Google Home is coming to Canada and is finally available for pre-order

By Lulu Chang June 2, 2017

smart speaker home security google thumb — Google

Google Home has been helping Americans manage their households for over a year now, and finally, other countries will be able to get in on the fun, too. Our neighbors to the north can now pre-order the smart home hub, either from Google’s online store or from one of the company’s retail partners, including Best Buy.

The California Silicon Valley company initially made the announcement regarding Google Home’s Canadian availability at I/O earlier in 2017 but now, Canada’s waiting game is over. You will be able to buy one of these hubs for $179 CDN (about $132.50), which is about what the hubs are selling for stateside. It will take about two to three weeks for you to get your Google Home at home if you order from Google’s online store and the company noted in its official blog that the Home will be available at retail on June 26.

Of course, it could pay off to buy a little early, as Best Buy will give you a free Chromecast if you place an order now.

Because Google knows who its Canadian audience is, the associated virtual assistant (Google Assistant) will speak both English and French. Users will be able to access Google’s entire suite of resources, including Search, Maps, and Translate, and will also be able to stay up to date on weather, traffic, finance, news, sports, and local businesses.

Google Home can also play music, manage users everyday tasks, serve as a speaker, and of course, control your smart home.

“Spending quality time with our family and friends at home is important,” Google writes on its blog. “What if technology could make the most of those special moments by helping us get things done?” Canada, now is your chance to answer that question.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Fascinated by the effects of technology on human interaction, Lulu believes that if her parents can use your new app…

Smart Home

Nest Secure will be discontinued in April – prepare your smart home with these steps

Nest Secure Review

Google is dropping support for Nest Secure on April 8, at which time users will see a complete shutdown of its features. Whether you're using it as a bridge for your smart lock or as a home security system, the device will no longer connect to the internet, rendering it obsolete.

Google has already reached out to impacted users to let them know about the impending shutdown, but is there a replacement for Nest Secure available in 2024? And what exactly can you do to prepare for the discontinuation in April? Here's a look at everything you need to know about Nest Secure.
Check ADT for a Nest Secure replacement

Smart Home

Google Assistant loses 17 features as the company lays off employees

google assistant mobile.

In an attempt to streamline the platform and "focus on quality and reliability," Google is axing 17 features from Google Assistant. The move corresponds with news the tech company is laying off hundreds of employees from its voice assistant division, as well as the exit of Fitbit co-founders James Park and Eric Friedman.

Google hasn't revealed an exact date for removing features, but in the next few months, you'll no longer be able to use your voice to send emails or audio messages, reschedule events in Google Calendar with your voice, or check your travel itinerary by voice. The full list of removals is staggering, encompassing 17 abilities.

Smart Home

Google Home adds new camera features and support for Nest Cam Outdoor

The interface on Google Home allowing you to capture custom clips.

Google Home is one of the best smart home platforms, and it's just gotten more exciting with the rollout of new camera features and support for the Nest Cam Outdoor. These updates are currently limited to Public Preview users, though we expect to see them launched to all users soon.

One of the biggest additions is support for the first-generation Nest Cam Outdoor. Google will be rolling out eligibility to users over the next few weeks -- so if you're a Public Preview user and don't have access right away, you may have to wait a bit longer. Once the feature has been pushed to your camera, you can use it like you would any other device in Google Home. This includes having access to an updated camera history interface.