Google Says Assistant Works With Over 5,000 Smart Home Devices, HomeKit/Siri Around 200

[steve knight]

I have been using smartthings for my automatons because it was around and worked before homekit. I find a few useful thigns to do with it. when I am lazy I use siri to turn off all the lights verses logitech pop button. one automation i have right now is I open the bedroom window that turns on the large fan and it turns off when the window is closed. it also turns the fan off when the temp falls to 68. it will turn on it it gets about that. but now I have it so if the windows or doors are open the echobee will be set to off and back on when the windows and doors are shut. Plus I have this iti s a webpage I can access from anything. I know people who setup fire tablets to always run it for a control panel.

 

[batmccoy]

Uhm. I use Alexa.

 

[bluespark]

Pssst... Apple... make an Alexa skill to marry the two like a Wink/SmartThings hub...

That would defeat HomeKit’s security. But you can do that already with (for example) IFTT. I have several HomeKit and non-HomeKit devices and for all practical purposes, I can make them work together however I wish.

 

[idunn]

The best home may well be one with few, if any, "smart" devices.

 

[Defthand]

The 5,000 number sounds impressive but what does it mean? How many devices realistically can one household have and benefit from.

Realistically, the number of unique devices is probably modest for both platforms. What differentiates Google’s compatibility from Apple’s is the number of competing suppliers (brands). With that participation, you—the consumer—have a wider range of quality and prices to choose from. You’ll notice that choices that work with HomeKit tend to be the most expensive ones.

And what about flexibility? Google licenses its services to other brands. Won’t surprise me if Google Assistant appears within appliances as a standalone feature that doesn’t require a separate interface to control. After all, remote control is impractical for many appliances.

And don’t ignore obsolescence. Apple is quicker to brick existing compatibility when it evolves its ecosystem.

 

[Stella]

I know what Google and others do with the data. But, I'm referring to "personal data".

Google do not sell personal data. "Personal data" means, not limited to, your name, your phone number, address.

They do provide data about your browsing data etc etc, all data is anonymous. Anyone, given enough competency, and enough data can build up a very good profile of an individual.

A lot of companies mine data like this, and should, in order to target their customers better and provide them with the best service.

Big deal, people generally don't care.

PS: I've haven't written a cheque to anyone in the last 10 years. Its 2018, not 1998

Absolutely wrong. That is *exactly* their business model, and they are exceedingly good at doing it. Google maintains individual personal profiles, monitors everything that you do, tracks you across multiple devices, and while you're right that it's not the highest bidder, they will sell that information to anyone that meets the asking price. There's a fig leaf about 'anonymizing' some data, but it's trivial to reverse that and get back to a specific person due to the level of detail gathered about each individual.

If you're not paying for it, you're the product, not the customer.

When was the last time you wrote a check to Google, Facebook, Twitter, etc?

 

[bluespark]

Apple has a multi-faceted problem here: Siri is far behind so no one wants that to be their home’s go-to assistant, Apple doesn’t compete in the <$50 (<$30 on sale) small smart speaker category so very few people can afford to put Siri in every room, and lots of quality manufacturers are not bothering with the costs/difficulties associated with HomeKit implementation.

If Apple wants to avoid being pushed out of this space, it has to fix all three of these.

 

[69650]

I would not pick Apple for my smart home because they’re so far behind Google & Amazon.

 

[npmacuser5]

The majority of the HomeKit supported devices are also available for Google and Amazon so your logic doesn't quite work out, nor any one else who makes the 'quality' comment.

Lets face it, if Apple supported 5,000 devices, and others 200, you wouldn't even be attempting to make this point - you'd be saying 'Apple crushing the competition by numbers of supported devices'. The word 'Quality' wouldn't even be in your comment.



Absolute BS. Google do not sell your personal identifying data. Data is not going to the highest bidder, either.

Quality as in echo system, includes security by Apple requiring security hardware and software built into HomeKit devices. Seperates Apple Devices from the rest of the pack in the area of the echo system. To your point, the devices Google supports are good products in what they do, like turn the light on or off. Not what I was referring too. As for numbers, never has been Apples primary business focus as compared to Google.

 

[solace]

I don’t see an advantage of having to sift through 1000s of choices vs having the best curated by Apple instead.

you clearly are not into home automation very seriously if you believe this.

even that 200 number for HomeKit is fairly laughable to any serious home automation hobbyist.

 

[Aston441]

Apple has a multi-faceted problem here: Siri is far behind so no one wants that to be their home’s go-to assistant, Apple doesn’t compete in the <$50 (<$30 on sale) small smart speaker category so very few people can afford to put Siri in every room, and lots of quality manufacturers are not bothering with the costs/difficulties associated with HomeKit implementation.

If Apple wants to avoid being pushed out of this space, it has to fix all three of these.

You nailed it. The last time Dots were on sale at $30 I put one in every room. Now Alexa is everywhere and the whole setup is mindless, invisible, and cheap. Most Americans cannot afford a HomePod in every room.

 

[Stella]

As for numbers, never has been Apples primary business focus as compared to Google.

People only make this statement when Apple aren't #1 for 'numbers'... funny that.

Quality as in echo system, includes security by Apple requiring security hardware and software built into HomeKit devices. Seperates Apple Devices from the rest of the pack in the area of the echo system.

Google supports are good products in what they do, like turn the light on or off.

Home kit also turns lights on and off.. if Siri understands what your saying....

I don't need Apple to curate devices / decide whats best. I'd rather read up and find the product best for myself. Using Google Home, there are more devices available. More choice, which is better.

 

[Morgenland]

True. But 5000 gives me an option to choose different vendor with different pricing to my liking. But with 200, I may not have that option. But then with Apple homekit integration, I don't expect cheaper price.

Choosing from a wide variety takes lifetime. I hope Apple will provide the best option from each category. As always: Save coins or gain lifetime for other things.

 

[Stella]

Cost of choice are minutes of life. I hope, Apple preselects the best in every category, often I just do not like to spend my precious lifetime in infinity. Time or money.

No, Apple don't pre-select the best. Thats just wishful thinking.

 

[m4mario]

Yup. I have Google mini and I say 'ok Google' and 'hey Google!', both works.

Thats because Google is always listening. No need any specific trigger to activate further listening. It just needs to know the sentence was meant for it.

 

[44267547]

As a heavy Siri user, I’m actually fairly shocked how Advanced Google is and the overall adoption. I think Apple really needs to improve in this area with HomeKit and overall implementation in the home.

 

[Gaspode67]

Thats because Google is always listening. No need any specific trigger to activate further listening. It just needs to know the sentence was meant for it.

Stop spreading FUD. *ALL* the Smart Assistants, including Siri, are constantly listening for an activation phrase. That's the basis on how they work. Plus, I have just tried lots of different activations on my Home Mini, and the only ones that work are "Hey Google" and "Okay Google" that I have trained it to.

 

[avanpelt]

Congratulations Google. I bet about 4000 of those products are garbage. The best stuff works with multiple platforms anyway: Lutron, Hue, Schlage, Hunter, ecobee, etc. Why do I care if low-end junk also works on your platform?

What a snobby thing to say. There are some excellent products out there that aren't compatible with HomeKit. Nest products are at the top of my list.

Some (perhaps many on this forum) hate Nest products solely because they're owned by Google. If they'd bother to look past that hate and at the actual products, they'd quickly realize that Tony Fadell (the 'father' of the iPod) and his team created some pretty amazing products with the Nest line. If Apple had bought Nest, many of the Nest haters out there would likely think they're one of the best products Apple had in its lineup.

Anecdotally, most of the people I know who interact with devices in their home via HomeKit/Siri aren't very satisfied with the experience. Siri is the primary reason for their dissatisfaction. Siri is the only voice control option if you're going all-in on HomeKit; and Siri is, in my estimation, the weakest link in the chain by far.

 

[scottlitch]

As long as Siri tells Google Assistant what to do, I am fine. I tell Siri what to do and Siri can delegate my requests to the other assistants.

How? You can have Siri talk to Alexa?

 

[bbednarz]

https://www.macobserver.com/columns-opinions/editorial/alexa-beats-homekit/

I own and use both Alexa and HomeKit. I have not experienced the issues detailed in that article once.

 

[avanpelt]

As long as Siri tells Google Assistant what to do, I am fine. I tell Siri what to do and Siri can delegate my requests to the other assistants.

Uh, I don't think that's possible. Siri can't even turn the flashlight on on the iPhone, yet Google Assistant can. I don't think Google Assistant is going to be taking any requests from Siri.

 

[Michael Goff]

I own and use both Alexa and HomeKit. I have not experienced the issues detailed in that article once.

And I'm happy for you.

 

[agsystems]

I really love Homekit and they way Apple has organized the system, but this is really telling as to how limited it is. Definitely not for mainstream audiences when you are so limited in choice.

for my case Homekit works great - have over 20 Koogeek Smart Plugs and 3 August Smart Lock that I can control from anywhere and they work great - but as usual YMMV.

 

[Shanesan]

Is a heroin addict likely to hack your security system or just kick in the door? The “security” that Apple and many here tout, is a red herring.

Hilariously ignorant statement and makes it painfully obvious you know nothing about network security.

All you need is one vulnerable device on your network to make your day hell. Once a hacker is inside your network through a vulnerable device, they have intercept print jobs, file transfers, files in your unsecured shared folders, file backup systems, whatever you got, it's available.

The mission is to keep people out. And not just on the outside of your door.

 

[ltwhite1970]

Siri works I have google and it just doesn’t work the same, lag or not working at all . Google does work for a lot of things but if you want your stuff to just work Siri and apple home works 100 percent and is very Secure