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Amazon and Google Want to Turn Their Smart Home Speakers Into Telephone Replacements

Just add the same cell phone integration in MacOS to the AppleTV and call it a day.
 
My JBL Flip 3 does this. It's an excellent Bluetooth speaker that is the same form factor as Amazon device. It has a mic and acts as a speaker phone. The mic is apparently very good because people who complain when I use my iPhone's speaker never complain when I use the JBL.
 
So what's left of Apple's idea's to "expand to and eventually take over the car market" ?
It appears that Amazon/Netflix are taking over Apple's phone/netbutler market well before Apple even has a single car on the road.
 
Hastings101 said:
It would be nice if Echo supported more languages than English and could set reminders via "Remind me on X date or in X minutes" before it tries to conquer being my home phone.
Click to expand...
Not only can it set reminders/timers, but it can set more than one.
And you can ask Alexa how much time is left on say...timer 3.
 
I have to say, my wife and I are both enjoying the heck out of our Echo. The one thing that really sets Alexa apart from SIRI is that it almost always understands what we are saying, even if it can't provide the action requested. Can't say the same for SIRI.

Two features we would kill for, that might be related to this article:
1) SMS Messaging: "Alexa, send a text to John Smith saying 'Please bring home a pizza for dinner.'" and have the text sent from my cellphone nearby, and on the same WiFi network. Any incoming messages could optionally be read aloud by Alexa."

2) Outbound and inbound calling thru bluetooth speaker and microphone. "Alexa, dial John Smith at home." Alexa then looks up the number, dials it thru my cellphone, and transfers the audio thru bluetooth to the Echo speaker. Accepting incoming calls would be cool too!
 
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2headedgeek said:
It can set reminders like you want !
Click to expand...

Are you sure? If I tell it something like "Remind me in two days to buy a dog" it will just tell me it's added "buy a dog" to my to-do list or something and that's it. If I do the same to Google Now it will actually remind me to "buy a dog" in two days.
 
Gary Dee said:
Two features we would kill for, that might be related to this article:
1) SMS Messaging: "Alexa, send a text to John Smith saying 'Please bring home a pizza for dinner.'" and have the text sent from my cellphone nearby, and on the same WiFi network. Any incoming messages could optionally be read aloud by Alexa."
Click to expand...

Dunno about other carriers, but ATT has a skill for sending texts:

https://www.att.com/offers/send-messages-amazon-echo.html
 
There is a new skill in development for the Echo called Mastermind that can make calls and send and receive texts.

Here's what it says it will be able to do..

* Send and receive SMS text messages
* Make Phone calls
* Find your phone
* Get Caller ID
* Read and manage all app notifications whether they come from Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Whatsapp, Email, Netflix, Youtube or any other app!
* Cast to Chromecast TV
* Get phone battery charge, data usage stats and app usage stats
* Turn on Wifi, Bluetooth and Do-Not-Disturb
* Launch Mobile Apps
* Start Google Maps navigation
* Send articles from your phone and personal computer to Alexa to read aloud
* See your phone's notifications, text messages, and phone calls on your personal computer
* More...

Seems interesting.
 
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