, Regional Midwest Moderators Posts: 24,006 Mod ✭✭✭✭Clareman


    Google uses Google to get answers and Alexa users Bing so that's probably the biggest difference.

    Personally i went for google as I only use android so wasn't worried about external compatibility


  • #5
    JDxtra
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,936 ✭✭✭JDxtra


    I find Google is better at interpreting speech. My kids ask them questions all the time.

    No need to add any Skills to Google either, it just works out of the box.


  • #6
    from_atozinc
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 2,943 ✭✭✭from_atozinc


    JDxtra wrote: »
    I find Google is better at interpreting speech. My kids ask them questions all the time.

    No need to add any Skills to Google either, it just works out of the box.

    Thank you.


    whats the difference between

    1. Nest Mini (2nd Gen)
    2. Google home mini


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  • #7
    Sheep Shagger
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators Posts: 6,551 Mod ✭✭✭✭Sheep Shagger


    from_atozinc wrote: »
    Thank you.


    whats the difference between

    1. Nest Mini (2nd Gen)
    2. Google home mini

    We are a Google house hold - kids love it.

    Comparison below but for what you want, I'd go for the €29 with free shipping from the google store for the original one (the change of name is just a rebranding exercise).

    https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.digitaltrends.com/home/google-nest-mini-vs-google-home-mini/%3famp

    Deal here

    https://store.google.com/ie/product/google_nest_mini?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIi5XVssbF6AIVQ7TtCh1FsgsdEAAYASAAEgKaSfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds


  • #8
    timetogo1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 866 ✭✭✭timetogo1


    from_atozinc wrote: »
    Thank you.


    whats the difference between

    1. Nest Mini (2nd Gen)
    2. Google home mini

    The speaker is meant to be better on the Nest Mini. I don't know, I only have the Nest mini and not the 1st gen. The speaker is good though. It's cheap too. On Google store the Nest Mini is €29 delivered.

    https://store.google.com/ie/product/google_nest_mini

    I asked my Nest Mini your questions above. The clouds one didn't have a good answer. After a couple of goes it got there.
    All the rest were fine. Sonic is from Nebraska apparently.


  • #9
    Bluefoam
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,747 ✭✭✭Bluefoam


    I'm on Google... All the stuff going aroiund Amazons privacy issues and how they share your information with police, data miners, commercial entities... I decided to get rid of it.

    While I know that Google also share your data, they just seem more upfront & honest about it.

    Plus my ecosystem works pretty flawlessly on Google. I have a set of 7 MusicFlow speakers with a soundbar that work on the Google system...


  • #10
    from_atozinc
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 2,943 ✭✭✭from_atozinc


    in regard to the google nest or mini - do they always have to be plugged in or do they work off the battery?


  • #11
    Gooey Looey
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,297 ✭✭✭Gooey Looey


    I've had both. At first I had Alexa but have since replaced with 3x Google homes as they are better. Better voice recognition, better at answering general questions and now have better integration (didn't always)


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  • #12
    Col240483
    Registered Users Posts: 5 ✭Col240483


    from_atozinc wrote: »
    in regard to the google nest or mini - do they always have to be plugged in or do they work off the battery?

    Plugged in


  • #13
    from_atozinc
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 2,943 ✭✭✭from_atozinc


    Col240483 wrote: »
    Plugged in

    thanks, does echo dot have to be plugged in also?


  • #14
    JDxtra
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,936 ✭✭✭JDxtra


    from_atozinc wrote: »
    thanks, does echo dot have to be plugged in also?

    Yes. None work from batteries.


  • #15
    from_atozinc
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 2,943 ✭✭✭from_atozinc


    Sheep Shagger wrote: »
    We are a Google house hold - kids love it.

    Comparison below but for what you want, I'd go for the €29 with free shipping from the google store for the original one (the change of name is just a rebranding exercise).

    https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.digitaltrends.com/home/google-nest-mini-vs-google-home-mini/%3famp

    Deal here

    https://store.google.com/ie/product/google_nest_mini?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIi5XVssbF6AIVQ7TtCh1FsgsdEAAYASAAEgKaSfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds



    Which is the original one? nest or mini?


  • #16
    Sheep Shagger
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators Posts: 6,551 Mod ✭✭✭✭Sheep Shagger


    from_atozinc wrote: »
    Which is the original one? nest or mini?

    Google Mini....they rebranded to Nest for all their smart home and smart automation stuff after buying the company.


  • #17
    from_atozinc
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 2,943 ✭✭✭from_atozinc


    Sheep Shagger wrote: »
    Google Mini....they rebranded to Nest for all their smart home and smart automation stuff after buying the company.


    Right. The device you linked is for the Nest though


  • #18
    RunDMC
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 338 ✭✭RunDMC


    The Google Home Mini was the 1st Gen, Google Nest Mini was 2nd Gen. The Nest Mini has a significantly better speaker and an extra microphone for better listening. Otherwise they work the same way.

    R


  • #19
    Notmything
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,071 ✭✭✭Notmything


    Sheep Shagger wrote: »
    We are a Google house hold - kids love it.

    Comparison below but for what you want, I'd go for the €29 with free shipping from the google store for the original one (the change of name is just a rebranding exercise).

    https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.digitaltrends.com/home/google-nest-mini-vs-google-home-mini/%3famp

    Deal here

    https://store.google.com/ie/product/google_nest_mini?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIi5XVssbF6AIVQ7TtCh1FsgsdEAAYASAAEgKaSfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds


    Haha, thanks a mill for the link just bought one. No idea why tho lol


  • #20
    from_atozinc
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 2,943 ✭✭✭from_atozinc


    I am leaning towards the goggle nest mini

    our house has 2 x iPhone's and an iPad, does this really matter?
    as I said, not looking for any funky setups, just mainly for the kids


  • #21
    Electric Nitwit
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,419 ✭✭✭✭Electric Nitwit


    From the bargains forum...
    Aristotle wrote: »
    Currys UK are currently doing buy one get one free for 2nd gen Nest Minis at £29 with code GOOGLE241. Just ordered two there for delivery with Parcel Motel.

    https://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/smart-tech/smart-tech/smart-home/voice-control-assistants/google-nest-mini-2nd-gen-charcoal-10200089-pdt.html

    At that price you can't go wrong, I just ordered the 4th and 5th ones for our house :p


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  • #22
    from_atozinc
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 2,943 ✭✭✭from_atozinc


    from_atozinc wrote: »
    I am leaning towards the goggle nest mini

    our house has 2 x iPhone's and an iPad, does this really matter?
    as I said, not looking for any funky setups, just mainly for the kids

    any comments on this?

    about to pull the trigger and just making sure


  • #23
    Sheep Shagger
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators Posts: 6,551 Mod ✭✭✭✭Sheep Shagger


    from_atozinc wrote: »
    any comments on this?

    about to pull the trigger and just making sure

    It shouldn't as the Google home app where you set things up etc is on both IOS and Android.


  • #24
    from_atozinc
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 2,943 ✭✭✭from_atozinc


    Sheep Shagger wrote: »
    It shouldn't as the Google home app where you set things up etc is on both IOS and Android.


    Thanks. Good to know.


  • #25
    BionicRasher
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,820 ✭✭✭BionicRasher


    2nd gen are €29 on the official Google store as well

    https://store.google.com/ie/config/google_nest_mini

    No need for parcel motel etc


  • #26
    from_atozinc
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 2,943 ✭✭✭from_atozinc


    BionicRasher wrote: »
    2nd gen are €29 on the official Google store as well

    https://store.google.com/ie/config/google_nest_mini

    No need for parcel motel etc

    just ordered google nest mini
    is this shipped from a warehouse in Ireland or will it come from over seas? anyone know


  • #27
    from_atozinc
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 2,943 ✭✭✭from_atozinc


    does rte radio 1 work with google nest?


  • #28
    MenloPete
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 321 ✭✭MenloPete


    Davy wrote: »
    Both will do exactly this.
    Alexa has dedicated 'skills' for kids to ask these type of questions.

    Either will do, so I would consider what other devices/smart tech in the house you have or will have in the near future and go with whatever will link the best.

    Alexa Kids skills

    I bought an Echo for my brother who is completely un-tech-savvy in hopes that it could be a mine of information for him.
    Unfortunately it doesn't know simple things like for instance Irish bus or train timetables - something which I imagine Google would handle with ease (don't know for sure).
    'Skills' are a clunky idea, to my mind...


  • #29
    from_atozinc
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 2,943 ✭✭✭from_atozinc


    MenloPete wrote: »
    I bought an Echo for my brother who is completely un-tech-savvy in hopes that it could be a mine of information for him.
    Unfortunately it doesn't know simple things like for instance Irish bus or train timetables - something which I imagine Google would handle with ease (don't know for sure).
    'Skills' are a clunky idea, to my mind...

    yeah, one of the things that swung the nest for me was this post:

    "I find Google is better at interpreting speech. My kids ask them questions all the time.
    No need to add any Skills to Google either, it just works out of the box."


  • #30
    JDxtra
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,936 ✭✭✭JDxtra


    from_atozinc wrote: »
    does rte radio 1 work with google nest?

    Just say "Hey Google, play RTE Radio 1". That's it. No skills, no mentioning TuneIn etc - it just works.


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  • #31
    peteb2
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,813 ✭✭✭peteb2


    from_atozinc wrote: »
    yeah, one of the things that swung the nest for me was this post:

    "I find Google is better at interpreting speech. My kids ask them questions all the time.
    No need to add any Skills to Google either, it just works out of the box."

    Have to say i went from Alexa to google back to Alexa. Google was great at answering questions off the bat, but i was using it for home automation too and the routines were brutual plus it seem to stop listening. Didnt like the google home app. Plus it badly failed the wife test as it never seemed to here her asking to turn the lights on. We've a Lenovo smart clock in the 7 year olds rooom with Google Assistant but he specifically asked for that.

    for all the times i need to ask google a question my phone will pick it up anyway and again i couldnt stop the phone answering ahead of the nest. despite following all instructions. And its the usual android kind of approach - with too much of a work around if something doesnt work first time around.


  • #32
    Notmything
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,071 ✭✭✭Notmything


    from_atozinc wrote: »
    just ordered google nest mini
    is this shipped from a warehouse in Ireland or will it come from over seas? anyone know

    Ordered one yesterday and arrived this morning. Despatched from a warehouse in Dublin.


  • #33
    Gooey Looey
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,297 ✭✭✭Gooey Looey


    peteb2 wrote: »
    for all the times i need to ask google a question my phone will pick it up anyway and again i couldnt stop the phone answering ahead of the nest. despite following all instructions. And its the usual android kind of approach - with too much of a work around if something doesnt work first time around.

    I do not have that issue with any of my 3 Google homes. If I ask a question and my phone picks it up the Google home will still answer

    Mine are not set to Ireland btw, you get more features using USA or UK


  • #34
    Notmything
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,071 ✭✭✭Notmything


    Gooey Looey wrote: »
    I do not have that issue with any of my 3 Google homes. If I ask a question and my phone picks it up the Google home will still answer

    Mine are not set to Ireland btw, you get more features using USA or UK

    Is it easy to do this? Set to US or UK?


  • #35
    Gooey Looey
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,297 ✭✭✭Gooey Looey


    Notmything wrote: »
    Is it easy to do this? Set to US or UK?

    Set your Google account language setting to English (United States)


  • #36
    Notmything
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,071 ✭✭✭Notmything


    Gooey Looey wrote: »
    Set your Google account language setting to English (United States)

    At the risk of sounding stupid how do i? Sorry


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  • #37
    un5byh7sqpd2x0
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,862 ✭✭✭un5byh7sqpd2x0


    Notmything wrote: »
    At the risk of sounding stupid how do i? Sorry

    Google it ;-)


  • #38
    Gooey Looey
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,297 ✭✭✭Gooey Looey


    Notmything wrote: »
    At the risk of sounding stupid how do i? Sorry

    https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/7550584?hl=en


  • #39
    from_atozinc
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 2,943 ✭✭✭from_atozinc


    just got my google next and set it up, all good so far.

    for the kids to use it does google have to learn their voices too, like the steps I just went through on the setup


  • #40
    Gooey Looey
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,297 ✭✭✭Gooey Looey


    from_atozinc wrote: »
    just got my google next and set it up, all good so far.

    for the kids to use it does google have to learn their voices too, like the steps I just went through on the setup

    If they want personal integrations, yes, individual music accounts etc. It will work as guest but one issue I had with this is if a guest asks to play a song it will use the main account which was an issue for me when out walking listening to music on my phone, it would stop mine playing.


  • #41
    from_atozinc
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 2,943 ✭✭✭from_atozinc


    whats the cheapest way to get nest connected to a music source to play random songs etc


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  • #42
    JDxtra
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,936 ✭✭✭JDxtra


    from_atozinc wrote: »
    whats the cheapest way to get nest connected to a music source to play random songs etc
    Spotify has a free option but it will contain ads and limits song skips per day.


  • #43
    from_atozinc
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 2,943 ✭✭✭from_atozinc


    Hi

    Have the nest for a couple of days. Going ok.

    Q: when you asked nest something and I know by the lights that it’s listened and then I see it tries to process and just does nothing - stays silent. Normally it would say can’t help you or I don’t understand etc but in this case does nothing. What does this mean?


  • #44
    vienne86
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,076 ✭✭✭✭vienne86


    from_atozinc wrote: »
    Hi

    Have the nest for a couple of days. Going ok.

    Q: when you asked nest something and I know by the lights that it’s listened and then I see it tries to process and just does nothing - stays silent. Normally it would say can’t help you or I don’t understand etc but in this case does nothing. What does this mean?

    That's happened to me occasionally when asking for things like lights to be switched on/off. I just repeat the request and it usually obliges.


  • #45
    from_atozinc
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 2,943 ✭✭✭from_atozinc


    vienne86 wrote: »
    That's happened to me occasionally when asking for things like lights to be switched on/off. I just repeat the request and it usually obliges.



    Noted. It seems to process it and all judging by the lights, just does nothing.


  • #46
    from_atozinc
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 2,943 ✭✭✭from_atozinc


    from_atozinc wrote: »
    Hi

    Have the nest for a couple of days. Going ok.

    Q: when you asked nest something and I know by the lights that it’s listened and then I see it tries to process and just does nothing - stays silent. Normally it would say can’t help you or I don’t understand etc but in this case does nothing. What does this mean?

    Does Alexa ever do stuff like this?


  • #47
    Bluefoam
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,747 ✭✭✭Bluefoam


    from_atozinc wrote: »
    Does Alexa ever do stuff like this?

    Yes... and more.

    The one big unnerving thing about the Amazon device is that it constantly triggers, whether you use the wake word or not... It makes you very aware that it's always listening to you. I find Google to be allot more passive, and makes me more comfortable.


  • #48
    from_atozinc
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 2,943 ✭✭✭from_atozinc


    Bluefoam wrote: »
    Yes... and more.

    The one big unnerving thing about the Amazon device is that it constantly triggers, whether you use the wake word or not... It makes you very aware that it's always listening to you. I find Google to be allot more passive, and makes me more comfortable.

    so you would prefer google over alexa?


  • #49
    Bluefoam
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,747 ✭✭✭Bluefoam


    from_atozinc wrote: »
    so you would prefer google over alexa?

    Yes, I said that previously in the thread:

    https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=113019472&postcount=9


  • #50
    from_atozinc
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 2,943 ✭✭✭from_atozinc


    Bluefoam wrote: »
    Yes, I said that previously in the thread:

    https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=113019472&postcount=9


    ah ok, right, I dont memorize names etc so forgot you posed already


  • #51
    Clareman
    Moderators, Sports Moderators, Regional Midwest Moderators Posts: 24,006 Mod ✭✭✭✭Clareman


    from_atozinc wrote: »
    whats the cheapest way to get nest connected to a music source to play random songs etc

    I've stumped up for a YouTube Family account, gets rid of ads in YouTube and YT Music, might be a bit pricey but it's well worth it in my opinion.


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