Table of Content
Doorbell — Hear when someone's at your door or stream your video doorbell on your TV using Chromecast or a TV with Chromecast built-in. Timer — Set and manage a timer for cooking, game time, laundry, and even sleep. View Google Photos — Enjoy a slideshow of your personal photos from your Google Photos library on any voice-supported TV with Chromecast or Chromecast built-in. Play TV shows and movies— Stream video content to any TV that has Chromecast plugged in or built-in. Google says it will not automatically store your conversations with Google Assistant unless you give the device permission to do so through your Google account. Your Google Nest Mini can also help you manage connecting with people in different time zones by letting you know what time it is wherever they may be.

In our case, we have it so that it turns everything off, including the lights, as we tend to play the PS4 before bed. And while turning on the PS4 has to be done manually, you can automate it so that the Harmony hub puts the PS4 on standby when you activate the end sequence. Setting up the hub is pretty straightforward – the app will walk you through everything – but you’ll want to keep it nearby your PS4. If you have a smart TV, we’d recommend pairing that when it prompts you to search for Wi-Fi devices, as you can sync this up with the PS4.
Use Google Home With Roku Via the Quick Remote App
And once set up, it'll be easy to connect your Matter devices with the other apps and ecosystems you choose. Google Home Mini is a smaller version of Google Home speaker. The voice-controlled speaker can be used to play music, control smart gadgets, play videos on Chromecast-enabled screen, create calendar appointments and more. The device is fairly cheaper than all other similar devices and is small enough in size and can easily be put in any corner of your room.
Connecting your Google Home Mini to smart lighting such as Philips Hue Lights will enable you to do more than just switch the lights on and off. You can adjust the brightness, sync your lights, or change the color in certain rooms. You can link your Google Home Mini to the thermostat to alter temperatures within your house and other settings as well.
Google Home Mini has arrived—here’s what you can do with it
And it can even be set to respond to two languages at a time including English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, and Japanese. The beauty of having more than one Google Assistant-enabled speaker throughout your home is that when you have an announcement you want to make to your entire brood, you don’t have to yell it down the halls. Typically, you can find the Google Home Mini for slightly cheaper than the Google Nest Mini since it’s an older model, but the second-generation version offers faster response times and better sound quality. You can even create a schedule so that everything turns on or off at a certain time of day, on select days of the week.

From setting reminders to paying for your favorite music, a Google Nest Mini smart speaker can help you manage your days with ease. With Google Assistant at the ready, there’s plenty more you can do with either version of Google’s smallest smart speaker. The Harmony app lets you set an “End sequence” too, and this doesn’t just have to be the same routine in reverse.
Make your smart home even smarter
If you recently changed your Wi-Fi password, you may need to reconfigure your Google Home. If your Google Home can't find your Chromecast, make sure your mobile device and Chromecast are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Also, make sure your device supports a 5 GHz Wi-Fi connection, which is required for Google Home to find Chromecast. On the other hand, Sony takes a slightly different approach by using Google Assistant on its Android TVs to control both the internal TV functions and linking with external smart home products. You have the choice of letting the installer create the needed voice commands, or you can tell it what commands you would like to use.

Turn mic on or off Toggle the mic on or off switch located on the back of Max. The switch will display orange when the microphone is turned off. You can’t use your voice or the Google Home app to turn on or off the mic. Apps for the Google Assistant — Get things done and have some fun on your speaker or display with third-party created apps for the Google Assistant.
Turning Your TV on with Google Home Mini
Different TVs come with different ways of powering a Chromecast. Some of the time, the port may cycle control with the Television. Other USB ports will turn off when the Television is turned off.

If you are in the mood for some music, ask Google to stream your favorites on Google Play Music. Also, you can adjust the volume with your voice or stop and pause your videos. The Google Home Mini broadcast feature enables you to send an audio signal to all google devices within the network. Basically, it acts as a public address system to all other devices. This is a useful feature because people from the other end will hear your message loud and clear and have the option of responding. Just start with “Hey Google” to get answers from your Google Assistant, tackle your day, enjoy music or TV shows, and control your compatible smart home devices.
Tap Home and then choose the home that you added the Chromecast to in the above steps. Now, you will be asked to enter the details of the room where the device is. You can also make announcements and play your favourite playlists as well. It can also respond in languages of your choice and answer all your queries. Your TV will power on and switch to the input source of your Chromecast. What’s more, with Google Home, you'll turn your tv on by issuing a verbal command.
Send the on command to the Harmony, the Harmony turns on the PS4. Ensure that your PS4 remains connected to the LAN while in rest mode, in this way HA will be able to communicate to it. I tell my GH to turn on or off the PS4, and it turns on or off the TV, my surround-sound receiver, and the PS4 .
Send information from your speaker or display to your phone — Your Google Assistant can send information from your speaker or display to your phone. Shop on your speaker or display— Order everyday essentials and buy items on your shopping list with your Google Assistant on your speaker or display. Voice Match — Share your speakers or displays with family and friends.
And with Voice Match, the Assistant can tell your voice from others—up to six people can get personal assistance on each device. Matter's built-in Multi-Admin feature is what simplifies cross-platform control, and Google has been working to make this even easier. We've partnered with Samsung to build a smoother Multi-Admin experience, with an enhanced experience coming to you in 2023. When you open the Google Home app, you’ll see Matter devices that have been set up with Samsung SmartThings and have the option to easily add those devices to Google Home and vice-versa. With Matter, you will need a hub to control your smart devices. If you want to control your smart home with Google Home, you’ll need a Google Home or Nest device that can double as a hub for Matter.
Google all your questions
Hence, if your set lacks the function, you may need to upgrade. The setup process is straightforward once you find the CEC or a related trade name on your TV. 20 total taps will mute all audio except your Google Assistant.

Also, you had to speak to one particular Chromecast if you had several of them. The Google Home Mini allows you to control smart locks such as August’s Smart lock Pro with your voice. This lock works seamlessly and locks or unlocks the door when you approach. It even has a sensor that lets you know if your entry has been securely locked. It also enables you to give access to your household to people for specific periods like an hour, and then it locks itself. There are many switches and sockets that are smart; some of them do not require a hub for control but just an application.