Google Home Mini owners can finally connect to Bluetooth speakers
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Google Home Mini owners can finally connect to Bluetooth speakers

Software update helps close the gap to the Amazon Echo Dot

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Google has at last given its Home smart speakers the ability to stream music to Bluetooth speakers.

The update, which is among the most-requested features from Google Home owners, will benefit owners of the small Home Mini the most.

The hockey puck-sized speaker is good enough to hear what Google Assistant is saying and for playing the radio in a small room, but isn't equipped with the hardware to produce great, room-filling music.

Bluetooth connectivity will change all this, as now the Home Mini - as well as the Home Max and regular Home - can play music through a connected Bluetooth speaker.

Previously, Google Home devices could only use their Bluetooth chip to connect to devices like smartphones, where the music was sent from the phone to the speaker. Now, music can be sent from the speaker to a larger, more powerful speaker of your choice.

The Home (pictured) and Home Max also get the updateGoogle

Once paired though the Google Home app, you can just ask Assistant to play a certain playlist, artist or album as before, and it will automatically play that music from the speaker you paired it with; you don't need to tell Assistant to play music through a certain speaker. Existing Bluetooth speakers can also be added to Google Home groups for multi-room audio.

Although a relatively small upgrade, this is an important move in Google's fight against Amazon for smart home supremacy. Amazon's Alexa-equipped Echo speakers can all connect to Bluetooth devices for boosting their audio, and they even have a 3.5mm auxiliary port for connecting to speakers with a cable - something the Google Home Mini misses out on.

The feature is being rolled out by Google now, so keep an eye out for it in the settings menu of your Google Home app.


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