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

PresentEchoes.jpg
 
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Alchemist said:
I'd really like to see Apple build one of these or possibly integrate the functionality directly into an AppleTV. I'm trying to go down the smart home route and the Echo is quite compelling. I want motion sensing as well as voice control so that lights can intelligently turn on as I move around.
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As long as motion sensing can be disabled for people with pets. My cat would have lights on all over the house all night.

I must be getting old because I don't want a "smart" device in my home listening to every sound and watching everything and everyone. Being stalked 24/7 inside my own home is beyond creepy, even if its being done by a machine.

Secondly, I fear the day will come when someone finds a way to hack Alexa allowing potentially dangerous people to watch and listen to their victims. I'm actually surprised that nobody has compromised one of those apps that control home alarm systems over the internet. Yes, encryption, blah blah blah, but mistakes in coding happen and default passwords are often stupid easy to guess.
 
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macduke said:
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.
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Like your ideas. Progress just seems so slow yet its the way forward.
 
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Urban Joe said:
Paying good money to bug your house. Imagine what a psycho politician will do with these things? History is no mystery.
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Agree. We are moving into 1984 territory here. Incidentally, SJ at Apple got big Kudos for breaking 1984 mentality of IBM, now they are moving into that space themselves. The fact that the data is sent back to Apple is not safe at all. FBI managed to break into iPhone encryption, who wants to bet how easily can NSA break into the encryption of Siri? Just my 2 cents.
 
catcherintherye said:
Agree. We are moving into 1984 territory here. Incidentally, SJ at Apple got big Kudos for breaking 1984 mentality of IBM, now they are moving into that space themselves. The fact that the data is sent back to Apple is not safe at all. FBI managed to break into iPhone encryption, who wants to bet how easily can NSA break into the encryption of Siri? Just my 2 cents.
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Uh...what info is being sent to Apple? Specifically? I'm asking because I've actually looked through the developer documentation, as well as watched the blackhat security rundown, and have been watching the Chaos Computer Congress for several years now.

Apple has moved to almost exclusive onboard data processing for data that could be private.

Now, I know for a fact as well that literally every data stream going through any transnational transmission line, and satellite uplinks, and several clearly illegal operations domestically is being captured by the NSA and other members of the Five Eyes. But Apple has made a massive push to put the kabob on their devices previous vulnerabilities in this regard. iMessage, explicitly, has been a pain in the ass for the NSA since iOS 8 as their document leaks have shown members bitching about being able to capture data but it being useless due to end to end encryption.

So I'm all for data privacy, but let's be clear here, the actual facts of what is going on matter.

I guarantee you that if/when this product is released any and all personal identification data will be locked away in hardware behind the secure enclave (they're certain to be using an A series for this device).
 
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If it looks like anything like that there'd will be a lawsuit by seconds by Amazon.
 
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Apple Corps said:
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....
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can you ask Alexa to change different Hue bulb colours?
 
I've been pretty down on Apple recently, but speaking as someone who would never buy an Echo, I would be tempted if Apple did it. I trust neither Google nor Amazon to have a constantly-connected device listening to every word we say in our house, but at least Apple seems to care about privacy a bit more. I wouldn't entirely trust them either, but they seem to at least by trying to preserve privacy when they can. And when it comes to internet devices whose entire purpose is to spy on you at all times (for your own benefit), whatever my other complaints about Apple, they do seem to be at least attempting to deal seriously with these issues.
 
"Made popular". A PS4 is popular, an iPhone is popular, a 4K TV is popular. I think they mean, Amazon made a product that has gotten alot of attention. Has it sold 5 million units? How about even 1 million?

I don't see the draw if you have a phone that is home connected. Amazon's phone failed so they don't have another avenue. I might get one for curiosity but seems like no reason for Apple to make a specialized device when they make computers that can already connect to your home and do all these things in all sizes - from watches and phones to desktop computers.

If connected devices are the future - then Apple has the apple TV to work with as a starting unit.
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Thunderhawks said:
Apple, Apple, Appl, app , ap, a

that's the echo I hear.

My experience is the same and I tried many times.

Just mentioning one quick aspect about controlling lights

Most Americans I know never turn off the lights as they think electricity doesn't cost much.
That included my wife and kids.
Being trained by my parents long arm of the law - whack- to switch off lights when I leave a room
I am glad to still be capable to switch off lights.

As for security to pretend I am home, I have nothing but and MBP and a TV thieves would want.

I can still turn on a radio by myself, walk over to turn sound down etc.etc.

Do we really need more devices to make us more sedentary and get fatter by the minute?

Until Siri can exercise for me and I feel the pounds dropping off it's a no go.
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Electricity doesn't cost much. I want it all automated so my kids don't waste money, but electricity does not cost much.
 
So this thing will be battery powered... No one would want to use something that is not moveable.
 
avanpelt said:
Do you have sales numbers on the Echo?
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Amazon doesn't release sales numbers (as for most of its other branded product lines like Kindle etc., not just for the Echo family), but there are educated estimates for 2016:

http://www.geekwire.com/2016/report-amazon-sold-3-million-echo-smart-speakers-awareness-grows/

Also note that the Echo is just bring rolled out outside of North America:

https://earlymoves.com/2016/06/17/a...xt-year-probably-due-to-internationalization/

I would say that these numbers are quite high (or even really high) given that Amazon has no traditional, physical distribution and that many people wouldn't buy one because of privacy concerns etc.
 
doelcm82 said:
Maybe it will be built into those devices, in addition to a separate device.

My friends have an Amazon Echo in their kitchen, which is where they like to use it. They don't have any devices with screens that stay permanently in the kitchen.

For Siri to work as a home-automation device, it needs to be reliably available. It needs to work from the bedroom, the kitchen, the garage, the bathroom, the conservatory, the library, the dressing room, the laundry room, the workshop, the parlor, the lanai, the Lido Deck, the yoga room, the rooftop garden, the mud room, etc. And it needs to work when your iPhone is, surprise, surprise, surprise, on its charger in the butler's pantry while you are in the solarium.

Amazon has the right idea. I don't mind if Apple copies it.
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that's what it seems like...apple not really good @ multitasking. ever used the piece of crap iPhones and macbook craps. all really horrible @ multitasking but great @ leeching your moolah
 
smacrumon said:
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.
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Have you ever used an Amazon Alexa? When I saw it first advertised, I asked myself, "why would I ever get that when I have Siri on my phone?"

The key reasons are -- a great internet music speaker that integrates with Spotify and Amazon Prime Music. It's also a great bluetooth enabled device for my iThings.

Also, and I can't stress this enough, Alexa is 100 times smarter than Siri. Siri is a joke. Siri never does what I ask her to. Alexa, I'd say, is probably 90% accurate when I bark orders to the Echo.

At this point, I don't use Siri on any of the device that she's come to, because, well, she's terrible.
 
netdoc66 said:
Apple, always a day late and a dollar too much
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Don't get the "day late" part. I'm trying to think of a market where Apple wasn't late entering... and I can't really think of one.

They weren't the first home computer. They weren't the first, second, third, or even the fourth MP3 player. Same with the smartphone. They weren't the first tablet. They're not the first smart watch, either.

But hey, since they're not the first in the home automation space either, lets throw some snark. o_O :D
 
I genuinely believe all home automation is a gimmick designed to increase the time spent of turning a light on.

Seriously putting a button on a thing to then turn on or off a thing that has a button is stupid.

However, I do think voice commands really make sense for home automation. How many times do you say to the partner, oh put the light on, or put the kettle on, or it's really hot in here or is it me? Having a beam forming device or iPhone or even all devices in your home listen in to your wishes might eventually make sense. The reality is that the devices we really want to automate are fashion items that we don't generally buy for function. Kettles are bought on looks and size not if they're connected, light fixtures, stereos, curtains, blinds etc.

I want to believe in home automation and think that it has a future but it doesn't. It'll always just be something some people love but the majority don't like. It's in the realm of solar panels, sure you can save money and be green but still practically no one has them. I can't see apple diving into the echo type market.
 
smacrumon said:
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.

.
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I use my Amazon Echo multiple times per day. I use my Xbox One's Konnect to change channels, change the volume, pause, open apps, blah blah blah. I use Siri a handful of times a week. I barely use my AppleTV's Siri and I barely use my Amazon FireTV's voice control.

Always on mics are where it's at (if you're okay with the privacy) - I just wish I could have it control my Amazon FireTV and it swapped out TuneIn's podcasts for a more feature rich app that would let me keep favorites, keep track of played episodes, etc... PocketCasts for instance. Unless Apple brings something big to this space I fear they're too late. I'm already migrating to FireTV from AppleTV.
 
kdarling said:
You must be new to Apple user forums.

Long time Apple fans give far more criticism/sarcasm about Apple, on more topics, than any non-Apple fans could possibly think of, simply because the latter are not personally familiar with being disappointed by Apple's new directions.
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I counter that criticism is not a mark of experience with Apple, because anybody who's been watching Apple for a decade or longer would know that the company proves doubters wrong on a regular basis.
 
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