Will Google’s Google Assistant become the next Android?
Google's Google Assistant has become a hot topic of CES this year, and Google is building a complete ecosystem like Android around Google Assistant.
Google is expanding its smart ecosystem
Google will expand its Google Assistant smart ecosystem through Google Assistant Connect for third parties. Google officially said at CES 2019 that Google will produce custom small devices through manufacturers that will provide specific features through Google Assistant. At the CES show, Google also showed two related devices: E Ink screen and Google Assistant control button. It is worth noting that both devices are implemented in 3D printing and are therefore relatively low in cost and price.
It is clear that Google is further developing the entire ecosystem through such auxiliary control products, and the positioning of these products actually has the concept of “entry equipment”. In this ecosystem, Google has opened up more features for third-party vendors through Google Assistant to consolidate the entire ecological activity and product line.
In addition, Google and Lenovo jointly released a smart alarm clock with a 4-inch touch screen, the device has the function of charging , playing music and so on. Some media believe that this device is more like a version of Google Home Hub. Because it is not equipped with a camera, users are more willing to bring it into the bedroom.
According to data released by Google at this year’s CES, the number of Google Assistant users has increased fourfold in 2018. Up to now, more than 1,000 brands of 10,000 devices are equipped with Google Assistant.
Google Assistant feature update
Translation mode
Another news announced by Google is that Google Assistant will soon have a “translation model” and will first apply it to Google Home Hub, which will enable translation in 27 languages. By waking up the Google Assistant device with “translation mode”, the device can automatically recognize the user’s language and translate it into a native language on the display. If you set it to the chat mode, you can use this mode to translate between two different languages, thus achieving cross-language communication.
At this year’s CES show, Google also tried to try Google Assistant in the hotel. From the video released by Google, Google Assistant’s “translation mode” can not recognize Chinese well. Google also said that related features will continue to improve.
In addition, Google Assistant’s “translation mode” will be applied to Google Home devices from Lenovo, LG, JBL and other third-party companies in the coming months.
Assistant boarding pass
Now users can get a boarding pass through Google Assistant. Even when the screen of the mobile phone is locked, the user can view all the information about the baggage check and security check on the mobile phone interface by simply clicking the corresponding button on the screen, and the user can finally obtain an electronic boarding pass to realize the use of Google Assistant quickly boarded the flight.
Currently, a pilot program has been launched for Google’s domestic flights with United Airlines. At the same time, Apple’s iPhone e-wallet boarding pass has been widely used, so it seems that Google has fallen behind.
Add Google Assistant to Google Maps
Google announced on CES 2019 that it will integrate Google Assistant into Google Maps. Including Android Auto and Anker are developing plugins that are compatible with Google Assistant. In addition, since everyone is used to using mobile phones for car navigation, Google also uses the car system as a target market in 2019.
In addition, Google’s new features on CES 2019 include the ability to automatically add punctuation and lock screen access to more apps via Google Assistant.
Third-party smart products using Google Assistant
As an important participant in CES 2019, Google Assistant is far more than just used for its own products, it can be seen in many products exhibited at this exhibition.
Samsung QLED TV
Samsung previously announced that users will be able to use Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant to control its QLED Smart TV launched in 2019. However, compared to its built-in voice assistant Bixby, users who want to use Google Assistant in Samsung’s new TV still need to have additional devices such as Google Home.
KitchenAid kitchen display
Whirlpool’s latest KitchenAid kitchen smart display with Google Assistant has a 10-inch display and is waterproof. Users can control devices through Google Assistant and also have the ability to watch YouTube videos or make phone calls.
Anker's Roav Bolt Car Receiver
Anker’s Roav Bolt is a small receiver that plugs into a car’s charging port and can be connected to a car’s stereo system. The device supports wired assist systems and Bluetooth connectivity and supports Google Assistant control.
After plugged in and set up the device, it can allow users to connect to Google Assistant via their mobile phone, just like use the smartphone or Google Home. The Roav Bolt is equipped with a dual array microphone and features noise reduction, which helps users hear outside sounds on the road and in the car, and a button on the top can quickly launch Google Assistant.
In addition, Sonos will continue to support Google Assistant in 2019, Philips Hue will integrate with Google Assistant, and Dish Hopper will also integrate with Google Assistant.
Will Google Assistant be the next Android?
According to the data released this time, the number of connected devices for Google Assistant will increase to 1 billion units, which is indeed a huge number. But can Google Assistant be the next Android as Manuel Bronstein wants?
Don’t forget, it also has a very strong competitor: Amazon’s Alexa. According to data released by Amazon at the end of 2018, Echo shipments reached tens of millions in 2018. The number of skills on the Alexa skill platform has exceeded 70,000, and now it has access to 28,000 third-party smart devices of 4,500 brands. At the same time, in the in-vehicle system market that Google also values, Amazon has partnered with Audi, BMW, Ford, Lincoln, Toyota and Lexus to integrate Alexa into the vehicle-mounted central control platform.
Also on CES 2019, Alibaba released the IoT Connect Kit, a new generation of smart home connectivity solution that supports “voice networking”; Baidu announced that the number of smart device activations equipped with Baidu DuerOS has exceeded 200 million, and the monthly active device volume exceeds 35 million.
In the case that the competition continues to grow, Google has a certain brand advantage, and it has its own unique features in terms of technical capabilities, but according to the current market structure, Google Assistant wants to be the next Android is still more difficult.
