Apple's Echo-Like Smart Speaker With Siri and AirPlay Could Debut as Early as WWDC

[Count Blah]

Just curious..did you you use the Apple TV remote control or did you know that Apple TV would put itself to sleep after x amount of time?

Attack the messanger.

Nice defense.
[doublepost=1493485665][/doublepost]

That means very little to the end user. When an English speaking person attempts to use Siri and gets poor results they don't think "well at least Siri is available in Mandarin". Just means its a poor service available in multiple languages.

More likely - people try to use Siri, get poor results on 50% of their attempts, and then just turn Siri off as it activates seemingly randomly as well.

For Many, Siri is just an annoyance that is turned off, they certainly aren't looking fro devices powered by Siri - unlike the competition.

 

[AZ63]

And yet you can't play any other music source from Siri. So where's the BS here?

I am not sure what you mean here.
After I read your post I held my Home button down and said "open Pandora" and 2 or 3 seconds later Pandora had opened and had started playing music.

 

[Michael Goff]

I am not sure what you mean here.
After I read your post I held my Home button down and said "open Pandora" and 2 or 3 seconds later Pandora had opened and had started playing music.

It can open apps, yes. Now ask it to play a specific thing using ... GPM, Spotify, or even Pandora. Go ahead.

"Play X with Y"

I'll do the same with Google Assistant.

 

[Uofmtiger]

What I meant was that its strange that Apple chose to use a modified bluetooth chip (W1) for the AirPods and all the new Beats stuff rather than Airplay. It kind of seemed like Airplay had been abandoned.



Their Fire TV devices had bigger market share than Apple TV amongst TV streaming devices last I heard.

AirPlay is limited without wifi and to be compatible with other phones, it made more sense to use Bluetooth. At home, most people have wifi and this device is for use at home. It could still have a Bluetooth built in, it just wasn't mentioned in the rumor.

 

[macworksgreat]

Skating to where the puck already was.

Or..just showing up to play when the opposition has already scored..several goals? Heh

 

[ryanwarsaw]

Apple Bands! LOL

One billion.

 

[AZ63]

It can open apps, yes. Now ask it to play a specific thing using ... GPM, Spotify, or even Pandora. Go ahead.

"Play X with Y"

I'll do the same with Google Assistant.

I don't understand why it is important to play a song through Pandora, Spotify, or iTunes? I think what is important is that you can hear the song you want, not what plays the song. Why is it important what app plays a song? Maybe this is less important to me because I don't have paid access to streaming audio. I do specify music in my music collection but I don't value streaming music enough to pay for that level of access to Pandora, Amazon, Spotify or any other streaming service.
If what you want is that important to you then the Android system sounds like the right choice for you. Nothing is perfect, there are just better choices based on individual needs.
Enjoy.

 

[Michael Goff]

I don't understand why it is important to play a song through Pandora, Spotify, or iTunes? I think what is important is that you can hear the song you want, not what plays the song. Why is it important what app plays a song? Maybe this is less important to me because I don't have paid access to streaming audio. I do specify music in my music collection but I don't value streaming music enough to pay for that level of access to Pandora, Amazon, Spotify or any other streaming service.
If what you want is that important to you then the Android system sounds like the right choice for you. Nothing is perfect, there are just better choices based on individual needs.
Enjoy.

My point is that Siri is an extremely closed system and not as good as the other assistants for this sort of speaker system.

 

[noisycats]

"...Could debut as early as..."??? Are you ****ing kidding me? This is already three years too late.

While you slept Apple, Roku became my default streamer and Alexa become my home assistant.

 

[Sheppard]

I see value in this rumoured product - add Homebridge to the mix and you've got the almost perfect Apple-centric smart home device. As others have mentioned, it has to be priced competitively to the Echo Dot or it won't take off and Siri needs better linguistic capabilities.

I'm hopeful they can make it work.

 

[Denmac1]

Attack the messanger.

Nice defense.
[doublepost=1493485665][/doublepost]
More likely - people try to use Siri, get poor results on 50% of their attempts, and then just turn Siri off as it activates seemingly randomly as well.

For Many, Siri is just an annoyance that is turned off, they certainly aren't looking fro devices powered by Siri - unlike the competition.

I don't believe I was attacking anyone.....Just a simple question...

 

[Abazigal]

My point is that Siri is an extremely closed system and not as good as the other assistants for this sort of speaker system.

Sounds like something sirikit could address at WWDC this year. I can now use Siri to send messages to my friends via whatsapp. Doesn't seem like a stretch that I might be able to use Siri to play music from other sources in the future.

I am also reminded of my Apple Watch, which works so well precisely because it is a closed system and is so tightly integrated with my iPhone.

The Amazon echo may sport thousands of commands, but how many of them actually get used? I think I won't mind giving up some degree of versatility in exchange for a device that does a few tricks really well.

We will see.

 

[AppleScruff1]

I gotta laugh at the people that think Apple won't catch Alexa. They'll do that within 18 months of launch.
The mistake you're making is thinking in a US Centric manner. Alexa only supports like 5 languages, Amazon
can't roll it out globally until they support far more languages like Mandarin and Cantonese. Siri already supports
those languages and more. If Apple delivers a competitor it will ship world wide and blow Alexa away.

As for Siri quality. FFS they acquired VocalIQ two years ago to beef up Siri. Integration takes time. Siri
is about to get far better and with Homekit Apple has a strong offering.

If you doubt me...out me.

Thanks for the update Tim.

 

[ipedro]

This will make perfect sense to those who have gone all in to the HomeKit ecosystem. To those who haven't, it'll seem pointless. I have and I get an urge to just "speak to my home" naturally as I'm walking around and need my home to do something or if I have a burning question that I know Siri can give me a quick answer to.

Currently, I can already control my home with Siri but the remaining friction in the experience is that I have to carry my phone around with me at home or rely on the slow performance of my AppleWatch. Siri has plenty of room for improvement but it does work well most of the time.

A Siri speaker with AirPlay and mesh AirPort networking built in would suit Apple's goals moving forward. I expect backup with Time Machine on the Mac to move to iCloud like iOS in an upcoming new version of macOS. A reliable connection will be necessary and Apple will have to have its own solution.

Remember: nobody officially announced the discontinuation of the AirPort. Likely, what's been rumoured is the discontinuation of the current AirPort and its now outdated concept for home networking.

If Apple announces this at WWDC, I'll instantly buy 3. For my front hall ("Hey Siri, I'm home!"), for my kitchen ("Hey Siri, set the scene for dinner") and for my bedroom ("Hey Siri, good morning"). For the living room, AppleTV 4 already performs this task very well. An updated AppleTV with a handsfree "Hey Siri" functionality is welcome though.

 

[DoctorTech]

Who wants this?? Just look at the rapid increase in sales numbers of the Echoes... Apple needs to get on board. I have been converting my house to more automation devices and having a hub where I can control this would be excellent! Not only that, being able to control music and other services would also be fantastic!

I think you are not seeing the future... This IS the future and Apple needs to do something.

I have also been converting my house to more automation. I have 1 original Amazon Echo and 4 Echo Dots. They all work great with my Nest thermostat, Harmony TV remote, Philips lighting system, etc. I agree Apple needs to be in this space but as many others have observed, Siri is not as good as Alexa in terms of voice recognition and I cannot imagine Apple being price competitive with a $49 Echo Dot. At best they may introduce something similar to the $179 Echo with a good speaker in it but that will probably just be a "me too" product.

I truly hope I am wrong. I would love to see an amazing Apple device that beats Echo and makes me want to replace my Echo devices but I am not optimistic.

 

[Uofmtiger]

My point is that Siri is an extremely closed system and not as good as the other assistants for this sort of speaker system.

If you are one of the 20 million+ that use Apple Music, this will be the only option. That is compelling for a lot if people. As you mentioned, Apple Music is the only option that works with Siri, but that is AM's competitive advantage if you use Apple products. If you are happy with Android and are willing to give up the advantages of Apple's ecosystem, that is your choice. Personally, I like the Apple ecosystem, so this device is interesting to me. How it works with AirPlay will be the make or break issue for my needs.

 

[ipedro]

I'll make a prediction. If Apple is going to introduce a home hub at WWDC, it won't come out until the Fall because one of its main features would preempt the revelation of an iPhone Edition feature: wireless long range charging.

A WiFi hub is the correct place to house energy transmission and a brand new, cutting edge technology (read: expensive) like this won't come included in the iPhone box, just like the iPhone or a Mac don't come with a WiFi router.

The WWDC announcement, if it is made, will be one of those two part product announcements. Announce the device at WWDC, say that it'll be ready in the Fall and at the iPhone Edition announcement in September, round out the features of the Siri hub, revealing that it'll wirelessly charge the iPhone Edition from across the room.

 

[Mac 128]

What I meant was that its strange that Apple chose to use a modified bluetooth chip (W1) for the AirPods and all the new Beats stuff rather than Airplay. It kind of seemed like Airplay had been abandoned.



Their Fire TV devices had bigger market share than Apple TV amongst TV streaming devices last I heard.

BlueTooth is a low power solution. AirPlay uses BT LE to listen for commands yen switches to wifi. Can you imagine if those tiny batteries in the AirPods had to power a wifi radio in order to stream a higher bandwidth signal?

Now if you mean why didn't they use AP protocols rather than invent a new BT standard, I'd ask whether that makes sense. I suppose they could have modified a simplified connection method, but if AP uses wifi to make the connection, then it's already moot for a BT audio device.

 

[ipedro]

I cannot imagine Apple being price competitive with a $49 Echo Dot. At best they may introduce something similar to the $179 Echo with a good speaker in it but that will probably just be a "me too" product.

When has Apple ever tried to compete on price? You don't buy Apple because it's cheaper than the competition.

 

[deany]

As mentioned earlier these voice-command devices benefit from being in a number of rooms.
They are a 'non-essential item', apple are up against the likes of the Amazon Dot that works very well for $40.00 per room.
If they don't compete on price, they will price themselves out of the market - in this instance.

 

[44267547]

As mentioned earlier these voice-command devices benefit from being in a number of rooms.
They are a 'non-essential item', apple are up against the likes of the Amazon Dot that works very well for $40.00 per room.
If they don't compete on price, they will price themselves out of the market - in this instance.

I agree that expanding home automation devices throughout various rooms in the home is very convenient, especially being in the kitchen/living room/bedroom where most spend their time. However, I certainly don't see Apple competing with prices, knowingly how they do charge a premium for almost all their products. Whenever and whatever Apple releases for a home automation device, it Will sell strong, because it's an Apple product for one and consumers would likely be interested in how it will communicate with their other Apple devices in their ecosystem.

 

[Jim Lahey]

Is Airplay still actually a thing? Airplay and Siri what could possibly go wrong?

For me it's very much still a thing. I use my Apple Watch to play and control music from my phone to my AV amplifier via AirPlay. It works flawlessly and even allows volume control via the crown.

 

[Tech198]

buying from the Apple online store would be a "thing"

 

[twinlight]

Siri better educated and way grown up. Learn about devices around her. I thought we had iCloud but Siri doesn't want to go there.

I don't care if it's cheap or expensive, has one feature or has mesh wifi, timemachine, apple tv and airplay built in. Siri doesn't understand anything and won't do even the simplest of things.

 

[Solomani]

Is Airplay still actually a thing? Airplay and Siri what could possibly go wrong?

Air Siri.