If you own a Google Home, a Google Home Max, or any other smart speaker, Google Assistant has some new tricks to show you. On their own none of them will blow your mind, but collectively they show how Google is continually improving the abilities of Google Home and Assistant.

Google has afforded Google Assistant two new actions which anyone with a Google Assistant-enabled smart speaker can use. This is on top of the range of actions Assistant already offers, including using Home as an intercom, turning on your lights, and streaming your favorite music.

Google Home Gets Two New Actions

The first new action lets you wake up to a particular song. Traditional alarms, which use clanging bells or annoying tunes can wake you up in a mood. But now you can set an alarm which will play a specific song, playlist, or radio station. Which should help you start the day off right.

All you need to do is say, "Hey Google, set an alarm for 6AM that plays [insert favorite artist]". Then, at 6am, your Google Home (or other Assistant-enabled smart speaker) will roar into life by playing the song you requested. It still means having to get out of bed at 6AM, but that's life.

The second new action means you need never miss an episode of your favorite TV show again. Which is already quite hard to do thanks to catch-up and on-demand services. Assistant on Google Home gives you another option, which means you may actually remember to watch live.

As suggested by Google itself you can now say, "Hey Google, what channel airs The Flash" or "Hey Google, when does The Flash air next" to make sure you never miss an episode. You can also set a reminder by saying, "Hey Google, remind me to watch Riverdale every Wednesday at 8PM".

The Competition to Control Your Home

There are now three companies battling to control your homes through their smart speakers and personal assistants. And with Amazon, Apple, and Google all wanting to be welcomed into your home, they need to keep adding new skills, commands, actions, and features if they want to win.

Do you own a Google Home or another Assistant-enabled smart speaker? If so, will you be making use of these new skills? Are they enough of a draw to make you want a Google Home? Or do you prefer the Amazon Echo or Apple HomePod? Please let us know in the comments below!