Author Archives: Lilian Rincon

Interpreter mode brings real-time translation to your phone

You’ve booked your flights, found the perfect hotel and mapped out all of the must-see local attractions. Only one slight issue—you weren’t able to brush up on a new foreign language in time for your trip. The Google Assistant is here to help.


Travelers already turn to the Assistant for help researching and checking into flights, finding local restaurant recommendations and more. To give you even more help during your trip, the Assistant’s real-time translation feature, interpreter mode, is starting to roll out today on Assistant-enabled Android and iOS phones worldwide. Using your phone, you can have a back and forth conversation with someone speaking a foreign language.


To get started, just say “Hey Google, be my German translator” or “Hey Google, help me speak Spanish” and you’ll see and hear the translated conversation on your phone. After each translation, the Assistant may present Smart Replies, giving you suggestions that let you quickly respond without speaking—which can make your conversations faster and even more seamless.
Google Assistant_interpreter mode on mobile.gif

Interpreter mode helps you translate across 44 languages, and since it’s integrated with the Assistant, it’s already on your Android phone. To access it on iOS, simply download the latest Google Assistant app. Interpreter mode also features different ways to communicate suited to your situation: you can type using a keyboard for quiet environments, or manually select what language to speak.


Whether you’re heading on a trip this holiday season, gearing up for international travel in the New Year, or simply want to communicate with family members who speak another language, interpreter mode is here to remove language barriers no matter where you are.


Gute Reise! Translation: “Enjoy your trip!”

Interpreter mode brings real-time translation to your phone

You’ve booked your flights, found the perfect hotel and mapped out all of the must-see local attractions. Only one slight issue—you weren’t able to brush up on a new foreign language in time for your trip. The Google Assistant is here to help.


Travelers already turn to the Assistant for help researching and checking into flights, finding local restaurant recommendations and more. To give you even more help during your trip, the Assistant’s real-time translation feature, interpreter mode, is starting to roll out today on Assistant-enabled Android and iOS phones worldwide. Using your phone, you can have a back and forth conversation with someone speaking a foreign language.


To get started, just say “Hey Google, be my German translator” or “Hey Google, help me speak Spanish” and you’ll see and hear the translated conversation on your phone. After each translation, the Assistant may present Smart Replies, giving you suggestions that let you quickly respond without speaking—which can make your conversations faster and even more seamless.
Google Assistant_interpreter mode on mobile.gif

Interpreter mode helps you translate across 44 languages, and since it’s integrated with the Assistant, it’s already on your Android phone. To access it on iOS, simply download the latest Google Assistant app. Interpreter mode also features different ways to communicate suited to your situation: you can type using a keyboard for quiet environments, or manually select what language to speak.


Whether you’re heading on a trip this holiday season, gearing up for international travel in the New Year, or simply want to communicate with family members who speak another language, interpreter mode is here to remove language barriers no matter where you are.


Gute Reise! Translation: “Enjoy your trip!”

Get Ayesha Curry’s exclusive new recipe on the Google Assistant

Growing up in Venezuela, Canada, Indonesia and the U.S., I’ve experienced many variations of the “traditional” holiday meal. But no matter where I am in the world, one thing has always remained constant: the joy of sharing a delicious meal with the loved ones in my life.


For many people, the holiday season is a chance to spend more time with family and friends. It also means attending or hosting more events than usual, and more cooking and stress to get everything prepared.


Our goal with the Assistant is to help you get things done, especially in the kitchen. To make holiday cooking even easier (and more delicious), bestselling author, entrepreneur and chef, Ayesha Curry’s recipes are starting to roll out on the Google Assistant—so you can get step-by-step help cooking on Smart Displays, like Nest Hub Max.


Ready to give one of Ayesha’s recipes a try? Just say, “Hey Google, show me recipes from Ayesha Curry” and you’ll see a list of some of her favorite appetizers, entrees and desserts. And we have another treat for you … you can ask the Assistant for Ayesha’s brand new recipe—Cast Iron Fall Bread Pudding with Brown Butter Apples—which she provided exclusively for Assistant users. To get the recipe and start cooking, just say, “Hey Google, show me Ayesha Curry’s fall bread pudding recipe” to your Smart Display.


Looking for other ways your Assistant can help out in the kitchen? Here are a few ideas:

  • Quickly convert measurements or figure out a substitute ingredient. Just ask, “Hey Google, how many tablespoons in a cup?” or “Hey Google, what’s a substitute for buttermilk?” 

  • Learn a new cooking technique. Try asking your Assistant, “Hey Google, show me videos for how to laminate pastry dough” or “Hey Google, show me how to brown butter.”

  • Search for recipes based on specific dietary needs. Just say, "Hey Google, show me gluten free stuffing recipes" or "Hey Google, show me vegan broccoli casserole recipes."

  • And when you discover a recipe that you love or want to try out in the future, you can easily save and view it in your own personal Cookbook on Smart Displays like Nest Hub Max. I just saved Ayesha’s Butternut Squash Pasta with Edamame recipe to make for my kids this weekend!


Whether you’re a novice cook hosting your first Friendsgiving, or a seasoned chef putting on your 20th annual Thanksgiving dinner, the Assistant can provide hands-free help so you can pull off the perfect holiday meal. 


May the 4th be with you … at the movies. Book with the Google Assistant.

What started as a fun pun—May the 4th—has now become an official holiday for Star Wars fans. On this day known around the globe as “Star Wars Day,” fans celebrate the lore of the galaxy far, far away. We’ve got a couple of ideas for how you can join in on the celebration!

Your box office guide

What if the droids in the Star Wars universe could pull off this handy trick … your Google Assistant can now help you find, learn about and purchase tickets to the movies. If you’re not sure what you’re in the mood for, just ask your Google Assistant for “showtimes near me,” and if one of the movies sounds interesting, you can keep the conversation going by asking “who stars in it?” or “show me the trailer.”

assistant_fandango

We worked with Fandango so you can buy tickets to the movies using your voice—just say “buy tickets” once you’ve decided which movie to see. Or if you already have a movie in mind, you can just say “Hey Google, get me tickets for...”  and insert the name of the movie you want to see. You can even buy advance tickets for upcoming movies, like “Solo: A Star Wars Story” opening on May 25th. Here’s how it works on your phone:

How to get movie tickets with your Google Assistant

And if you’re purchasing tickets for a movie that requires reserved seating, you can use Fandango or other providers to pick your seats before you complete your purchase. This works even if you started the conversation on your Google Home – take a look:

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Before you go see “Solo: A Star Wars Story” later this month, enjoy the best of Star Wars on Google Play! We’ve got you covered with discounts and deals on Star Wars apps, games, movies, books and more from that galaxy far, far away.

As a huge fan of Han Solo and Chewbacca, I’m excited to share some wookiee tricks from your Google Assistant … just say, “Hey Google, may the 4th be with you.”

We’ve got your playbook for football Sunday

Just in time for the coin toss, we’re here with some ways your Google Assistant can help you prep for game day, as well as some trending recipes state by state.


“Hey Google, let’s make buffalo wings”

The Google Assistant's recipe feature, available on speakers like Google Home, is a host’s best friend: you can send a recipe straight from mobile search or the Assistant on your phone (iPhone and Android) to your speaker. From there, just say “Hey Google, start recipe,” and you can follow hands-free step-by-step directions as you go. You can also ask questions like “what’s a substitute for chipotle chili powder?” or “how many grams of cornmeal in a cup?” and then go right back to the recipe by saying “Hey Google, next step.” Set multiple timers at once and even name them (cornbread, simmer); listen to music and podcasts to get your game face on.


You can also try one of these questions with your Google Assistant to get game day details, highlights and a few surprises:


  • “Hey Google, give me a game prediction” 
  • “Hey Google, coach me”
  • “Hey Google, let’s play Lucky Trivia Sports” 
  • “Hey Google, touchdown!” 

And since the Google Assistant is available across devices, you can keep up with the game no matter where you are. If you’re running late to the party, ask the Google Assistant in your Android Auto car for the score. Walking to the corner store to stock up on snacks? Your Assistant on your phone or headphones will have the latest. And if you’re at home looking to fill the time between plays, ask the Assistant on your speaker to play sports trivia.


Now we’re cooking

Whether you’re a Philly fan, a New England diehard or just there for the commercials, good food is non-negotiable. With data from the Google News Lab, here’s a look at the most uniquely-searched game day recipes by state. Turns out the two rival teams’ home states are both chowing down on chili, but from “bacon shrimp” in Montana to “calzone” in Kansas to “crab dip” in South Carolina, maybe these unique searches will inspire you to go beyond chips and dip! You can check out more on Google Trends.
game day recipes 2018

BRB, game’s almost starting.

New Google Assistant updates, made just for you at home

The Google Assistant is all about you. And with Google Home, Google Home Max or your other smart speakers, the Assistant can help do everyday things like call your mom, turn on compatible living room lights,  plan your day and even show you your photos from the holidays. Now, it’s getting even better, by helping you wake up, find a show and listen to your favorite songs (for some content, you might need a subscription).  

Waking up is hard to do...

And waking up to a wailing alarm doesn’t always help to start your day off on the right foot. Luckily, the Google Assistant can help you wake up more peacefully.

All you have to do is say “Hey Google, set an alarm for 6 AM that plays [insert favorite musician?]” to the Assistant on Google Home (or your other Assistant-enabled speakers) and you can set an alarm and wake up to your favorite song, playlist or radio station.

...Finding your shows and music shouldn’t be

The Assistant can already help you learn about actors or play a TV show, and now it can help you keep up with the TV shows you’re into right now. Just say “Hey Google, what channel airs The Flash” or “Hey Google, when does The Flash air next.” And don’t forget, you can set a reminder so you never miss the show, ‘Hey Google, remind me to watch Riverdale every Wednesday at 8 PM.” And when it's time to tune in, it's easy with voice casting and YouTube TV. Just say "Hey Google, watch Riverdale"

We've worked closely with Netflix to make your Netflix casting experience more personal. The first step is to link your Netflix account in the Google Home app or via the Google Assistant on your phone. From there, just choose your Netflix profile and get right to the things you want to watch. Thanks to Voice Match on the Assistant, you can just say, “Hey Google, play Stranger Things on Netflix" and it will pick up right where you left off. And same for your roommate or partner.

Finally, if you're a Google Play Music user, you can now enjoy all the music that you’ve purchased or uploaded to your music library. It’s as simple as asking for your favorite artist, song or album and singing along to the beat. So grab your Google Home Max from the Google Store, Verizon or Best Buy and you can sing and dance your heart out in no time.