I was digging around in the settings for my Shield and discovered there is a setting you can enable that says it allows you to use Google Assistant while the TV is off. Does anyone know how this would actually work? Surely with the TV off there's no way to hear the audio responses? Has anyone set it up?
Oh, it works. It is giving me some fits right now. Starting yesterday it started to recognize "hey Google". Now it is responding before my Google Mini in the kitchen, which is great when I wanted to turn on something with the entertainment center. However, with the entertainment system off, I get zero response because my mini sees the Shield responding and lets it roll.
Enabled this and it works to turn on via Harmony. Main issue I've found is the mic in the remote stinks. Have to basically yell right next to it in a quiet room.
I bought a USB mic, hoping it works while Shield is off too...
Turned off the feature. Drives me crazy because it tries to answer instead of my Google Home. Which means I get no response since the TV is off. The only voice controls I want is turning the TV on and off and volume control. That can all be done with the Home.
Where'd you find this setting?
Any reason to use the Shield Assistant over a Google Home Mini?
I have the older Shield (without the always on controller), and its the same price to buy a 2017 vs a Google Home Mini. Seems like I would be better off just buying the Google Home Mini?
The 2017 controller is the microphone. I leave mine on my coffee table so it can hear me. When you say "ok Google" the shield will glow green as you speak and carry out any tasks you have, like turning on a light if you have a smart home. The TV won't turn on. It's basically a Google home with out any audio response.
"Ok google, turn on the TV" also works if you have HDMI set up to do that.