Google Australia has today announced that the Assistant is moving to more devices in Australia this week, launching both on Android TV and Android Auto.
Android Auto
The rollout of Assistant for Android Auto in Australia will mean users get fast access to answers, as well as controlling their music or getting directions from Google Maps or Waze using just their voice. The Assistant on Android Auto can also send and receive messages from services including WhatsApp.
Assistant on Android Auto is also plugged into your smart home eco-system letting you control your home from the car, including access to the Actions provided by third party companies.
Google says Android Auto is currently available from more than 50 brands, including top tier manufacturers including Alfa Romeo, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen and Volvo.
You can use it on any Android Auto compatible head unit, or on an Android Phone running the Android Auto app.
Android TV
The rollout of Assistant to Android TV will begin with the Nvidia Shield this week, with support also rolling out to other brands of Android TV including models from Sony Bravia, TCL and Kogan TV.
Like the implementation on Android Auto, and all your other devices, Google Assistant will have access to your Smart Home as well as the TV letting you control your lights, and other compatible products around your home.
For the TV, Google says you’ll be able to:
- “Play Stranger Things”— your Assistant can play a wide variety of content, from movies and TV shows to YouTube clips and music. With Netflix, Stan and YouTube, you can instantly watch something by asking for it by name or, if you aren’t sure what to watch, try “show me movies about climbing Mount Everest.” You can also ask your Assistant to “play some music” or listen to a specific song on YouTube Music, Google Play Music, Spotify or Pandora.
- “Play business news”— catch up on what’s going on in the news, from business to tech to entertainment. And once you’re caught up, prepare for your own day by asking “what’s on my agenda for today?”
- “Talk to…. ”— apps for the Google Assistant are also now available on Android TV, so you can talk to Woolworths to put items in your shopping cart, Concrete Playground to plan a night out, and more.
- “Turn it on, off and up”— it’s as simple as that. With your Assistant on Android TV you can turn up the volume, pause, control your smart home devices and more, just with your voice.
A system update for the Shield should now be available. Once you’ve installed the update you will be able to hit the remote’s mic button or the Assistant button on your remote to start talking to Google Assistant.
I’ve had this for months on pixel 2 xl
Android Auto updated on my phone overnight and now google maps has no functionality when running AA in my Hyundai i30. Worked perfectly before now won’t give guidance or re-centre the map on my location
What about DVB-T2 support in the Live Channels app? Come on Google!
Is this AA 3.6?
I won’t be holding my breath any time soon for Sony to push out an update, if at all.
Assistant on Shield went live with the Oreo update, it just wasn’t enabled for the Australian language setting. Why would they need a software update to enable that?