Google Home is a colorful answer to the Amazon Echo

Google announced on stage at its annual developer conference a smart home device called Google Home that will directly compete with the Amazon Echo speaker, the current darling of the budding tech category. The device, which looks similar to Google's OnHub Wi-Fi router and works alongside its new Google Assistant software (similar to Alexa's virtual assistant), will serve as master of ceremonies to your smart home. Like the Echo, Google Home is a speaker that will answer questions and complete tasks, like dim the lights and play music. But the company teases this device might even be smarter, thanks to its ability to change colors and keep the conversation going via a learning algorithm. Google Home, developed by its in-house Chromecast team, wants to be an entire control center for the house and supports Google Cast, which integrates with other speakers you might have in your house.