Google Assistant is expanding to new devices. Google recently launched an SDK that developers can use to integrate the company’s intelligent assistant software into third-party devices. But now the company says Google Assistant is also available for iPhone.

Google Assistant updates

The iOS version of the app supports most of the features that are already available on Android. It can automatically track packages from notifications in your Gmail. It can answer questions you ask. And it supports integration with smart home gadgets, allowing you to control lights, thermostats, and other appliances.

At the Google I/O developer conference, Google also announced that Google Assistant will also soon let you type your questions instead of asking them aloud, making it easier (and more socially acceptable) to use Assistant when you’re in public.

The service will gain support for additional languages including French, German, Spanish, Italian, Korean, Japanese, and Portuguese, and that the Google Home smart speaker is coming to new countries including the UK, Canada, Australia, France, Germany, and Japan.

What’s new with Google Home?

Speaking of Google Home, it’s getting a couple of really nifty new features:

  • Spotify’s free, ad-supported music service is coming to Google Home.
  • You can now use your voice to launch videos on HBO Go if you have Google Home and a Chromecast.
  • Hands-free phone calls are coming to Google Home.
  • Bluetooth support will let you stream audio from an Android or iOS device to a Google Home speaker.

That last one is pretty impressive for a few reasons. First, phone calls are free when you call anyone with a cellphone or land line number in the US or Canada. Second, hands-free calling makes use of Google Home’s ability to recognize up to 6 different uses.

That means if you say “call mom,” it will start a call to your mom. But if your spouse uses the same request, it’ll call the appropriate person.

Hands-free calling is launching first in the US, and Google says it should roll out to all users over the next few months.

Have a Google Home and Chromecast? Google is kicking their integration up a notch. Not only can you now use your voice to play a video… but you can also get visual results to your Google Assistant requests on your TV.

For example, ask your Google Home to show your schedule, and you’ll see an agenda view on your screen.

Or you can ask for a weather forecast and get an overview on your TV.

Support Liliputing

Liliputing's primary sources of revenue are advertising and affiliate links (if you click the "Shop" button at the top of the page and buy something on Amazon, for example, we'll get a small commission).

But there are several ways you can support the site directly even if you're using an ad blocker* and hate online shopping.

Contribute to our Patreon campaign

or...

Contribute via PayPal

* If you are using an ad blocker like uBlock Origin and seeing a pop-up message at the bottom of the screen, we have a guide that may help you disable it.

Subscribe to Liliputing via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 9,547 other subscribers

3 replies on “Google Assistant launches for iPhone (and other Google Assistant & Google Home updates)”

  1. Nice that they’re releasing it for other companies stuff, but could they maybe roll it out to the rest of the Android phones? I’m still waiting for it on Marshmallow.

    1. You might need to manually enable it. Go into settings on the Google App and look for something that says “Enable Google Assistant”, My friend had that problem, He has a Moto Z and for months only On Tap would show up.

  2. “What’s new with Google Home?” This is great news, as an Amazon Echo owner I have been frustrated by the slow roll out of features that should have been baked into the device when it was first released, (like the Echo being able to control a Fire TV). Competition should really start to heat up once Apple releases its smart speaker.

Comments are closed.