Google’s connected speaker focuses on music, featuring a free version of YouTube Music. Of course, there is a trade-off.
Whether it’s communicating the weather forecast or telling a joke, Google Home Speakers have many uses, starting with the ability to listen to music directly from a streaming music platform. Yesterday, the site Mitxdesigntech revealed that Mountain View announced the integration of a free version of YouTube Music into all its devices with Google Assistant. This is a more convenient innovation, as it is now possible to listen to music without having to use a third-party subscription service like Deezer or Spotify.
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The trade-off or the ads
Of course, there is a downside to this addition. As we mentioned earlier, Google does not include a premium version of YouTube Music, which means that music listening is regularly interrupted by ads lasting a few seconds. Google Home users are therefore frequently prompted to upgrade to the paid version of the music service offered by YouTube, which costs €9.99 per month (first month free). This initiative allows users to familiarize themselves with the platform without having to make a financial commitment. It is worth noting that, unlike Deezer or Spotify, which significantly limit listening options on their free versions, YouTube Music allows free access to almost all of the service’s features.
Limited usage
To definitively convince its users to switch to the paid version of YouTube Music, Google has thought of everything. In addition to providing a few ads between the tracks played, the platform’s features have been deliberately limited. Only general voice commands work. It will be possible to ask Google Assistant to play a specific music genre or your favorite songs, but it will not be possible to ask the connected speaker to play a specific song or album.
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