Apple 'Pressing Ahead' Into Prototype Testing for Echo-Like Smart Home Device Powered by Siri

[amjustice]

Siri will need to make several leaps forward to make this compete with Alexa right now IMO. I've used both, and Siri just doesn't seem to have the ability to do much besides let me send/read texts.

Alexa is not as smart as you think, I have done some messing around with their Dev tools and example apps. It is very much a scripted system where if you don't say one of the provided phrases it is not doing interpretation of language like Siri does.

 

[lincolntran]

The best way to face dwindling returns on the iPhone line could easily be resolved by introducing an ALL-NEW iPhone, in all three sizes 4-inch, 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch sizes, dropping the protruding camera and finally dropping the antenna lines.

Apple needs to get back to making great iPhones, not shiny third generation iPhone 6 models.

Are you saying the iPhone 7 isn't a great phone because it doesn't "look" different?

 

[TrueBlou]

If they do go ahead with this all I hope is that it's integrated into the Apple TV. I don't want yet another sodding thing that responds to Hey Siri when I don't want it to. Quite enough of those thank you.

Besides, I think there's some really good things they could do to make the Apple TV a seriously versatile device.

 

[gmcalpin]

[doublepost=1474636430][/doublepost]I hope it looks just like this...

I don't know about looking like that, but if they build this into wireless speakers that can be used with the AppleTV, it would definitely differentiate it from the Echo.

 

[pollaxe]

Now you're starting to make up stuff. How exactly is Apple different if "3rd parties" find a loophole?

I'm not saying they are, any technology can be exploited or broken into given enough resources, ingenuity and expertise (as I said on my previous post) including Apple.

My view is I regard Apple as being slightly more trustworthy on the privacy front than the likes of Google etc. so if I were to get something that's listening for voice commands then I'm more likely to go for an Apple solution (obviously I'm in their ecosystem too) than one from someone else. That might be naive on my part but that's my instinct.

 

[Darryl.Jenks]

This is where tech is going-- An increasing percentage of interactions will be voice-based going into the future. If anything we should support the company that promotes and protects privacy.

I can't disagree with you - I know I'm on the losing end of this. But that doesn't mean I have to like it.

Forgive me, but I can't bring myself to believe any company - public or private - is able to protect its users' privacy. Further, I don't believe any of them even want to, beyond superficial public displays of solidarity with the user.

I tolerate this in a lot of areas: I bank online; I buy lots of goods online; a tremendous percentage of my work is pulled from/returned to a cloud. But in each of those circumstances I have to make a deliberate decision to engage the tech. With the more passive applications this isn't so. Could I turn an Echo (or Apple similar) off? Sure! But the whole point is to have it at the ready. Having to switch it on or off defeats its purpose.

If an entity told you it was going to place a device in your most (only) private environment, and that it would "hear" every word you utter (and sound you make, for those who occasionally spend horizontal* time with a significant** other), most people would throw a fit. But apparently there is a huge segment of the population who will gladly pay an entity for the same privilege.

But don't worry - they'll train it to act only on the commands you want.


*or any other orientation. I'm not here to judge.

**or not-so-significant. Again, I'm not here to judge.

 

[loveandhavefun]

Don't do it Apple !!!

 

[Firelock]

The Amazon Echo is supposedly a huge hit according to the media, but I literally don't know one person who owns one. And I seriously doubt most people have heard of Echo or know what it is or does. I know that is anecdotal but I just don't believe this is a hit with anyone but techno geeks who have lots of disposable income and time to waste setting up devices that ultimately do very little.

I don't own an Apple Watch, and doubt I ever will, but I know lots of people who own one and randomly run into people who have one all the time. Yet the same media sources tell me the Watch is a flop. OK

 

[TrueBlou]

This feature could be built into current devices. Why does anyone need a separate device? It could be built into Apple TV, iMac, Mac mini, it could, surprise, surprise, be built into iPhone! Apple doesn't need to follow the fads. This Amazon device will be in the e-waste landfill soon enough.

As for the quote:



The best way to face dwindling returns on the iPhone line could easily be resolved by introducing an ALL-NEW iPhone, in all three sizes 4-inch, 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch sizes, dropping the protruding camera and finally dropping the antenna lines.

Apple needs to get back to making great iPhones, not shiny third generation iPhone 6 models.

So it's not a new device if all they've done is improve everything, add new technologies and refine an existing, beautiful design, to make it more appealing. They must completely change the chassis for it to be a "new" device?

Sorry don't see the logic in that. As much as I'd love to see the next, completely overhauled iPhone design. I don't really mind them refining what was already a good design to make it better.

To me the iPhone 7 is a sort of, ok, here's what we really wanted from this design. It's refined to the point where we should have had it already but things weren't ready until now. Next year you get the complete redesign of the iPhone because the technology for that isn't quite ready yet.

Ultimately there are limits to what you can do with a phone chassis, I don't see having a refinement to the phone as any different from the way they refine any of their other products. The iMac for instance is basically the same design it's always been since this iteration hit the scene. They just changed it from plastic to aluminium. Then they made the aluminium version slimmer and that's that.

Sometimes it's about what a thing can do rather than how it looks. The iPhone 7, particularly the new black models are far from unattractive devices, what's wrong with that?

To me the iPhone looks pretty much the same as it has for the best part of a decade. Because I generally spend my time looking at the front of it and other than getting bigger that's not changed at all.

Sure I like nice design and sure I'd love to see a new design. But I'm not so bothered that I wouldn't consider it new or not a great device because one thing Apple say is definitely true. They are the best iPhones they have ever made.

 

[filmantopia]

Wow, do you want a side of chips with that cool-aid?

If someone is going to make poor judgements, I'm going to call it out. Absurd of you to call me out on fanboyism when I could easily have just called you an Apple-hater and been done with it.

Nobody thought that we needed iPhones or iPads either, in fact the initial reaction to the announcement of the iPad was largely negative until people got it in their hands and saw what it could do. There is no "interim" period in technology, there is just a lull in tech innovations.

My home is completely packed with Apple products and it gets clearer every year that not only have they run out of ideas, they are falling behind their competitors. Apple doesn't even have a 4K capable ATV and they are supposed to be the leaders in a space like video.

Have you heard of a little product called the Apple Watch? It seems like it's on a very similar trajectory to the iPod-- still maturing toward a must-have, but not there yet. When it's fast, has more sensors, and begins to live up to the potential of smartwatch technology, it could very well prove to be a massive success.

Anyway companies don't just pull brand new products out of their asses, it takes years of R&D and a moment when the iron is hot to strike. The fact that Apple is working on a CAR means they're willing to take huge risks and do something different-- and it's something that will naturally take a long time to materialize, but when it comes it could be every bit the world changing device the iPhone was.

It's still too early to cast judgement on Tim Cook's Apple.

 

[citysnaps]

You really think somebody isn't buying an iPhone because of a camera bulge or an antenna line? Especially when most people stick their phones in cases right away? BS. People aren't buying phones as often because the phones now are really good and the leaps in technology improvements are less and less. Also a lot of Apple's iPhone growth was due to new markets, new carriers coming on board. That also is slowing down. None of that has to do with aesthetics.

T-Mobile, Sprint and Verizon are reporting iPhone 7 sales greater than 6s/+ sales last year over the same period of time. Estimates put iPhone 7 sales between 75 and 78 million units for the quarter. With some predicting 100M units for 2016 Not bad.

 

[Applebot1]

Has anyone got an Echo..I nearly bought one on preorder over here in the UK for £99 but noticed it doesn't have as much control over Hue apart from on/off so didn't bother which is a must for me.. Much prefer an Apple solution.

 

[Urban Joe]

Paying good money to bug your house. Imagine what a psycho politician will do with these things? History is no mystery.

 

[citysnaps]

They aren't buying because the design is compromised (antenna lines, camera budge), they aren't buying because there is a missing device size (4-inch). Hardly anyone I know puts a case on their phone, so you can't generalise, it's mixed. People aren't buying new iPhones BECAUSE they are aren't being given real good reasons to upgrade.
IT HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH AESTHETICS. Generation 3 of iPhone 6 (aka iPhone 7) is just that, an old design with done up looks. No one wants that.

Can you point to data that supports your assertion people are not buying the iPhone 7?

 

[Bonte]

I hope they make it a surround sound boombox like Bose but a bit cheaper, i'd like one in rose gold plz.

 

[Applebot1]

For me we talk about internet of things and everything connected but on the whole we just have different standards and you need an App. Echo type products have great potential to interface with 'smart' devices. Software is key and opening up the Siri SDK is a step in the right direction. However Siri it self needs improving and would like Apple to do more on this.

 

[Lepton]

I don't see any businesses named PDA road gear. I then pull up google maps and find the business in 10 seconds.

I'm very happy with Siri, but this is a major problem with Apple Maps - not the roads or routing, but the database of points of interest. Google Maps seem to find any place I ask for, correctly and immediately. Apple Maps are flat out missing a ton of places. And last time I checked, it would often bring up a place half way across the country instead of the same-named place that is a mile away. Golly Apple Maps, which one do you think I wanted directions to? I think it got better about this recently though. I trust Apple to keep improving things.

 

[44267547]

I don't know what has happened to Siri in these last two years, but she has fallen apart with dictation and simple commands. If this product is going to exist, it needs a complete overhaul with her speech recognition. I'm not complaining, as I used to defend Siri. Something has to and hopefully will change.

 

[wlossw]

How about they make home kit stop sucking... And actually, work with 3rd party stuff like they promised. Amazon echo is primarily great because it "just works" with all the 3rd party stuff that you already own... I remember when home kit was announced how excited I was that apple was going to improve the smart home and make everything work together. It's 2 years later and my wemo stuff still can't work with homekit... Belkin says it's not worth it. Meanwhile over at amazon wemo works like a champ.

* i only don't own an echo because it's US only...

 

[TrueBlou]

Paying good money to bug your house. Imagine what a psycho politician will do with these things? History is no mystery.

Never mind that, no more nookie in the living room, well unless of course you want to make it onto some Amazon employees Christmas office party video reel

 

[zosobao5150]

I only use apple.

Is this forum made up of 70% Android users?

 

[Apple Corps]

I've been mildly tempted to try the Echo, but I don't know if I'd get as much practical use out of it for the price......

I own the Echo and find it quite useful. Our Rachio irrigation system is run via Alexa voice control - very easy integration. Phillips Hue lighting - another neat use if you are going down the home automation route.

Remember a couple of years ago Apple was going to "own" our living room for entertainment? HomeKit - bla bla bla....

 

[bommai]

AppleTV is tucked away and it not ideal for this. I have an echo and it has decent sound quality for music (compared to boom boxes) and has 7 microphones to enhance voice recognition. The AI has to improve. Hopefully Siri is better. The use case here is typically in the kitchen area for music, recipes, etc. It can be sold for about $150 like the Echo and can use a family Apple ID. Stream Apple Music, integrate with family calendar, contacts, shopping list, home automation devices, etc. The important thing here is it does not need a battery, it needs to be plugged in and always on, and in a central place so that it can hear everything.

 

[macduke]

I've mentioned this before, but this is what I want from such a device:

• Can bridge/extend a wireless network
• Can bridge/extend range to BT HomeKit devices that are often out of range
  
• Can act as a HomeKit hub in lieu of an Apple TV
• Has "Hey, Siri" functionality from across a reasonable sized room
• Has a high-quality speaker that can synchronize/mesh network with other speakers in the house to create whole-home coverage for audio zones
• Has motion, temperature and light sensors that can be used as triggers in HomeKit
• Can wirelessly charge Apple devices using Apple's future wireless power system
• Have a good design in a few different colors that simply plugs into and hangs from the wall, much like the old Airport Express used to do

This sounds like a tall order, but think about how great it would be. Perhaps they could sell it in two tiers, like they do with the Airport Express and Airport Extreme. The cheap model could be priced around $79-99 and leave out the wireless bridge (receive WiFi only), not act as a HomeKit hub, and not wirelessly charge. Then the version that has all of these features could be priced around $129-149. This is Apple we're talking about, so don't expect them to compete with the Echo on price. That being said, the Apple TV is fairly aggressively priced at $149 considering the power it has behind it vs. similarly spec'd iOS devices.

A lot of the pricing, IMO, also depends on their wireless charging strategy and how much that technology will cost. I feel like wireless charging will have a limited range at first, say 5-10ft, so having a few of these around your house would be a big benefit. Perhaps future iPhone, iPad and Mac models will ship with a little wireless wall adapter that only does power. Maybe they could even fit it into an enclosure that also has a USB port and a cord so you could use Lightning to charge it also, but they might have to redesign it to be a little bigger. I do also wonder if Apple would dare get rid of the Lightning port to further waterproof and simplify the design when wireless charging comes out. They could always provide fallback charging through smart connectors on the back and a new charging cord that would work with that, perhaps attaching to the contacts magnetically.

Sorry for going off on a tangent about wireless charging, but I think that could be a killer feature for a device such as this and incentivize people to keep them around their house. I really think Apple is moving towards wireless charging. Besides Jony talking up wireless so much at the Keynote the other week, there are other things to consider. First, their move to lower-powered Macs with USB charging such as the MacBook. It doesn't have a dedicated charging port, but Macs will always need some kind of expansion until wireless USB is common. So it makes sense to move to that ahead of time, and get your machine so low powered that it doesn't even need a fan. Then you can charge it easier because it can get enough of a charge to keep it going during use, and to reduce the amount of time it would take to charge from a day to a range that is more acceptable, since most wireless charging solutions would likely lose some efficiency, especially over distance. It also makes sense why they're pouring so much effort into their A, S, and W series chips, which I think will eventually be spread across all of their products in some capacity.

 

[Rogifan]

They aren't buying because the design is compromised (antenna lines, camera budge), they aren't buying because there is a missing device size (4-inch). Hardly anyone I know puts a case on their phone, so you can't generalise, it's mixed. People aren't buying new iPhones BECAUSE they are aren't being given real good reasons to upgrade.
IT HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH AESTHETICS. Generation 3 of iPhone 6 (aka iPhone 7) is just that, an old design with done up looks. No one wants that.

In your opinion. Everyone I know uses a case. So there, I'm matching you're anecdotal data with my own.