This could mean that users could choose whether to use Amazon’s Alexa assistant on the device, or other assistants, like Siri.
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Currently, Apple’s smart speaker does not have anything unique to give it an edge over the other two, as well as justify the higher price tag.
Since the launch of the Echo and Google Home, it has been suggested Apple’s own assistant has fallen behind its rivals in the virtual assistant space. Will a HomePod’s owner be able to control the aggressiveness it uses to process audio, just as many devices let us apply EQ settings?
But it would be more convenient for consumers if the systems could be interlinked, allowing users to mix and match smart products.
Amazon’s David Limp speaking at the Wired Business Conference on Wednesday.
“You should be able to tell ‘Alexa, ask Siri X, ‘” he said. “I don’t know if I can envision it, but I hope it happens, on behalf of customers”.
“Apple justified the price by positioning HomePod as a high-end speaker rather than a virtual assistant, which is smart”, she said. Software updates are also expected for Apple’s smartwatch and TV box for streaming online video. Imagine pairing a well-done augmented reality app with a voice assistant capability in the home, and you might have something pretty cool. It would seem some of us can anticipate our parents making any number of bad home related puns when they go to flip on their new holiday playlist next time they are over for a family game night.
All three speakers are worthy choices.
Siri will also soon have the ability to directly translate languages for the first time.
A computer processor will tune sound to the room and beam specific parts of music, like a singer’s voice, toward the listener.
Many non-hardware companies have also announced plans to launch their own exclusive smart speakers targeting both local and worldwide markets this year, alongside smaller startups active in the business segment. For instance you can voice-activate it with a simple “Hey Siri” using six microphones laid to pick up sound in all directions. It’s a relatively young hardware category made popular by the Amazon Echo.
Amazon Echo is better than Apple HomePod because it is far more flexible. The Google Home has what it calls a high excursion speaker with a 2-inch driver and two 2-inch passive radiators: we’ve used one and it sounds good enough to enjoy your music on.
Oh you thought Apple was just going to sit back while Amazon and Google cornered the digital assistant speaker market? “Dot and Echo through Bluetooth and Audio Out can connect to other speakers. Apple will try to replicate what it did with the iPod, starting as a music device and then progressively morphing it into the iPhone with a range of apps and services”. The speakers from both Amazon and Google support a growing number of third-party smart home devices too.
Limp also talked about what Amazon has learned about the market and consumer preference as it has released and refined its Echo offerings over the past several years.
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Google’s Assistant software is also able to answer follow-up questions on the same topic, in a near-conversation style, but Echo as yet can not. Users can also see Siri listening as the top surface of the device animates the detected voice through an LED waveform.
