Google's Own Echo-Like Device 'Google Home' Rumored to Cost $130

[MacRumors]

Google will formally announced its Wi-Fi enabled smart home device, Google Home, at its upcoming October 4 press event, according to a new report by Android Police. The device is rumored to cost $129 and the company will sell different color plates so users can personalize the look of Home.

At $129, Google Home would be $50 cheaper than Amazon Echo, which offers a selection of similar services and features to users. Google originally discussed Home at its I/O Conference in May, detailing how users will be able to make voice-enabled Google searches, manage everyday tasks, enjoy music and entertainment, and more using hands-free "OK Google" voice commands.

Continuing in the vein of other smart home speakers, Home can play and control music, sync with various online services that provide traffic reports and weather forecasts, and interact with other smart home products like Nest. It's believed that Google could use a version of its intelligent chat AI Google Assistant -- which it uses in Allo -- to fuel Home's voice-control abilities.

The October 4 event is thought to be the launch pad of a few other Google products, including the $69 Chromecast Ultra (with 4K and HDR streaming), a new Daydream VR headset, and the company's new lineup of Android phones.

The connected smart home speaker device is slowly becoming a popular platform following Amazon's success with Echo and Echo Dot. Apple is rumored to be entering the space with a Siri-enabled alternative, which might have facial recognition but is otherwise thought to offer many of the same search inquiries, music listening, and voice assistant features of Echo and Home.

Recent reports have placed the device in prototype testing, which could mean it's between six months and a year from making it to market, but because Apple hasn't officially finalized any plans it "could still scrap the project."

Article Link: Google's Own Echo-Like Device 'Google Home' Rumored to Cost $130

 

[jmh600cbr]

surprised apple is late to the game here. i always figured the ATv4 and it's remote could do this.

 

[asleep]

They should call it the Apple Core.

 

[filmantopia]

surprised apple is late to the game here. i always figured the ATv4 and it's remote could do this.

Yeah, especially after Apple made the very first MP3 player, smartphone, tablet, and smartwatch.

 

[AngerDanger]

They should call it the Apple Core.

I'm thinking they should get back to their roots and reuse the naming convention that gave us the Macintosh: naming it after a kind of apple. My vote would be for the name Granny Smith, and that could even be how the device is referred to.

"Granny Smith."

"Yes, dearie?"

"What's the weather going to be like today?"

"Ooh, it'll get a bit nippy by the end of the day. Don't forget your gloves; we wouldn't want you catching a cold. And finish your milk before you go."

 

[Vanilla35]

While I'm not really excited about these line of products as a whole (because I have no problem with doing things myself, and feel no need to "streamline my lifestyle") - I am really looking forward to the day when you walk into a room and a device immediately recognizes your face and does things, just like in those old sci-fi movies. Even if the purpose right now seems lackluster.

 

[jmh600cbr]

Yeah, especially after Apple made the very first MP3 player, smartphone, tablet, and smartwatch.

Didn't say they had to be first. Clearly amazon was. But they have existing and capable hardware in the homes of many consumers that isn't being utilized. I'm sure they'll deprecate the atv 4 and only atv5 can do hey Siri even thought it's already capable

 

[Hallucinator]

That thing looks like a Glade air freshener

 

[Karma*Police]

surprised apple is late to the game here. i always figured the ATv4 and it's remote could do this.

I don't know if they're late to the game... they need to figure out use cases and the utility of something like the Echo vs having a device that's always with you that can do the same thing, like Apple Watch, iPhone and soon, AirPods... the movie Her is one possible scenario.

Also, I know a few people who own Echo and while their initial reactions were positive and they were recommending it, they rarely use it now and say that it's not an essential purchase. I've come to he same conclusion after only one week with Alexa. It's anecdotal, but I feel like reality has set in and the novelty of a Siri in a box is fading.

 

[Anuba]

Siri is great for doing stuff locally on your Mac/iOS device, but for everything else, Google runs circles around it. Given that this particular device is basically a talking tuna can, it has no tasks you'd like to perform on the actual device, and therefore it would only offer you the worst part of Siri - the crippled web searches, the Wolfram Alpha nonsense, the perplexing mishearings and the general cluelessness about the world outside the Apple ecosystem.

If I had a device like that, I'd like it to be Google powered so I can yell random stuff like "Hey when does the new season of The Walking Dead start?" and get a useful response. That example was actually from yesterday. I asked the Google app and it responded "The Walking Dead returns to AMC Sunday, October 23 9/8 c". I asked Siri the exact same question and she responded "Unfortunately, TV shows are not available on the iTunes Store in your country" (Sweden). That response sums up everything I hate about Siri - limited, lazy, uncreative and shamelessly Apple-centric ("sorry, there's no money for Apple in your request so we're not wasting any further bandwidth on it, go pester someone else, foreign peasant".)

 

[Gasu E.]

Didn't say they had to be first. Clearly amazon was. But they have existing and capable hardware in the homes of many consumers that isn't being utilized. I'm sure they'll deprecate the atv 4 and only atv5 can do hey Siri even thought it's already capable

I believe he is implying that Apple doesn't need to be first to the party to be successful.

 

[69Mustang]

Yeah, especially after Apple made the very first MP3 player, smartphone, tablet, and smartwatch.

Dude, what the gosh darn hell are you talking about?!?! Apple wasn't even close to being the first to bring out those devices. See this is why I think Apple fanboys are just the worst at misremembering history. Everything was invented by Apple. Steve Jobs farted technicolor rainbows. Let me tell you something filmatopia, if that's even your real name. Here's the real truth that all Apple fans are afrai...

/wife reads quote over shoulder
/explains sarcasm



/goes back to Yahoo! comment section
Bengahzi? Bengahzi!! You don't know what the...

 

[Gasu E.]

Siri is great for doing stuff locally on your Mac/iOS device, but for everything else, Google runs circles around it. Given that this particular device is basically a talking tuna can, it has no tasks you'd like to perform on the actual device, and therefore it would only offer you the worst part of Siri - the crippled web searches, the Wolfram Alpha nonsense, the perplexing mishearings and the general cluelessness about the world outside the Apple ecosystem.

If I had a device like that, I'd like it to be Google powered so I can yell random stuff like "Hey when does the new season of The Walking Dead start?" and get a useful response. That example was actually from yesterday. I asked the Google app and it responded "The Walking Dead returns to AMC Sunday, October 23 9/8 c". I asked Siri the exact same question and she responded "Unfortunately, TV shows are not available on the iTunes Store in your country" (Sweden). That response sums up everything I hate about Siri - limited, lazy, uncreative and shamelessly Apple-centric ("sorry, there's no money for Apple in your request so we're not wasting any further bandwidth on it, go pester someone else, foreign peasant".)

I think Apple, internally, would share your current assessment of Siri-- it's a voice control, not an "assistant". It works well with core functions and the Apps that Apple chooses to support. Personally, I find it excellent at its current purposes.

I also suspect Apple does a lot of research on making Siri more widely applicable. I also think, if Apple got into the "smart Speaker" market, they would think carefully about the use cases that were most important, and extend/optimize Siri for that.

 

[Wayfarer]

I don't want a Google air freshener!

 

[jmh600cbr]

I believe he is implying that Apple doesn't need to be first to the party to be successful.

i certainly agree is my point.

 

[shanson27]

Hihi , google and privacy, it doesn't fits together

 

[Fall Under Cerulean Kites]

The last thing I want is a Google listening device in my home.

 

[Traverse]

Yeah, especially after Apple made the very first MP3 player, smartphone, tablet, and smartwatch.

They didn't invent any of these, they took the concepts that were already on the market and transformed them into mainstream products. Who's to say that isn't what Apple is doing now? Observing the competition to release a competing product that solves the shortcomings of competitor offerings.

Still, Apple will have some issues implementing something like this with their stance on privacy.

 

[Zirel]

What's the use of this garbage?

Specially when Google doesn't have anything like HomeKit.

 

[radio893fm]

The last thing I want is a Google listening device in my home.

Why is that?

 

[dwaltwhit]

Ive been slowly but steadily getting into home automation, replacing my lights with hues, my lock and my thermostat. I would like to see apple do this sooner rather than later, but not before they get it right. I like that apple is waiting for alphabet and amazon to make mistakes so that apple learns them at their expense, not my own.

 

[44267547]

surprised apple is late to the game here. i always figured the ATv4 and it's remote could do this.

Apple is typically late to the game in just about every category. But I'm fine with that, as long as it's a quality piece of hardware.

 

[davidelkington]

The last thing I want is a Google listening device in my home.

Hey Alexa, has my girlfriend orgasmed yet???

 

[Pagemakers]

Boy that thing is ugly

 

[Fall Under Cerulean Kites]

Hey Alexa, has my girlfriend orgasmed yet???

Wow, I’d buy one it it could figure that out! Think of the time savings!
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Why is that?

I don’t personally trust Google. Their business model is based upon selling subscriber information. Apple’s is based on selling devices. That makes me Apple’s customer and Google’s product. Big difference.