1 00:00:00,320 --> 00:00:02,759 Speaker 1: Rich Demiro here, Rich On Tech here with Mark Spates, 2 00:00:02,759 --> 00:00:05,680 Speaker 1: product manager for Google Next. Mark, thanks so much for 3 00:00:05,680 --> 00:00:06,560 Speaker 1: being on the podcast. 4 00:00:07,320 --> 00:00:08,520 Speaker 2: Oh Rich, happy to be here. 5 00:00:08,680 --> 00:00:12,560 Speaker 1: All right, let's talk about your brand new product. You've 6 00:00:12,600 --> 00:00:16,239 Speaker 1: got the Nest Audio smart speaker. This is a ninety 7 00:00:16,320 --> 00:00:19,400 Speaker 1: nine dollars smart speaker that kind of replaces a speaker 8 00:00:19,400 --> 00:00:22,680 Speaker 1: that came out many years ago, the original Google Home. 9 00:00:23,160 --> 00:00:25,920 Speaker 1: So tell me about this new speaker. I've got one 10 00:00:26,000 --> 00:00:27,720 Speaker 1: right here, and it has a whole new look and 11 00:00:27,720 --> 00:00:28,240 Speaker 1: feel to it. 12 00:00:28,400 --> 00:00:32,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, Rich, I think the first visual that you saw 13 00:00:32,640 --> 00:00:35,519 Speaker 2: is part of the advancements that we made. And so 14 00:00:35,560 --> 00:00:38,479 Speaker 2: when we launched the original Google Home, I think what 15 00:00:38,720 --> 00:00:42,080 Speaker 2: was really interesting where people were surprised by its sound 16 00:00:42,159 --> 00:00:44,879 Speaker 2: and they actually appreciated that for the value in the 17 00:00:44,960 --> 00:00:47,320 Speaker 2: sound that they got. And so when we thought about 18 00:00:47,600 --> 00:00:50,360 Speaker 2: the next generation of it, Nest Audio, there are a 19 00:00:50,360 --> 00:00:54,120 Speaker 2: few things that we want to prove. On one, the 20 00:00:54,240 --> 00:00:57,680 Speaker 2: sound quality itself, and for us, what we wanted to 21 00:00:57,680 --> 00:01:01,600 Speaker 2: make sure is that there's a theoristic that users felt 22 00:01:01,640 --> 00:01:03,880 Speaker 2: when they had this sound with Nest Audio. It should 23 00:01:03,880 --> 00:01:06,560 Speaker 2: be full balanced with the lows and the mids and 24 00:01:06,600 --> 00:01:09,440 Speaker 2: the highs. It should be very clear as well, that 25 00:01:09,480 --> 00:01:12,720 Speaker 2: the vocals really come through and there's no distortion and 26 00:01:12,760 --> 00:01:16,120 Speaker 2: it's natural. Really, what the users should feel is what 27 00:01:16,160 --> 00:01:19,160 Speaker 2: the artists created and what they wanted to come through. 28 00:01:19,600 --> 00:01:21,480 Speaker 2: And there's a few ways that we achieved this rich 29 00:01:21,880 --> 00:01:25,200 Speaker 2: One is the Nest Audio actually has a seventy five 30 00:01:25,240 --> 00:01:28,920 Speaker 2: milimeter Wolfer and a nineteen milimeter Twitter and this is 31 00:01:29,319 --> 00:01:34,319 Speaker 2: really important because that allows us to really get better 32 00:01:34,360 --> 00:01:38,160 Speaker 2: base and allows us to even be awesome with the 33 00:01:38,240 --> 00:01:43,199 Speaker 2: vocals at extremely high values. But I think the key part, 34 00:01:43,520 --> 00:01:49,520 Speaker 2: and I think the natural, like how Google solves problems, 35 00:01:49,880 --> 00:01:52,880 Speaker 2: was we went about the tuning in a very software 36 00:01:53,080 --> 00:01:56,520 Speaker 2: driven way, a very data driven way. And I'll tell 37 00:01:56,520 --> 00:02:00,200 Speaker 2: you what that means. First, the team actually creates it 38 00:02:00,480 --> 00:02:04,240 Speaker 2: with nes Mini, our own proprietary tuning software, and what 39 00:02:04,280 --> 00:02:07,160 Speaker 2: that allows us to do is we can simulate over 40 00:02:07,280 --> 00:02:11,240 Speaker 2: two thousand and five hundred possible listening positions for the device. 41 00:02:11,760 --> 00:02:14,640 Speaker 2: And why is that important. It's because people have very 42 00:02:14,680 --> 00:02:18,040 Speaker 2: different homes. They put these devices everywhere, and we want 43 00:02:18,080 --> 00:02:20,359 Speaker 2: to make sure that it sounds great no matter where 44 00:02:20,400 --> 00:02:24,359 Speaker 2: you put it. And the features that really come out 45 00:02:24,440 --> 00:02:28,959 Speaker 2: of this data driven approach are three things. One, it's 46 00:02:29,000 --> 00:02:32,400 Speaker 2: called base extension. What we're able to do is extend 47 00:02:32,480 --> 00:02:35,280 Speaker 2: the base even when the device is at lower values, 48 00:02:35,680 --> 00:02:38,000 Speaker 2: and so if you're listening to it on valume two 49 00:02:38,080 --> 00:02:40,480 Speaker 2: or three, you still don't lose that emotional feeling of 50 00:02:40,520 --> 00:02:43,480 Speaker 2: the base coming through. The next one is ambient IQ. 51 00:02:44,320 --> 00:02:47,919 Speaker 2: What that allows us to do is leverage the background noise. 52 00:02:48,040 --> 00:02:51,800 Speaker 2: Let's say the faucet is running or the dryer is running. 53 00:02:51,960 --> 00:02:54,960 Speaker 2: We can make sure that the assistant voice actually adjusts 54 00:02:55,080 --> 00:02:57,000 Speaker 2: so that you can hear it no matter where the 55 00:02:57,040 --> 00:02:59,720 Speaker 2: device is in the room. And last, and I actually 56 00:02:59,720 --> 00:03:04,359 Speaker 2: thinks important for Nest Audio is media EQ. What we're 57 00:03:04,400 --> 00:03:07,600 Speaker 2: able to do is actually a just the tuning of 58 00:03:07,760 --> 00:03:10,200 Speaker 2: nests Audio to the music you're listening to, be it 59 00:03:10,480 --> 00:03:15,640 Speaker 2: hip hop or jazz or classical or the podcast as well. 60 00:03:15,919 --> 00:03:18,960 Speaker 2: And so what you're really seeing is is Google really 61 00:03:19,040 --> 00:03:22,640 Speaker 2: starting to develop a really clear way that we believe 62 00:03:22,720 --> 00:03:25,320 Speaker 2: things should sound, and then the technology behind it to 63 00:03:25,360 --> 00:03:26,120 Speaker 2: actually achieve it. 64 00:03:26,480 --> 00:03:29,440 Speaker 1: Now, because you have so many speakers in the lineup 65 00:03:29,480 --> 00:03:32,080 Speaker 1: at this point, everything from the Mini to the Max 66 00:03:32,160 --> 00:03:36,160 Speaker 1: to the different displays, and this of course new Nest Audio, 67 00:03:37,120 --> 00:03:39,720 Speaker 1: there's almost a reason to have one in every room. 68 00:03:39,720 --> 00:03:42,880 Speaker 1: And you can at these price points. So tell me 69 00:03:42,920 --> 00:03:46,240 Speaker 1: about the idea of building a whole house system. You've 70 00:03:46,240 --> 00:03:50,520 Speaker 1: got this stream transfer feature and also the stereo pair feature, 71 00:03:50,760 --> 00:03:53,880 Speaker 1: so explain how those sort of work in the realm 72 00:03:53,920 --> 00:03:54,440 Speaker 1: of a house. 73 00:03:54,840 --> 00:03:56,960 Speaker 2: Oh, this is this is my favorite part. You know, 74 00:03:57,200 --> 00:03:59,480 Speaker 2: if I think about the things that I've been using 75 00:03:59,680 --> 00:04:03,080 Speaker 2: the most since we've all been working from home, these 76 00:04:03,080 --> 00:04:07,360 Speaker 2: are the features. And so the thing about creating that 77 00:04:07,440 --> 00:04:10,080 Speaker 2: whole home audio experience is that first we want to 78 00:04:10,080 --> 00:04:12,720 Speaker 2: make sure all our devices work together. And they all 79 00:04:12,880 --> 00:04:16,880 Speaker 2: are using Cast, which is awesome, and so it can 80 00:04:16,920 --> 00:04:19,839 Speaker 2: work with your hub, your hub Max, I can even 81 00:04:19,880 --> 00:04:22,080 Speaker 2: work with your Crome cast devices that are connected to 82 00:04:22,120 --> 00:04:24,880 Speaker 2: your TV right, So it really gives a pretty broad 83 00:04:24,960 --> 00:04:28,520 Speaker 2: range of things that work together. But the real outcome 84 00:04:28,680 --> 00:04:32,400 Speaker 2: is fill your home with music. And first it's about grouping, 85 00:04:32,800 --> 00:04:34,400 Speaker 2: and so you can set up a group and I 86 00:04:34,520 --> 00:04:37,560 Speaker 2: do this all the time. I literally have a group 87 00:04:37,600 --> 00:04:41,440 Speaker 2: called home and it's like Yo playing music on home. 88 00:04:41,839 --> 00:04:43,560 Speaker 2: But then I think there are other features that are 89 00:04:43,560 --> 00:04:46,479 Speaker 2: about the context of what you're doing in that day. 90 00:04:46,680 --> 00:04:48,360 Speaker 2: And so let's just say it's a Saturday and you're 91 00:04:48,360 --> 00:04:52,599 Speaker 2: cleaning a house. Something like stream transfer is perfect, right, 92 00:04:52,920 --> 00:04:54,560 Speaker 2: because what you can do is you're cleaning up in 93 00:04:54,560 --> 00:04:56,760 Speaker 2: the kitchen as I do, then I actually start to 94 00:04:56,800 --> 00:04:59,680 Speaker 2: move to the bathroom and I can say, hey, move 95 00:04:59,760 --> 00:05:02,560 Speaker 2: the move the music to the bathroom. And then you 96 00:05:02,560 --> 00:05:04,280 Speaker 2: get down clean up the bathroom. You got to go, 97 00:05:04,480 --> 00:05:06,040 Speaker 2: you know, finish up, clean up the living room, and 98 00:05:06,040 --> 00:05:08,039 Speaker 2: say hey, move the music to the living room. And 99 00:05:08,080 --> 00:05:08,919 Speaker 2: that allows the. 100 00:05:08,960 --> 00:05:11,600 Speaker 1: Music to say you just say those that term to it. 101 00:05:11,640 --> 00:05:13,880 Speaker 1: And you sort of have to know what your speakers 102 00:05:13,880 --> 00:05:15,440 Speaker 1: are named. I'm assuming right. 103 00:05:16,240 --> 00:05:17,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, if you only have one speaker in our room, 104 00:05:17,800 --> 00:05:19,840 Speaker 2: you can you can just use the room. But it 105 00:05:19,839 --> 00:05:22,960 Speaker 2: also works if you say, hey, GI, move the room, 106 00:05:23,040 --> 00:05:25,320 Speaker 2: move the music to the living room speaker, which is 107 00:05:25,320 --> 00:05:28,559 Speaker 2: the name of the speaker. And so uh, this this, this, 108 00:05:28,560 --> 00:05:31,200 Speaker 2: this easiness of being able to just use it with 109 00:05:31,279 --> 00:05:34,240 Speaker 2: your voice is awesome. And if you have a Hub 110 00:05:34,320 --> 00:05:37,440 Speaker 2: Max or you have a hub, you can also just 111 00:05:37,839 --> 00:05:40,560 Speaker 2: do it with with touch you can go to the interface. 112 00:05:40,600 --> 00:05:42,880 Speaker 2: You actually can do the same thing using the interface 113 00:05:43,360 --> 00:05:45,680 Speaker 2: on a Hub or a Hub Max. Uh. The next 114 00:05:45,680 --> 00:05:49,479 Speaker 2: feature which we just recently introduced, which is multi room expansion. 115 00:05:49,960 --> 00:05:52,000 Speaker 2: This is the thought that sometimes you want to create 116 00:05:52,000 --> 00:05:55,839 Speaker 2: a group dynamically on the on the fly that you 117 00:05:55,880 --> 00:05:59,279 Speaker 2: haven't created before. And so the core things for this is, 118 00:05:59,320 --> 00:06:01,880 Speaker 2: like you know, all of us sometimes we get into it, 119 00:06:01,880 --> 00:06:04,320 Speaker 2: we get into the point where we're working out and 120 00:06:04,360 --> 00:06:07,320 Speaker 2: so like this is what I do. I'm like, Okay, 121 00:06:07,440 --> 00:06:09,360 Speaker 2: I want the sound to come through a little bit more, 122 00:06:09,480 --> 00:06:12,200 Speaker 2: and so let me put it on my Nest hub 123 00:06:12,200 --> 00:06:14,960 Speaker 2: in the kitchen, let me put it on the audio 124 00:06:15,160 --> 00:06:17,080 Speaker 2: and the bedroom, and also let me put it on 125 00:06:17,320 --> 00:06:20,960 Speaker 2: my stereo pair that's out in the living room, and automatically, 126 00:06:21,000 --> 00:06:22,880 Speaker 2: in real time, I can create that group by just 127 00:06:22,880 --> 00:06:26,240 Speaker 2: selecting those devices. And so that's really awesome. And then 128 00:06:26,279 --> 00:06:28,920 Speaker 2: the last one that you mentioned, Rich is stereo pair. 129 00:06:29,320 --> 00:06:33,120 Speaker 2: And what's cool about Nests Audio from the ground up, 130 00:06:33,279 --> 00:06:35,800 Speaker 2: it was designed for stereo pair. You put two of 131 00:06:35,800 --> 00:06:38,960 Speaker 2: these devices together, man, they look beautiful, and it's because 132 00:06:39,000 --> 00:06:41,159 Speaker 2: we thought that people would actually set them up for 133 00:06:41,200 --> 00:06:43,560 Speaker 2: stereo pairs. And what this allows you to do is 134 00:06:43,560 --> 00:06:47,000 Speaker 2: give stereo sound out of both devices. And it's really cool. 135 00:06:47,080 --> 00:06:49,440 Speaker 2: Especially when you were listening to a song that has 136 00:06:49,720 --> 00:06:52,320 Speaker 2: like vary ways of how the audio comes in or 137 00:06:52,360 --> 00:06:54,880 Speaker 2: the sound comes in, you can hear the device is 138 00:06:54,920 --> 00:06:58,560 Speaker 2: actually working together to add this extra level of dynamic 139 00:06:58,880 --> 00:07:00,280 Speaker 2: to the actual sound experience. 140 00:07:01,040 --> 00:07:04,000 Speaker 1: So what are people doing on these smart speakers? I mean, 141 00:07:04,080 --> 00:07:07,200 Speaker 1: music is clearly probably one of the top things, I 142 00:07:07,200 --> 00:07:09,600 Speaker 1: mean questions whether what are some of the things that 143 00:07:09,640 --> 00:07:11,560 Speaker 1: your research tells you that people are using these for. 144 00:07:12,920 --> 00:07:18,160 Speaker 2: Well, you know what's cool is things like routines are 145 00:07:18,160 --> 00:07:22,720 Speaker 2: becoming extremely important, right because now our routine is all 146 00:07:22,760 --> 00:07:25,720 Speaker 2: in the same place, and you have to figure out 147 00:07:25,760 --> 00:07:28,720 Speaker 2: how to either make those easier or break them up. 148 00:07:28,880 --> 00:07:30,760 Speaker 2: And so I'll give you a good example what I do. 149 00:07:31,000 --> 00:07:33,280 Speaker 2: I have a routine that starts every day around five 150 00:07:33,280 --> 00:07:35,840 Speaker 2: point thirty and all it does is it cuts on 151 00:07:35,880 --> 00:07:38,600 Speaker 2: a few lights and it starts playing music. Rich. It's 152 00:07:38,600 --> 00:07:40,560 Speaker 2: a really simple thing to remind me to get up 153 00:07:40,560 --> 00:07:43,600 Speaker 2: and stop working. Right. It's like cause you can easily 154 00:07:43,640 --> 00:07:46,400 Speaker 2: keep rolling if you don't have something that breaks it up, right, 155 00:07:46,480 --> 00:07:48,880 Speaker 2: And so that's one thing that we're seeing a lot. 156 00:07:49,040 --> 00:07:51,680 Speaker 2: And also like for children, Hey, there's like, hey, this 157 00:07:51,760 --> 00:07:54,200 Speaker 2: is the worktime routine. This is like, okay, this is 158 00:07:54,200 --> 00:07:57,040 Speaker 2: your playtime routine. And so I think the Google Assistant 159 00:07:57,200 --> 00:07:59,400 Speaker 2: and our smart speakers are being super help on the 160 00:07:59,440 --> 00:08:01,040 Speaker 2: home around those areas. 161 00:08:01,480 --> 00:08:04,400 Speaker 1: Tell me about launching a product during a pandemic. I mean, 162 00:08:04,600 --> 00:08:09,920 Speaker 1: planning for this probably began before COVID. And so when 163 00:08:09,920 --> 00:08:12,000 Speaker 1: you realize that you have to continue this through this, 164 00:08:12,400 --> 00:08:13,080 Speaker 1: how do you do it? 165 00:08:14,280 --> 00:08:17,440 Speaker 2: Well? You take a deep breath, right and then and 166 00:08:17,440 --> 00:08:19,640 Speaker 2: then you get back to work. And I think what 167 00:08:19,680 --> 00:08:23,360 Speaker 2: the team did was was very valid. Like So what 168 00:08:23,360 --> 00:08:26,680 Speaker 2: it was amazing to me is I thought about, Hey, 169 00:08:26,680 --> 00:08:29,040 Speaker 2: there's things that in the testing where we have like 170 00:08:30,120 --> 00:08:32,760 Speaker 2: echo chambers, and we have lots of things where we 171 00:08:32,880 --> 00:08:36,960 Speaker 2: tested fabric and all these labs were actually on campus. 172 00:08:37,559 --> 00:08:41,280 Speaker 2: Rich people took trucks and rented trucks and actually got 173 00:08:41,320 --> 00:08:44,080 Speaker 2: the equipment from the campus and they put it in 174 00:08:44,120 --> 00:08:47,560 Speaker 2: places like their garage or their extra their extra room. 175 00:08:47,920 --> 00:08:49,839 Speaker 2: And so I would say in a couple of weeks 176 00:08:49,840 --> 00:08:52,480 Speaker 2: we were back up and running. When you think about 177 00:08:52,520 --> 00:08:55,839 Speaker 2: things like tuning, I actually think because of work for 178 00:08:55,960 --> 00:08:58,760 Speaker 2: home ness, audio sounds better. And the reason why is 179 00:08:59,040 --> 00:09:02,680 Speaker 2: our engineers we're spending so much time with the devices 180 00:09:02,679 --> 00:09:05,600 Speaker 2: at home and they've got to experience the sound and 181 00:09:05,760 --> 00:09:09,120 Speaker 2: real spaces on a constant basis. And I actually think 182 00:09:09,440 --> 00:09:13,160 Speaker 2: things like the tuning and things like making the assistant 183 00:09:13,200 --> 00:09:16,400 Speaker 2: faster got way better because we were living with these 184 00:09:16,440 --> 00:09:18,760 Speaker 2: devices on a day in and day out basis. 185 00:09:19,080 --> 00:09:21,640 Speaker 1: All right, now we're talking smart speakers, and some of 186 00:09:21,640 --> 00:09:24,480 Speaker 1: the feedback I get is privacy. People are worried about 187 00:09:24,559 --> 00:09:28,040 Speaker 1: something or someone or Google listening to them, tell me 188 00:09:28,080 --> 00:09:31,360 Speaker 1: about privacy, and as that front and center on this device. 189 00:09:31,520 --> 00:09:35,040 Speaker 2: Privacy is core to the experience that we want to 190 00:09:35,080 --> 00:09:37,800 Speaker 2: deliver it to users in. It stems from our privacy 191 00:09:37,800 --> 00:09:40,920 Speaker 2: commitments that we made a few years ago around how 192 00:09:40,960 --> 00:09:43,680 Speaker 2: our devices work and how they're going to expect users privacy. 193 00:09:44,160 --> 00:09:47,559 Speaker 2: And similar to our other devices, Nets Audio has a 194 00:09:47,640 --> 00:09:49,760 Speaker 2: mute switch on the back, so you can easily turn 195 00:09:49,800 --> 00:09:52,400 Speaker 2: it off if you want, and you can easily turn 196 00:09:52,440 --> 00:09:54,360 Speaker 2: it back on when you need to. And then we 197 00:09:54,400 --> 00:09:56,679 Speaker 2: also have the assistant privacy features where you can tell 198 00:09:56,679 --> 00:09:59,320 Speaker 2: the system to forget the things that you said, or 199 00:09:59,360 --> 00:10:01,240 Speaker 2: you can also go to your my activity and you 200 00:10:01,240 --> 00:10:03,959 Speaker 2: can delete those items as well, And so we have 201 00:10:04,080 --> 00:10:07,319 Speaker 2: multiple ways to make sure that we're respecting users' privacy. 202 00:10:07,440 --> 00:10:10,280 Speaker 2: It is a core fundamental value that we want to 203 00:10:10,280 --> 00:10:11,840 Speaker 2: make sure that we deliver to users. 204 00:10:12,040 --> 00:10:13,839 Speaker 1: All right, before we go, can you give me any 205 00:10:13,920 --> 00:10:16,439 Speaker 1: tips or tricks, any commands to try that I haven't 206 00:10:16,440 --> 00:10:16,840 Speaker 1: thought of. 207 00:10:17,040 --> 00:10:19,960 Speaker 2: Oh. I think one of the coolest things is actually 208 00:10:20,360 --> 00:10:24,160 Speaker 2: starting to use your phone as a way to start 209 00:10:24,200 --> 00:10:26,800 Speaker 2: to interact with the device. So casting some of your 210 00:10:26,800 --> 00:10:30,000 Speaker 2: favorite apps to the device I think is really cool. 211 00:10:30,320 --> 00:10:33,120 Speaker 2: I think actually going to the Google Home app and 212 00:10:33,160 --> 00:10:35,440 Speaker 2: starting to use the interface to control how you're moving 213 00:10:35,440 --> 00:10:37,840 Speaker 2: your music is really awesome. The last thing that I 214 00:10:37,840 --> 00:10:41,720 Speaker 2: will say from an assistance standpoint that it's kind of 215 00:10:41,720 --> 00:10:44,720 Speaker 2: exciting to me is now we're just playing a little 216 00:10:44,720 --> 00:10:47,840 Speaker 2: game of trivia at home where we use the assistant 217 00:10:47,840 --> 00:10:50,839 Speaker 2: as kind of like the game show hosts. And it's 218 00:10:50,840 --> 00:10:53,160 Speaker 2: pretty fun, right, And so we'll sit there and right 219 00:10:53,160 --> 00:10:55,520 Speaker 2: now we're doing it because the NBA Finals have started, 220 00:10:55,800 --> 00:10:59,200 Speaker 2: Like it's all about the status, and so we'll sit 221 00:10:59,240 --> 00:11:02,360 Speaker 2: there and well, you know, have a fun time going 222 00:11:02,400 --> 00:11:06,080 Speaker 2: back and forth about like, hey, what set player percentage 223 00:11:06,120 --> 00:11:10,360 Speaker 2: for shooting? What set player? Hey what set player this 224 00:11:10,400 --> 00:11:13,760 Speaker 2: and that, And it's a really cool, fun way to 225 00:11:13,840 --> 00:11:16,360 Speaker 2: expand the way that you're interacting and change the way 226 00:11:16,360 --> 00:11:18,560 Speaker 2: that you're interacting with the people in your home. But 227 00:11:18,640 --> 00:11:20,439 Speaker 2: it's also using the smart speaker, and I think in 228 00:11:20,520 --> 00:11:21,479 Speaker 2: a really unique. 229 00:11:21,200 --> 00:11:25,160 Speaker 1: Way awesome mark Space, product manager for Google Nest. Thanks 230 00:11:25,200 --> 00:11:27,719 Speaker 1: so much for joining me today. I do appreciate it. 231 00:11:27,760 --> 00:11:31,959 Speaker 1: Talking about the new Google Nest Audio smart speaker. My 232 00:11:32,040 --> 00:11:34,440 Speaker 1: name is rich dmiro Rich on tech dot TV. Thanks 233 00:11:34,480 --> 00:11:34,960 Speaker 1: for listening.