Google Home: 5 strange but surprisingly handy places to put your smart speaker

Google Home ($ 49 at Walmart) smart speakers and displays have seen quite drastic price cuts lately so you may be waiting for one or more box unpacked. But where should it go? It is a dilemma that I face more often than I would like to admit. Last week I picked up the original Google Home from Target for $ 29, although I already own two Nest Hubs ($ 79 at Walmart) two Nest Minis ($ 29 at Walmart) and three Google Home Minis ($ 29 at Crutchfield) .

Why might you wonder, do I need so many smart speakers for a two-bedroom mansion? Because Google Home is handy anytime, anywhere, not just in the typical places like the living room, kitchen or bedroom. In fact, I would never have added a smart speaker to some of my favorite locations if I hadn't been addicted to great deals on great technology

To help you get your new Google Home ̵

1; and your way of thinking – off the beaten track, here are my five favorite unexpected places I've put my Google Home speakers and screens.

Dale Smith / CNET

Sorry, rubber duck. Google Home is more fun

I first discovered the pleasure of a Google Home in the bathroom when I discovered all the different ways to install a Google Home Mini for a week. This is definitely a situation where you want to keep electronics out of the splash zone, so I highly recommend placing smart speakers on the wall or on a shelf away from the sink, bath, or shower. Once you do this, here are some benefits of having a Google Home device in your bathroom:

• As you prepare at the beginning or end of the day, you can: Play music get the weather forecast hear the news or listen to podcasts .
• Set toothbrush timers (" OK, Google, set a two minute timer "), and not just for the kids – two minutes of brushing is a lot, even for adults.
• Timing your shower, either with a timer or alarm (or even just asking "" Hey Google, what time is it? ") so you're not late.
• Talk to others in your household using the broadcast function. Say " OK, Google, broadcast " followed by your announcement and each speaker in your house will play the message. However, the answers will only go to the speaker you are broadcasting from. .

Park Google Home where you park your car

Even though I sometimes spend only a total of about four minutes a day in my garage, a lot usually happens in those four minutes. Whether I'm coming or going, it's nice to have a Google Home speaker in the garage for last-minute tasks before I leave (and a little extra help when I arrive). For example, with a Google Home speaker in the garage, you can:

• turn off all smart lights or other connected smart home devices before you leave (and on when you get home) [19659016] Find out if it's going to rain while you're on the road (so you can grab an umbrella).
• If you have a smart garage controller open and close your garage with your voice.
• Find out the traffic situation and driving time before you leave by asking, " Hey, Google, how long will it take me to get to [destination] ." [19659019] img-1258 "data-original =" https://cnet1.cbsistatic.com/img/PMZgWjCcxawtLL6ky49nedX7XiA=/2020/01/03/64b77b11-4f8c-4d90-a805-29b1341bee23/img-1258.jpg"19659031 ] img-1258 “/>

  In my home office it seems like a smart second screen

  One of my most used Google Home devices is the Nest Hub that I keep at home on my desk, next to my computer screen. What is weird, right? Not at all, and here's why:

  

  
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  Better than a butler in the foyer

  A Google Home speaker in the foyer is convenient enough to play a sound when someone rings the bell at Nest Hello Doorbell . But the best thing about a smart speaker at the entrance to your house is what you can do with it in the next tip.