Apple's Amazon Echo Competitor Could Feature Camera, Facial Recognition

[citysnaps]

It's one thing to trust Apple on privacy issues. But you'd need to decide if you trust their security - on the timeliness and reliability of their updates. Nobody wants a p0wned webcam in their home.

Ask the New York City District Attorney about that. He now has more than 200 iPhones he can't get into.

Also, with respect to security, ask why it was only Apple that pushed back hard on law enforcement and Congress recently. Nobody from google or the other phone manufacturers went up against law enforcement or testified before Congress. Wonder why...

And how are the timeliness of those Android OS updates, anyway?

 

[Rogifan]

This rumor suggests big things coming for Siri because of Apple's acquisition of VocalIQ.

http://www.techinsider.io/how-apples-vocaliq-ai-works-2016-5

 

[ChrisCW11]

Meh, camera recognition is kind of passe nowadays. Look, Apple is 5 years behind their competition on this, 5+ years ago everybody had facial recognition. I would control my Kinect with a camera, PS Eye, Samsung and LG TV's all had camera's built in, I could unlock my computer or laptop or phone with my face.

But the fad has passed. Kinect isn't being used to control your movies or access TV content anymore, few computers come with the facial recognition feature because it can be easily duped (i.e. hold a ****ing picture up to access your device), and building a camera into every Internet of Things device leaves it prone to be hacked and there is a huge privacy issue. Apple will not solve any of this, including security which is their achilles heal these days.

While I know this is all wild speculation by a misinformed Apple fanboi that has access to a blog, every fanboi "wish" feature so far is just a very bad decisions, which I HOPE Apple has enough good sense not to be duplicating.

 

[Karma*Police]

Let's face it... if Apple released Echo (even before Amazon), these boards would be lit up with how Apple can't innovate... after all, it's just Siri in a speaker box which anyone with a 6S or AW already has in a more convenient form factor.

If this rumor is true, it sounds far more ambitious than Siri in a box and more sensible and Apple-like, but I have my doubts about how well this would work.

 

[Black Belt]

Who dreams up this nonsense. Self-aware BWHAAHAHAHA. I heard it will also include a gourmet chef and will make you a proper eggs benedict or a soufflé on demand.

 

[samcraig]

And how are the timeliness of those Android OS updates, anyway?

Very. The core apps, Google Play Services and the OS overall is updated quite often. Now if you're going to ask about the carriers releasing their version - that's another matter. But Android OS updates themselves are frequent.

 

[acctman]

There will not be any facial recognition. Apple will more than likely build a bluetooth speaker with mic and allow SIRI from your Mac computer, or IOS device's to use it. Another stand alone device means another operating system. They already have MacOS, CarOS, TVOS, WatchOS, and iOS... managing and upkeep of all of these OS is starting to show with buggy updates.

As an Echo owner at the end of the say the Echo is just a bluetooth speaker that plays music. sure you an tell it to turn lights on and off. But your phone can do that too. This entire home this is just another niche for more money. your phone and a speaker does everything Google Home and Amazon Echo can do and more.

 

[Dr.Chroma]

This exact comment was posted in the last Amazon Echo post.

Great minds think alike.
[doublepost=1464381411][/doublepost]

I must've missed the part where this new product was already announced and we know about the new features.

You didn't miss anything. I wasn't referring to any new innovations. I was referring to what was already first introduced by Apple before any other company. Like mentioned before, multitouch was the first to be introduced by Apple. I wasn't referring to anything that any other Company had their hands on first.
[doublepost=1464381820][/doublepost]

When has Apple released something that didn't already have a predecessor? They take a category and revolutionize it. They make it accessible to That's what they've always done.

When Apple first introduced multitouch, it was the creation. It was later revolutionized and implemented, and further integrated for the user to become used to having not having a physical or Querty keyboard. Obviously, they further enhanced multitouch now with 3-D Touch. What other company has 3-D touch on their cell phones or at least patented with the capabilities that Apple has implemented?

 

[samcraig]

There will not be any facial recognition. Apple will more than likely build a bluetooth speaker with mic and allow SIRI from your Mac computer, or IOS device's to use it. Another stand alone device means another operating system. They already have MacOS, CarOS, TVOS, WatchOS, and iOS... managing and upkeep of all of these OS is starting to show with buggy updates.

As an Echo owner at the end of the say the Echo is just a bluetooth speaker that plays music. sure you an tell it to turn lights on and off. But your phone can do that too. This entire home this is just another niche for more money. your phone and a speaker does everything Google Home and Amazon Echo can do and more.

Saying the echo is just a speaker is like saying the iPad is just a bigger phone. It is a different experience because I wouldn't lauren to music on an iPhone speaker. I don't have to have a device in hand to get information or control the home. While the echo and similar devices have room to grow.. Minimizing it to a wireless speaker is a bit off base

 

[b0nd18t]

Well its finally happened. Tech co's have reached a point where they churn out new products that are pretty ridiculous. I cant see ever buying from the category

 

[Pilgrim1099]

Great minds think alike.
[doublepost=1464381411][/doublepost]

You didn't miss anything. I wasn't referring to any new innovations. I was referring to what was already first introduced by Apple before any other company. Like mentioned before, multitouch was the first to be introduced by Apple. I wasn't referring to anything that any other Company had their hands on first.
[doublepost=1464381820][/doublepost]


When Apple first introduced multitouch, it was the creation. It was later revolutionized and implemented, and further integrated for the user to become used to having not having a physical or Querty keyboard. Obviously, they further enhanced multitouch now with 3-D Touch. What other company has 3-D touch on their cell phones or at least patented with the capabilities that Apple has implemented?

It was Jeff Han that introduced and invented multi touch, NOT Apple. Apple likes to manipulate the masses into thinking it's the first to bring it out but hides the truth or facts without crediting the source. It's how they like to "control the message".

 

[Dr.Chroma]

It was Jeff Han that introduced and invented multi touch, NOT Apple. Apple likes to manipulate the masses into thinking it's the first to bring it out but hides the truth or facts without crediting the source. It's how they like to "control the message".

I agree that Apple tends to manipulate consumers in the believing specifics about their products, even prior to being released. That being said, I also feel the whole apple doesn't excellent job of exploiting the future regarding software or hardware and allowing the consumer to come to the realization that Apple will perfect it. Or so they say.

 

[Jax44]

Who dreams up this nonsense. Self-aware BWHAAHAHAHA. I heard it will also include a gourmet chef and will make you a proper eggs benedict or a soufflé on demand.

No sausage gravy?

 

[Pilgrim1099]

I agree that Apple tends to manipulate consumers in the believing specifics about their products, even prior to being released. That being said, I also feel the whole apple doesn't excellent job of exploiting the future regarding software or hardware and allowing the consumer to come to the realization that Apple will perfect it. Or so they say.

Not only that but they tend to wait until the last minute to reveal in order to make people guess without buying other products. Look how they're still hiding the Apple Watch sales figures. It's not for competitive reasons but they're afraid it'll make them look bad.

I look at Microsoft and see how proactive they are in pursuing future tech and not being coy about it like a juvenile. Like HoloLens for example. They got it out there and were upfront about how they would explore this tech to be used for certain industries. It's quite brave of them to do so even if this product is expensive. I know it is about $3,000 but that shouldn't stop them from pushing the envelope. They know what's up around the corner unlike the other guy who pooh poohed the hybrid market that's still selling.

 

[Dr.Chroma]

Not only that but they tend to wait until the last minute to reveal in order to make people guess without buying other products. Look how they're still hiding the Apple Watch sales figures. It's not for competitive reasons but they're afraid it'll make them look bad.

I look at Microsoft and see how proactive they are in pursuing future tech and not being coy about it like a juvenile. Like HoloLens for example. They got it out there and were upfront about how they would explore this tech to be used for certain industries. It's quite brave of them to do so even if this product is expensive. I know it is about $3,000 but that shouldn't stop them from pushing the envelope. They know what's up around the corner unlike the other guy who pooh poohed the hybrid market that's still selling.

I think you nailed it. Especially with example the Apple Watch. Why they won't release sales numbers, is beyond me. As much as I enjoy my Apple Watch, it does not make sense to me how they tend to hide and release information on either one requested or deem it necessary.

 

[MRrainer]

Who needs this?
Admittedly, I don't listen to music, so it has little value anyway. Also, my apartment isn't "smart", I have to push all the buttons, move all the blinders myself.
I certainly don't need a device that listens to what I say. Creepy enough that people actually buy the Amazon Echo.
I do talk to Siri, but I don't have her on always-listen. That's just silly.

As for not revealing sales numbers - well, do they have to?
It's probably not raking-in billions, but it's a nice little business, IMO, and those who have one and haven't sold it after two months are probably keeping it for the time being.

 

[duffman9000]

Let's see, 2 competitors announce products that demolish Siri and suddenly rumors begin about a future version of Siri that actually doesn't suck. Why is it people believe positive rumors not Siri not being such a disaster but ignore negative rumors like the iPhone 7 borrowing Benders eyes?

Yup. The Tim Cook Apple is all about disappointment. The software is really atrocious under his guidance. Unreliable and buggy as hell. I know the engineers can do better. I think they are being held back for some reason.

I think it's the relentless yearly software cycles. Add a new feature and then spend the next year fixing it.

I still see layout issues in messages and safari when rotating the screen. Doesn't happen as often as it used to but it still happens. iOS on a large phone has been ongoing for almost 2 years now and this issue still happens.

 

[doelcm82]

Well its finally happened. Tech co's have reached a point where they churn out new products that are pretty ridiculous. I cant see ever buying from the category

My uncle's father finally agreed to have the house plumbed for running water, but he wouldn't have a toilet inside the house.
[doublepost=1464385218][/doublepost]

Not only that but they tend to wait until the last minute to reveal in order to make people guess without buying other products. Look how they're still hiding the Apple Watch sales figures.

I don't make a final decision until After Apple reveals its hand.

It's not for competitive reasons but they're afraid it'll make them look bad.

What you're saying is that that would be the reason if you did it. Apple has its own reasons.

 

[Analog Kid]

Wow, this whole Siri at home thing went from fun to creepy in about 2 days.

I expect there's still a lot of resistance to these kinds of cameras in the home. Of the big three, I trust Apple more than the other two, but it'll take a lot to convince me to have a camera turned on in my living room all the time and connected to the net.

Keeping everything local would go a long way towards improving my level of trust. Keep the NLP and vision processing in the device and only hit the web when I need information from public sources, and don't share more than a standard search query would.
[doublepost=1464385570][/doublepost]

Kinect isn't being used to control your movies or access TV content anymore, few computers come with the facial recognition feature because it can be easily duped (i.e. hold a ****ing picture up to access your device)

I don't think this is useful as a security feature, so much as wanting to identify the speaker. "Hey Siri, tell my boss I'm running late" needs to know who's boss and voice recognition is only going to get so far. Many family members sound quite similar to each other.

 

[phrehdd]

Centralized unit that sees and hears, connected to the world via Internet...now what could go wrong with that scenario?

Maybe they can call it -

Big Brother assist
Device 1984
of course I would simply call mine Orwell.

 

[jonnysods]

Can we accuse apple of not innovating and copying but we are mad about a rumor? It's not like Apple made the thing, we don't even know their plans for it.

 

[Analog Kid]

Can somebody please find a codename for this product category? You guys have been advertising Amazin Echo for days.

Amazon deserves it. The Echo is a pretty slick little piece of hardware.

 

[Karma*Police]

Home is due out before the end of the year.

Exactly, an Echo clone.

 

[samcraig]

Exactly, an Echo clone.

Actually it would appear to be an Echo on steroids. A lot more capabilities and access to information. But if you want to refer to it as a clone - then I guess everything Apple has put out has been a clone since there was something that came before it delivered by another OEM. And Apple will also be making an Echo clone.

 

[Karma*Police]

But Google doesn't need hardware to survive.

Not sure if your comment was meant for me but my comment had nothing to do with Google's survival or dependence on hardware; just that they're not nearly as good at delivering new, innovative products as one of the posters implied... showing off cool R&D projects and talking about their vision is one thing... delivering real world solutions that are new and genuinely useful is exponentially more difficult.
[doublepost=1464389046][/doublepost]

Actually it would appear to be an Echo on steroids. A lot more capabilities and access to information. But if you want to refer to it as a clone - then I guess everything Apple has put out has been a clone since there was something that came before it delivered by another OEM. And Apple will also be making an Echo clone.

It's still an Echo; there's natural evolution of an idea, such as adding more capabilities to an existing idea, like Google Home (aka Echo plus), and then there are revolutionary ones like Mac, iPod, iPhone and iPad that take a fundamentally different approach to an existing product/service.

If the latest rumors are true, Apple's vision of home automation may sit somewhere in between. Certainly, it needs to be more than just Siri in a box like Echo and GH, which I've stated several times doesn't make sense when they can just enable all their devices to be always listening.

We'll see if Apple's version is just an Echo clone or a very different approach to home automation or maybe they'll never release this rumored device... kind of like the Apple TV (actual TV) that's been rumored for ages.