The Home Max is Google’s newest smart speaker, and with the proper setup, you can use it to manage smart home appliances.
Detailed information on the Google Home Max’s functions and audio quality can be found in this review, but here we focus on how to use it. And how you can connect it to the suitable smart gadgets in your home during that procedure.
When everything is finished, you’ll be able to use your voice to operate various devices like lights, security cameras, thermostats, and more in addition to controlling the music you play.
Install the Google Home app on your Android or iOS smartphone, then sign in using your Google account before you begin. It will be necessary for setting up everything.
Out of the box
Inside the Google Home Max box, not much is found. The speaker’s rubberized pad and power cord are its only actual accessories (magnets place them together). Connect one end of the power wire to a wall socket and the other end to the rear of the speaker. It will produce a chime when it is prepared for setup.
Open the Home App, and pick Devices from the menu that appears on the left. A button labeled Set Up should already be present, along with your Home Max. Click that to proceed.
The app walks you through connecting it to your home Wi-Fi network step-by-step. The next step is to decide which room the speaker will be in.
One thing to keep in mind is that stereo sound will be produced if the speaker is placed horizontally. When vertically raised, it will only play in mono. To produce genuine left and right stereo channels, you can vertically align two Home Max speakers together.
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Voice setup
The voice activation functions incorporated inside the Home Max will then be activated by setting up Google Assistant. It should be noted that you do have the option of adding the Home Max to the current voice profile you would have created at that time if you already have a Google Home device in your home.
If you’re using the Home Max for the first time, the app will walk you through voice recognition training. You will then be given the option to select which voice you want to use to carry out your requests. There are eight in all, with four men and four women. You can choose a different one at any time by going to More Settings>Preferences>Assistant Voice.
Sound Setup
The speaker will then be connected to your music streaming service so that voice commands can be made. Remember that this integration is limited to Google Play Music and Spotify.
Additionally, it works with YouTube, including the freshly introduced YouTube Music service in Canada.
Pick a default music streaming service. By doing that, you’ll be able to request a song or artist without having to specifically identify the service. Say, “Ok, Google, play music from (artist) on Google Play Music,” for instance, if you are a subscriber to Spotify and want to play anything on Google Play Music.
Hey Google, play (track title) by (artist), is a common voice command for music. You may now ask Google to play a specific playlist by saying “Ok Google, play (playlist name)” or “Hey Google, play my Daily Mix 1 on Spotify.”
There are shortcuts to play music on the Home Max in both Spotify and Google Play Music. You may manually play music to the Home Max by choosing it from the list of devices in the Devices section of the Spotify App (it will be called whatever name you’ve given it).
You can choose a speaker from a list of speakers on Google Play Music by tapping the Chromecast symbol at the top of the screen.
Saying “Hey Google, set volume to 60%” will cause it to change the volume whenever you are playing music. You can also instruct it to pause, stop, skip, repeat, or go back to a number of songs. If you don’t recognize the song that is playing, tell it to shuffle a playlist or ask it what song is playing.
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Organize Smart Devices
You can now integrate some of your smart gadgets to set up voice control once the Home Max is connected to your home Wi-Fi network and music services.
Go to Home Control on the Home App’s main menu to get started.
A lengthy list of connected smart home goods and services will be displayed. Find one you already possess and tap it. Before returning to the Home App, you will be directed to a web browser to enter into your account and confirm the integration.
You may then pick a device from that service and designate it to a room with a certain name. The Home Max will then be aware of what you wish to control anytime you mention it by name.
Saying “Hey Google, turn on Ocean View in Living Room” will cause a Nanoleaf or Philips Hue set of smart lights, for instance, to change the lighting. Keep in mind that the command includes the name of the room and the light mode. The Home Max can only comprehend what you’re attempting to achieve in this way.
You can always use a similar command to manage a Nest or Ecobee smart thermostat or to order it to turn down or turn up the lights. For instance, “Hey Google, set the temperature to 22 degrees.”
Regardless of what it is, the method for connecting smart home goods and services is quite the same. To integrate them with the Home Max, start with Home Control and follow the same procedure for each one.
More Phone Calls
You may use the Home Max as a speakerphone as well. You can call businesses in addition to friends, family, and memorized phone numbers. If you know the location’s name and the street or city it is located in, Google Assistant will call the number using Home Max. You don’t need to pick up your phone; just speak to the speaker.
It is based on your contact list and doesn’t require any actual setup. You would have to repeat the person’s number if they aren’t on it.
Ask Home Max to inform you of a business closing time if you are unsure of the time. What time does (company and location) close today, Google?
If a timer, alarm, or reminder is something you require, you may easily set any of those up using voice commands. Give the Home Max instructions on how long to set the timer for or when to sound the alarm. Tell it to send you a timely reminder of something important.
Willing to Speak
You’ve now successfully configured the Google Home Max to function as a key component of your smart home experience. You can always use the Home App to see what other actions you can take to integrate goods or services, or you can just use the Explore menu option to find out more.