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

[apolloa]

The fact that the Echo has no screen really forced Amazon to make everything work with voice only. HOPEFULLY the same will happen with this thing. It's the #1 thing that keeps me from using Siri beyond very simple things. As long as I have to keep looking at the screen, I might as well touch the screen.

Yeah about that, I'm afraid not for much longer...

http://www.aftvnews.com/amazon-echo-with-built-in-screen-rumored-to-launch-next-month/

But considering Alexa seems to be getting built into everything from a toothbrush to a cooker (not quite but you get my point) then why not stick a screen on the Echo?

 

[RodoBobJon]

Are the people complaining about how Siri never gets better purposefully exaggerating for effect, or have they legitimately forgotten what Siri was like when it was first introduced? It's gotten way better.

 

[deany]

Code name "Pie" apple are working hard to get Siri working seamlessly.

Looks like Eddie Cue head of "Pie" and his team will stay at the 'old' apple campus, while the rest of the apple staff are moving to the mothership.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...lan-improved-cloud-services-by-unifying-teams

'While many Apple executives want to relocate their teams to the new campus, Cue thinks unifying at the old campus is a suitable way to improve his organisation'

Apple is taking Siri very seriously.

 

[Uofmtiger]

Yeah about that, I'm afraid not for much longer...

http://www.aftvnews.com/amazon-echo-with-built-in-screen-rumored-to-launch-next-month/

But considering Alexa seems to be getting built into everything from a toothbrush to a cooker (not quite but you get my point) then why not stick a screen on the Echo?

In fairness, there is a lot that you can't do without a screen. Try asking Alexa to show you photos of mountains, launch an app, launch a website, etc. I love my Dot, but there are limits to not having a screen available.

 

[L-Viz]

What do you use Echo for? I've had mine for a few years and besides playing random Amazon Music playlists and converting teaspoons to tablespoons, I find it useless. Siri is practically worthless too but at least Siri connects to my actual music collection and is geographically and contextually aware. I find Alexa really good at being dumb and limited.

For now:
1. I have a Spotify account so I listen to music not only in my living room but also in my kitchen, bedroom, in the shower ...
2. The Echo dot is the best alarm clock around. I wake up at different times so I set the alarm every night just by telling Alexa when to wake me up, no more annoying handling with the iPhone alarm clock

3. It controls 80% of my lights (via Osram lightify)

4. It controls my Satellite TV, Xbox One and Amazon Fire better than any universal remote control (vial Logitech harmony hub)

5. the timer function is great while cooking

6. every morning while I'm hesitating to open my eyes and get out of the bed, I ask Alexa about the weather so that I can easily decide if i want to take my motorcycle or car to work.

just to mention the most important functions... other things like "where are my amazon shipments" and "tell me the news" is just a bonus, and the echo is improving from month to month...

 

[CrystalQuest76]

While all of this stuff is cool, is it really necessary? With Siri always on, it seems like she will be getting rather intrusive.

 

[mogga71]

Afraid Apple really has lost it now. Jobs would never had gone for this simply for the reason that they are so, so late to the party that it would be too embarrassing.

Also, lets not forget, it will no doubt be available .... in the Fall .... round about Halloween.

Of all the once great company's current problems ... the one that really cheeses me off is they take so blinking long to release anything. Why? It's not like they are strapped for cash.

I am half tempted to get a Galaxy 8 to show some loyalty to a company who actually brings a number of new products out in a year. In England, we will likely get our hands on the new iPhone 8 3 months before the Galaxy S9 ships.

Apple .... ever heard the term 'Speed to market'?

 

[gri]

Wow - Siri and Beats together...! What could possibly go wrong. Two great products together packaged in a totally new and innovative form...
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Are the people complaining about how Siri never gets better purposefully exaggerating for effect, or have they legitimately forgotten what Siri was like when it was first introduced? It's gotten way better.

Yet still not good enough. Siri recognizes 50% of my commands, Alexa close to 100%...

 

[Macwick]

How would you even measure Airplay success? It is not a stand alone device. It is in hundreds, if not thousands, of third party products. When I was searching for new receivers last year, it was part of my criteria for choosing one. Luckily, it is included in nearly every receiver out there, so it was no problem finding it. It is also in AppleTV2, 3, and 4. It is in Airport Express devices. It is in tons of third party stand alone devices. It is in speakers. I would call it successful if you consider market saturation important.

Just a quick list of some of the third parties that utilize Airplay:

Denon, Onkyo, Sony, Phillips, McIntosh, Marantz, Phillips, Pioneer, Harmon Kardon, Yamaha, Classe' Audio, NAD, etc.

The same holds true for Siri. How are you measuring success? It is in one of the most successful consumer products in history, it is in the best selling tablet, and it is now in the Mac. Apple has improved it over the years, so they still have it on their radar. If anything, a new device with Siri will only make it better because Apple will make it even more of a priority. It isn't perfect, but none of these assistants can say that at this point.

I have to disagree with you (and I was someone who invested heavily in AirPlay). Try and find recent speaker models that support AirPlay. Most of them have been discontinued. And in fact if you search Apple's online store all the speakers there are bluetooth, not AirPlay. Try Googling 'Apple AirPlay' - they don't even have a dedicated page for it anymore. The wikipedia page is first.

In addition, they've let the Remote app fall behind and they still don't support streaming to more than one AirPlay speaker. They should at least be on par with Sonos right now. Here's my litmus test:

Can you stream an Apple Radio station to more than one AirPlay speaker? No? Then it's not a full home audio solution.

Fingers crossed that they close the gap with this new speaker product.

 

[Neepman]

Apple. Now the ultimate "me too" product company.

 

[shyam09]

Wonder how she will suggest to search the web without a screen

She's got to understand you first.

 

[Technarchy]

The problem is siri is a freaking idiot that is only capable of the most rudimentary of task.

I have an Amazon Echo Dot and it's phenomenal. Same for Google Now on the phone.

Siri just flat out sucks ass.

Apple completely wasted their head start.

 

[RickInHouston]

It could be interesting as long as it ties into HomeKit straight out of the box. It's just a shame that Apple seem 2nd or 3rd to market with anything "new" these days. "...Innovate . . . My ass" if I may paraphrase someone!

But there's that tired argument that they wait only to really, really, really get it right. It's so much easier to reverse engineer things!

 

[kruegdude]

Yes, thank you. When it comes to home automation, I'd prefer my garden to be walled.

Agreed, me too.

 

[Mac 128]

Wait for it...

Actually this would be a good way to go ... If I could dock my phone in one, that would essentially attach the speaker to the functionality of my phone without necessarily making it "smart". This would work if going to a wireless charging platform as well. And if Apple goes to a contactless-wireless strategy, then these would serve as changing nodes throughout the house.

 

[Timothy Leo Crowley]

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

I use airplay daily. Works fine

 

[ActionableMango]

Siri is about to get far better and with Homekit Apple has a strong offering.

I really hope so, because Siri is a constant disappointment to me at this time. My latest failure:

 

[oldwatery]

Another absolutely pathetic product from the company that used to be major innovators and trend setters.
Nobody to work on a router but they have time for this garbage.
Apple are just about dead to me...,after being a massive fan and supporter for over 30 years.
Damn you Tim Cook et al.

 

[ignatius345]

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

I use AirPlay every single day, brah. It works beautifully. As we speak, I'm streaming from my Mac to two different sets of speakers in my house. It's reliable and easy.
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I don't regularly use Siri on any of my Apple devices. When I do use it, I'm almost always disappointed.

Same. Though I will admit, the voice transcription is half-decent at times if you want to dictate a text or something. Still, you better proof that before you send it because it makes some real lame errors at times.

 

[neutralguy]

I don't regularly use Siri on any of my Apple devices. When I do use it, I'm almost always disappointed.

I prefer Googles voice assistant and I've heard Alexa is great. Apple is facing some pretty tough competition here, and they're very late to the race. I seriously doubt they'll do well.

Even my 8 yr old son makes fun of Siri implying it's useless.

 

[ignatius345]

In addition, they've let the Remote app fall behind and they still don't support streaming to more than one AirPlay speaker.

You can select multiple speakers if you're playing from iTunes on a Mac (and maybe on a PC?). Though you're right, that begs the question: why can't they get it together to do that from a phone. Is it possible this device will do just that though? Would be cool. Maybe it will also function as some kind of AirPlay hub in addition to the (rumored) wifi router and Siri stuff.

As far as AirPlay support being built into devices, I find it pretty advantageous to just treat any pair of speakers as just speakers. The streaming is handled by an AirPort Express on one set in my kitchen and an Apple TV on the bigger speakers in my living room. I don't need (or want to pay extra for) any speakers that have AirPlay built in because I already have the devices to handle it. So I can just pick the best pairs of speakers regardless -- kind of the way I don't care one bit what "smart" crap a TV has built into it, because at the end of the day I'm gonna hook up an Apple TV, a PlayStation, Fire TV, Roku, whatever. It's cheaper to upgrade those devices from time to time and let the display do its job. The display is there to display, and the speakers are there to... speak (?). I do get your point, though, AirPlay is a good technology and should be built into more devices. A lot of mid-range stereo receivers have it these days, I believe?

 

[Uofmtiger]

I have to disagree with you (and I was someone who invested heavily in AirPlay). Try and find recent speaker models that support AirPlay. Most of them have been discontinued. And in fact if you search Apple's online store all the speakers there are bluetooth, not AirPlay. Try Googling 'Apple AirPlay' - they don't even have a dedicated page for it anymore. The wikipedia page is first.

In addition, they've let the Remote app fall behind and they still don't support streaming to more than one AirPlay speaker. They should at least be on par with Sonos right now. Here's my litmus test:

Can you stream an Apple Radio station to more than one AirPlay speaker? No? Then it's not a full home audio solution.

Fingers crossed that they close the gap with this new speaker product.

I never said you could find a lot of individual speakers using AirPlay. In fact, I said just the opposite. I said it was in receivers by most audio companies, though. If it is dead, they would not have it available on the Appletv4 or this new device.

The iTunes Remote app works with multiple AirPlay devices, so you are wrong about that. You may be confusing the new Appletv Remote app with the iTunes Remote.

They aren't on par with Sonos for multiple room, neither is Bluetooth, which was the comparison. For people that use a Mac in the process, it does multiroom without a problem. Also, AirPlay is implemented right into iOS, so it is more convenient when using the app actually designed by the streaming company for people that aren't walking all over their home while listening to music. As I said, if you are that person, Airfoil, Whaale, iTunes, Roon Audio, and DS Audio all have solutions that work with AirPlay. The tech works fine for multiroom, but I am sure Apple is being cautious with it on iOS because of the number of people using old, outdated routers and the overhead involved in sending a signal to an iOS device and back to the AirPlay streamer. In other words, it would work fine now for that purpose (Whaale proves it), but Apple has chosen to go with the safer implementation.

Yes, I can stream any audio source from my Mac to any or all AirPlay receivers in my home....and to individual zones. Airfoil on a Mac or PC is the answer to that problem. For iTunes, you just need the iTunes app on a PC or Mac. If you only own mobile devices, then life is harder....which is one of the many reasons I don't believe the iPad is a Mac replacement.

 

[SSDGUY]

Looking forward to when Apple comes out with a product that is not of the "me too" variety. Hasn't happened in a long time.

 

[Abazigal]

Looking forward to when Apple comes out with a product that is not of the "me too" variety. Hasn't happened in a long time.

I find that Apple often puts enough of a twist in their own products so it still feels fresh and different. Like the Airpods and Apple Watch. I certainly haven't seen too many products quite like it.

 

[Peperino]

It will be nice if Apple would dedicate the time to put good level computers that are way overdue.

We can care less about a smart speaker...
[doublepost=1493425885][/doublepost]Another useless product that we can care less. Let's copy and catch up what others are doing.

Innovation is dead...

So Sad...