Google’s first new smart speaker in years meets your smart home dilemmas
This preview, based only on the published show notes, points to a Vergecast episode focused on Google’s first smart speaker in six years and what it could mean for the smart home. It also tees up listener Q&A on Ikea’s influence and where thermostats may be headed.
This episode looks like a useful listen if you want a quick read on where Google stands in the smart home right now. Based on the show notes, The Verge’s Jennifer Pattison Tuohy joins to discuss Google’s newly shipping Home Speaker, why it matters, and the bigger question behind the product: whether Google is truly invested in the smart home category. The notes suggest a mix of product analysis and practical advice. Alongside the speaker discussion, the episode turns to questions from the Vergecast Hotline, including one about the “power of Ikea” and another about the future of your thermostat. That likely makes this installment appealing not just to gadget followers, but also to people trying to make sense of real-world smart home buying decisions. One especially helpful clue in the notes is the linked reading: *The Google Home Speaker sounds good and looks great — but it’s finicky*. That hints the conversation may balance strengths with frustrations rather than simply celebrate a new device. If you’re deciding whether to listen, expect a preview of Google’s latest smart home move, some perspective on the company’s broader strategy, and a few listener-driven questions that connect the news to everyday home tech choices. This is a preview based on the published notes, not a recap of the full audio.
About this episode
Google is shipping its first smart speaker in six years, and we're starting to test it. The Verge's Jennifer Pattison Tuohy joins the show to explain why the Home Speaker matters, whether Google actually cares about the smart home, and more. Then, she helps answer a few questions from the Vergecast Hotline (call 866-VERGE11 or email vergecast@theverge.com!) about the power of Ikea and the future of your thermostat. Further reading: The Google Home Speaker sounds good and looks great — but it’s finicky Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com, subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed. We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices