All I care about is the Siri API. As a developer, this makes me happy (of course, if this is true (please be true...)). 
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Apple Working on Amazon Echo Competitor, Opening Siri Up to Developers
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I think you are just being inconsistent here. Most Apple fans (at least if one were to believe what they are posting here) would never use such a device (violation of privacy and such). And this could mean that Apple's device is doomed (because they conditioned their fans by false advertisement of privacy and stupid attacks on Google).
AppleTV (or any streamer) may not be a good fit for such device. The device have to "talk" to you. Hence it has to have a relatively big speaker. Also the streamer has to be located near TV set which may not be the optimal choice.
You might be ok with carrying your phone everywhere you go in your house but I'm not. I have been waiting for Apple to come out with a device that I can put in every room of my house to have Siri access to my HomeKit devices wherever I am. I thought the TV with a few satellite listeners was going to be this. Looking forward to seeing what they come up with.
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That's exactly how I thought it was going to work when they announced TV being the home hub years ago.
Apple: damned if you do, damned if you don't.
Now, where was Alexa, Cortana, Google's Boring Girl, when Siri was announced in 2011?
I understand why Apple might want to go there but I think there might be some pitfalls for Apple in doing it. There is very little chance that at this point in time Apple can compete with Google on AI and wealth of information. As a result, Apple offering might be inferior to the extent that it could be embarrassing (or at least detrimental to Apple image).
I'd prefer something like Harman Kardon Soundsticks.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
I have those myself. I figured the "wink" emoji conveyed that I was joking about Beats speaker perfection.
Would you believe that the "conversational pylon" concept actually started at PARC almost twenty years ago, Apple was working on this concept from the early days of Steve coming back but it was pushed aside many times for the iPod then iPhone then iPad and even the Watch?
Would you believe a few Pylon developers got sick of this and found friendlier executives at Amazon willing to make it happen? Now some exec at Apple, has her projections for it go to the garbage over how well the Echo sold? Now they are trying to convert the pylon into a "HomeKit hub" and launching it similar to their first generation WiFi.
Would you believe a few Pylon developers got sick of this and found friendlier executives at Amazon willing to make it happen? Now some exec at Apple, has her projections for it go to the garbage over how well the Echo sold? Now they are trying to convert the pylon into a "HomeKit hub" and launching it similar to their first generation WiFi.
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I don't understand why this wasn't baked into AppleTV 4. It should of had SIRI built in that you can talk to. If you are using your TV and it is loud, talk into the crappy remote.
I doubt Apple will open siri up like the Echo. Like the article says opening siri to developers. so that's just allowing commands into the app. That does not mean an Echo device... It's 50 times easier to code a Alexa Skill for the Echo that it would ever be to code something for iOS / Siri. It takes at least 2mons to dev something meaning for for the iOS and about 1day to dev for the Echo. I would be shocked if Apple built an Echo or Home style device.
It did. I have those too
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Is it true?..
I hope the rumor of a Siri SDK is true because it needs to grow up fast. Apple has stifled the Siri team so much that all the original developers left and created Viv.
Do you own an Echo? I respect your opinions but question the accuracy if you have not experienced the device. I have an Echo for over a year and half, find it very useful, exceptional at managing music, personal assistant, and fun at parties, to name a few things it offers. Siri has a long way to go before it can do even a small portion of the things Alexa can today.
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I'm conflicted on whether the idea of a standalone Echo-like device is something that makes sense. I'm one of those people (along with my wife and each of our 4 kids) who always have their iPhone with them, so having a standalone device would just be yet another electronic device sitting somewhere taking up space and consuming electricity waiting for the occasional use when I or someone else is in the vicinity and wants to ask for something.
I get the real use is likely as a home automation hub, but we're not there yet with home controls and the internet of things. And how commercials show these things playing music - it just reminds me of the transistor radios of days past, where my grandparents would be happy with the sub-par, mono, sound they produce. I would be interested in Apple getting into the remote / distributed speaker market where each set of speakers would include a microphone, so you could Hey Siri to any one speaker that is connected to your home wifi system. That would make sense - but only if the sound quality and physical looks are good.
I get the real use is likely as a home automation hub, but we're not there yet with home controls and the internet of things. And how commercials show these things playing music - it just reminds me of the transistor radios of days past, where my grandparents would be happy with the sub-par, mono, sound they produce. I would be interested in Apple getting into the remote / distributed speaker market where each set of speakers would include a microphone, so you could Hey Siri to any one speaker that is connected to your home wifi system. That would make sense - but only if the sound quality and physical looks are good.
Seems that last thing Apple engineers need right now is another product to maintain. Just opening up Siri to homekit h/w partners would fill the same gap, no? Personally I'm still uncomfortable having speakers listening in in every room. It's not that I don't trust Apple, it's that hacks happen no matter how rigorous a company beta tests.
Following in the footsteps of (Amazon and) Google again.
They should have put "Apple, start your photocopiers" banners up at I/O
They should have put "Apple, start your photocopiers" banners up at I/O
3rd-party Siri integration? YES PLEASE.
As far as an Amazon Echo competitor, I don't personally see the need for separate voice-controlled devices from my iPhone or watch, or tv.
As far as an Amazon Echo competitor, I don't personally see the need for separate voice-controlled devices from my iPhone or watch, or tv.