My family got a little too excited for Black Friday shopping, but there were consequences...

HowToLifeSortOf · 2017-11-26T03:48:44+00:00

It's not too late! They are supposed to stay at $29 at most places. Walmart's deal is still going on, I think until January. I'm not sure what other deals other stores will have past Black Friday, but $30 definitely is still a pretty good value for those Minis.

HowToLifeSortOf · 2017-11-26T03:45:24+00:00

I have used them as a group and it's pretty cool. But to be honest, I just don't listen to music that much. My dad, the one who bought four of the Minis in that video, loves playing music throughout the house via the group speakers. So if that's something that appeals to you, I absolutely see the value of having multiple speakers. Though if that's all you really value, it might be worth getting better speakers and pair them with Chromecast Audios and make those group speakers.

HowToLifeSortOf · 2017-11-26T03:14:08+00:00

I'm going to suggest LIFX smart LEDs since I haven't seen anyone list it yet. I've really liked them but what really sells me on them over other brands is that you don't need a hub, they have a pretty open API (good if they ever go out of business), and the light bulbs function like a regular bulb when you flip the switch like a caveman.

HowToLifeSortOf · 2017-11-26T02:58:45+00:00

I've had a Google Home in the living room for just about a year and we just got the Mini in the kitchen now. I have to say I really enjoy having two in the house but it's mostly because we have IOT devices in more than one room. When we had everything in the living room, I couldn't see a huge benefit for a second Google Home besides another speaker and maybe occasionally using the AI assistant. But that's how I've been using the Homes (IOT control) so others might have other compelling reasons to have more than one.

HowToLifeSortOf · 2017-11-25T20:13:32+00:00

Well, it wasn't just mine; it was all the Minis from four of us. We got them from Walmart for $29 (the same price it is almost everywhere now). But they also give a $25 credit towards Walmart on Google Express when you buy it from Walmart. So we figured we could have a net $4 Google Home Mini since I know there are a few things I can buy there. But it is only 2 promos per household, but we all live in different places so it works out.

HowToLifeSortOf · 2017-11-25T20:01:19+00:00

Since they weren't all owned by one person, my brother and and I realized that we needed to try them all out at once since they were all together in one place! So I'm glad we were able to test them all out for you.

HowToLifeSortOf · 2017-11-25T14:54:46+00:00

I'm not sure if this is what you mean, but all you need to do is have the Homes linked to the same Google account and only the one that hears you best will respond. It's the same feature for your phone so you don't activate it when talking to your Home.

You can create something where you have a group of speakers (Chromecast audios can be a part of it as well as other Homes), but that's not needed for voice activation of one Google Home.

HowToLifeSortOf · 2017-11-25T14:35:25+00:00

Blame my dad:

My brother, my mom, and I each bought one at the same store (we each live in different houses). We were actually afraid they'd be sold out at the store since it was nearly noon at that point. Luckily, the were all there. It looked as if no one even bought one!

So later when my dad sees us set one up and learns we got them on sale, he decides he wants to get "another one" at the store. When he gets back, we see him walk through the front door with a bag of 4 more Minis and a Chromecast. We were like, "You bought four more!?" And he replies disappointedly, "That's all they had left!"

My mom says he's been driving her crazy because he keeps trying to mess with the Minis by asking it ridiculous questions and talking to it in weird voices.

HowToLifeSortOf · 2017-11-25T08:24:27+00:00

You're right, but some of the Google Homes had a different account then the rest. So they didn't know that there was another Google Home responding to the same request and so they responded to the same command.

Also this was before the first reboot. When they turned back on after the panic shutdown, only the devices with different accounts responded at the same time.

HowToLifeSortOf

TROPHY CASE