When you think of the voice search feature on your TV remote, the main use that probably comes to mind is to bypass the slow and awkward process of typing a title into the search bar.
With Chromecast and Google TV, you can do so much more. The Chromecast version of Google Assistant combines the convenience of voice commands with Google’s on-screen search capabilities.
Don’t get me wrong; owning a Chromecast is not getting both a Smart TV and one-stop shop home voice assistant . Since you have to press the button and talk to the remote, the Chromecast itself lacks the Google Nest Mini or Google Nest Hub like voice command activation ( “Hey Google”), setting timers and alarms, and motion-activated displays.
But so far, the Chromecast with Google TV remains the closest smart TV I’ve seen to an all-in-one voice assistant. Here are just some of my favorite voice commands I’ve found.
Find TV shows or movies when you don’t remember their name
‘ Wait, what’s that Tom Cruise’s Air Force movie called? ‘
Combining the powerful search capabilities of Google with your home streaming stick, you can not only use the Google Assistant to search for your favorite title, and also search for movies whose exact names you may not remember.
Screenshot by Brian Rosenzweig / CNET
I tried searching several movies by plot point or protagonist and am amazed by google Pointed me in the right direction so often. Searches for “The Art of Racing in the Rain”, “Anne Hathaway Fashion Movie” (The Devil Wears Prada) and “Lady Gaga Shallow Movie” (A Star Is Born) all immediately Get the right results, with options for viewing, trailers and even YouTube clips.
Play specific tracks, albums and podcasts directly‘Play Up First by NPR’
Not only can you start specific tracks, albums and Artist, you can even start your favorite podcast.
Additionally, you can leave the app and automatically play music or podcasts while navigating the home screen.
Turn the TV on and off with another device ‘Hey Google, turn off the TV’
This requires you to have at least one other device in the Google ecosystem (It might even just be a phone with the Google Home app), but it’s pretty handy. We’ve all had moments where we’re just minutes away from falling asleep and remember we didn’t have the TV on. Instead of waking up and stumbling around in the dark to find the remote, you can simply open your phone’s Google Home app (or even just activate your Nest Mini) and tell it to turn off your screen.
Schedule a time to turn off the TV
‘Turn off the TV in 5 minutes’
While you may have guessed that you can use the functions of the remote to control the TV itself, it is Especially useful is that you can set when the TV turns off, either by setting a specific time or telling it to turn off when a certain amount of time is up. One downside: I couldn’t find a voice command to keep the TV on after you set the time.
Screenshot by Brian Rosenzweig/CNET
Show super specific Google Photos on TV
‘Show me my photo of the NYC skyline’
Anyone who has used Google Photos over the past few years knows how good the platform is at categorizing your photos. Not only can Google’s AI detect (and name with your help) people, it can easily classify pets, events, weather, locations, and more. Trying out Google Photos with my Chromecast, I was amazed at how specific I could get. “Show me photos from Christmas Day”, http://www.cnet.com/ “Coffee photos in Washington DC” and even “Photos of myself in 2014” can all be easily displayed on the app.
Rewind to a specific time‘ wait, rewind 10 seconds! ‘
Rewinding can be cumbersome, especially if you’re watching a movie and have to parse an hour or two of content. Often, we just default to the built-in 30-second rewind feature, even if we do miss the last line of dialogue. Google’s voice commands can help you rewind a TV or movie by a specific number of seconds, or even a given timestamp.
Brian Rosenzweig / CNET Screenshots
Get non-tv recommendations on screen
‘I’m a little hungry. What is the best Korean BBQ near me? ‘
On the one hand, it’s obvious that your Google Search-enabled device can answer questions outside the streaming world, but it’s easy to forget. While it’s a slightly cleaner version of Google Search, showing a carousel of only a few options, your Chromecast is just as capable as your phone of recommending local restaurants, bars, parks, shops, and more.
Screenshot by Brian Rosenzweig / CNET
Screenshot by Brian Rosenzweig / CNET
