Google's answer to the Amazon Echo now has a price and launch date. The AI-powered Google Home is up for pre-order today, with retail availability kicking off from November 4 for $129, $50 less than the price of the Echo.
Google Assistant is built into Home, bringing Google's vast Knowledge Graph into play. The assistant responds to your questions in natural language, and can look up web results, provide translations, stream music from YouTube, Google Music, Spotify, Pandora, Tunein and iHeart Radio, and much more. The device also works as a Chromecast Audio receiver, and you can use it as a remote control for other Cast-enabled devices.
Home's design features a capacitive touch surface at the top, through which you can change volume or pause music playback. The top section is white, but the bottom half is removable, with Google making various color combinations available.
Google Home integrates with Nest Thermostat, SmartThings, Philips and IFTTT, allowing you to manage your smart devices with your voice. Customers purchasing the device also get six months of YouTube Red for free.
