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It'll also be differentiated by using a brain-dead AI engine behind it. Siri isn't just behind, it's getting worse. Unfortunately that's been the story with Apple recently, neat hardware undermined by buggy, unstable, ill-designed software.

You must have a different version than I. I use Siri everyday and it works great, and has hundreds of skills. The various on-line comparisons show that Sir and Google and Alexa are all pretty close. Siri of course, works with many languages.
 
You must have a different version than I. I use Siri everyday and it works great, and has hundreds of skills. The various on-line comparisons show that Sir and Google and Alexa are all pretty close. Siri of course, works with many languages.

Try the competition. Google Assistant. So much better, faster, more relevant. Apple needs to catch up and excel. I don't understand why Apple's software is still its weak point (except for their operating systems)
 
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You must have a different version than I. I use Siri everyday and it works great, and has hundreds of skills. The various on-line comparisons show that Sir and Google and Alexa are all pretty close. Siri of course, works with many languages.
Simple request for Siri, not only does she not get the correct movie theater, she says they are not in New York when it literally says it is lol. Cmon now.
 

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The killer feature for me would be multi-room audio over Airplay. ("Siri, play KCSM in the kitchen and the living room")
This is killing me. I have to either go to my computer or use the slow connecting iTunes remote app to get Airplay to play across all my speakers. So frustrating.
 
With the Echo I'm stuck giving it binary choices like on or off. With Siri, I can say turn the bedroom lights on at 50% in pink and Siri gets that.

You're Echoing wrong. :p But really, the Echo can dim lights to a specific percent, just like Siri. Mine always could with the built-in capabilities, but maybe now you need the Hue skill enabled (I do for scenes) if it's not working. Siri used to be great for setting colors, which Echo couldn't do until recently, but now I'm not sure I'd get much use out of that.
 
Got my first Alexa device, built into the ecoBee4 thermostat. Still shaking my head at how much better it is than Siri. If hardware is the issue, Apple needs to figure out why a $300 thermostat is kicking the tar out of an $800 phone.
But I can't make a call on my thermostat...........
 
Oh, another human phart-noise collector. Why don't they just add a camera to it so we can all log in and visit each other virtually 24/7...
 
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is apple really bringing this ?
there are phones, macs, iPads and whatnot laying around everywhere in regular houses.
maybe i miss the point.
 
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Until Siri can understand the city name Yucaipa, I've zero patience for it. That city name is simply the bellwether I check from time to time to gauge whether they've improved the app. Google understands my voice (and that city) quite accurately.

I have great pronunciation but Siri simply doesn't understand me as clearly as Google. I REALLY wish it were otherwise.
I just tried it asking ofr the time in there and worked with Siri at the first attempt, of course Siri is in spanish on my phone. lol
 
Would be advantageous if you can use your iPhone's mic with it. But I still can't see myself using a "home" device like this. Like, why is it supposed to be useful?
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Oh, another human phart-noise collector. Why don't they just add a camera to it so we can all log in and visit each other virtually 24/7...
I wish it had that so I could replace my crappy security cameras with this.
 
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It's possible Sonos didn't add AirPlay functionality because they weren't happy with the terms Apple gave them. That could change if Apple gives them a more enhanced competitor. Anyway, I've owned two Sonos Play:1 speakers since 2013 and they've been outstanding when it comes to playing my music and streaming various apps. I'm not really using Siri on my iPhone 6s so that's not really something to entice me to purchase another one of Apple's "not as useful as I thought it would be" niche products after I purchased my seldom used 4th gen Apple TV in 2015.

I agree. My Play:1 has been outstanding in the office, and I have been contemplating adding a second to form a stereo pair. I don't use Siri either really, I just want something that will work with my ecosystem and also allow me to use AirPlay as well. I really don't have a desire to buy a receiver and separate speakers anymore.

Also, if Sonos were so inclined to add AirPlay in the future, it's something that could be enabled via a software update, which is nice.
 
The killer feature for me would be multi-room audio over Airplay. ("Siri, play KCSM in the kitchen and the living room")

This has been available from itunes on the Mac for ages (or using Airfoil on the mac), but not from iOS or tvOS devices. I can't imagine that the technological overhead is so great, but perhaps it's hard to avoid making the user experience too finicky (multiple volume sliders, etc).

Notably, Echo also doesn't do multi-room audio, even if you have multiple devices.
Yeah, crazy that iOS doesn't have it. We implemented that using a combination of AMX (ancient home tech) and multiple AirPort Expresses. And iPhone OS used to not even have AirPlay/AirTunes at all, so we used to use the old Remote app, which was really a remote for your Mac.
 
I think Apple will unveil it at WWDC alongside advancements in Siri and new APIs, and say that it's launching in autumn. This will give developers time to add support for it ahead of launch. Apple will again show it at the autumn iPhone event, maybe show something "extra" about it, and announce the pricing/release date info.

I tend to think that Apple will price something like this in the $99-149 range, and will want you to buy several for your house. I think such a device will also act as a mesh WiFi network, enabling better coverage throughout the home. This device will also act as a HomeKit hub, and having them scattered around the home will also increase range for bluetooth smart devices. It will also act as an AirPlay speaker, and it will be a good quality one. The secret announcement in September might be that these also act as wireless charging basestations, but that seems increasingly unlikely.

I think you're way off pricing this ... I think it should be $499 to $599 for the technology packed in. I will definitely buy them (yes, several) at this price because it will solve so many problems/constrains I have right now.
 
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*shrug* Not overly interested. What would slightly (if only for novelty) be interesting is if they're trying to use a Siri Speaker as a replacement for the Airport Express's ability to be an AirPlay receiver, while getting out of the Router side of things.

Although given Apple's hatred 3.5mm audio jacks (and other non-propriety ports), I'm not sure what a portlets AirPlay receiver will be of any value. And being able to "talk" to Siri (ha) isn't enough of an advantage. Doubt the thing would even have a fiber optic audio port.

Just seems like more of Apple failing to fully take advantage of the "home" space, especially a home media server (MacMini with large capacity storage/caching). Given current trends with Apple a Siri Speaker likely won't even be able to tap into iTunes Home Sharing to locally Siri access music collections on a home Mac.

Which is the only place I could see this being "different" form existing products, as an 802.11 remote microphone that integrates seamlessly with any/all household Macs (and possibly iDevices). But again, Apple doesn't seem to be thinking along these lines. Being able to remote voice command speakers to a central MacMini(server) or iMac (or maybe some day a new real Mac Pro) would be something none of the other devices do currently. Currently they all run off to the Cloud for that information, which remains IMO this category of devices greatest failings.
 
I think Apple will unveil it at WWDC alongside advancements in Siri and new APIs, and say that it's launching in autumn. This will give developers time to add support for it ahead of launch. Apple will again show it at the autumn iPhone event, maybe show something "extra" about it, and announce the pricing/release date info.

I tend to think that Apple will price something like this in the $99-149 range, and will want you to buy several for your house. I think such a device will also act as a mesh WiFi network, enabling better coverage throughout the home. This device will also act as a HomeKit hub, and having them scattered around the home will also increase range for bluetooth smart devices. It will also act as an AirPlay speaker, and it will be a good quality one. The secret announcement in September might be that these also act as wireless charging basestations, but that seems increasingly unlikely.
If all of that happened, then it'd be amazing. Otherwise, meh.
 
Wonder if this will allow those of that like the idea of Sonos but won't buy one since its support is wishy washy for MY needs, a viable alternative.

And what happens if they come out with satellite speaker only (by Beats)


interesting times.
I have 4 Google Homes and a Chromecast Audio. I have them set up as a "Home" zone (multi-room audio). Plays music throughout my entire house and deck. All speakers on, synced playing the same song simultaneously. It's pretty amazing. No clue why anyone would overpay for Sonos these days. A Chromecast Audio paired with the speakers of your choice is amazing.

It's a brilliant ploy to get people to buy multiples of the device (Google Home in this example).

Aside from a complete gutting and overhaul of Siri, Apple would be wise to do this. For the foreseeable future, however, Google Home has my loyalty. I know, my privacy is shot all to hell. I do not care.

Covfefe at me bro.
 
You act as though government/legal requests is a *TECHNICAL* problem. IT IS NOT! Apple's privacy policy has nothing to do with government/legal requests and warrants. NOTHING

Regarding hacking, when was the last time Amazon was hacked? Or Google?

But iCloud (phishing) was broken into...

My point is, your arguments are completely unfounded and have nothing to do with reality..... they're just justifications (bad ones) as to why Apple is so bad bad at AI and services.

When in reality, Apple is a private for profit company that has no excuse for not doing its job better

You seemingly have no clue what phishing is hey bud.

So.... No phishing on Google's platform... ARE YOU FOR REAL?
This is a straight up 100% lie.

In fact, most fapening files seemingly came from Android phones, but hey, doesn't fit the little story you're telling humm.

If someone gives his password away, or if your a star and use your dogs name that's known by all as an answer to your security question, how on earth is that Apple's issue?
 
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You act as though government/legal requests is a *TECHNICAL* problem. IT IS NOT! Apple's privacy policy has nothing to do with government/legal requests and warrants. NOTHING

Regarding hacking, when was the last time Amazon was hacked? Or Google?

But iCloud (phishing) was broken into...

My point is, your arguments are completely unfounded and have nothing to do with reality..... they're just justifications (bad ones) as to why Apple is so bad bad at AI and services.

When in reality, Apple is a private for profit company that has no excuse for not doing its job better
It's clear your goal is to astroturf, engaging with you further wouldn't make much sense.

When you go to such extremes to paint a failing Apple, with no balanced view or points - it's hard to take you seriously.

'Siri is a failure and it's impossible recover, so they should disband'

Really?
 
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