Google Home is Google's answer to Amazon's Echo voice actuated assistant.  Like the Echo, it's a small plug-in speaker with multiple far-field microphones that pick voice commands from anywhere in the room.  You can have Google Home turn on the lights, set a timer, schedule an event, answer questions,  stream music, or control other compatible devices.  It  uses Google's Cast standard so you can have it can stream music to Home units in other rooms or talk to the Chromecast unit plugged into your TV to play video clips.  A customizable case will let you choose colors and materials to suit your décor.

Google Home won't be available until later this year, but Google announced it at their I/O conference yesterday to give  developers, and those considering purchasing a competitor's product, a heads up.