Siri and Alexa Battling to Become Go-To Voice Assistants in Hotel Rooms

[mmomega]

I think the main thing everyone forgets is how absolutely horrible most all hotel wifi is already and they're talking about adding probably 5-6 wifi devices per room just for lights, tv, or whatever they want to use Alexa for. Plus the 2-4 more wifi devices that the person staying in the room may bring with them.

This will be a fairly substantial network overhaul on top of the new Alexa enabled equipment.

 

[Bacillus]

My suggestion would be to "Cover Alexa" when not using in a Hotel Environment. Too easy for those who want to "Listen In."

Indeed - a pass-through mode to Alexa/GoogleNow/... and a public mode for hostels, parking lots, shopping malls, where Apple reduces security in favor of usability
A user should be able to select its security level at any time

 

[The Game 161]

Siri is awful now

 

[jcshas]

How does that apply to a stay at a hotel?

Really? Did you even read the article?

 

[macduke]

Siri can never compete if tied to an expensive iPad that needs voice training each time to work properly. Apple needs to develop an appliance. The reason they haven't yet is because Siri isn't good enough that the market would want to pay for it as a standalone.

 

[shk718]

Really? Did you even read the article?

you said "
Amazon's eco system is massive - you can do everything from same day delivery Prime orders to ordering take-out at local restaurants." who, staying in a hotel, is going to order smething from amazon prime? Thats what i was referring to.

 

[Uofmtiger]

I was assuming that likewise, each room would have an iDevice for Siri to work with a guest.

So you're thinking that the services would only be accessible at all to guests who bring their own iOS device? That doesn't make much sense to me. Half (or way more in many parts of the world) of the guests would be unable to use it.



First, "long run" does not equal "forever." Second, I think here it simply means past the testing period.

I think when he/she referred to having it with you all the time, he/she was discussing the two services outside the context of the hotel...since most of the negative comments comparing the two don't have much (or anything) to do with how either would work in a hotel.

There is no way they will put the open platform version of Echo in a hotel. I could see someone setting up their prime account and having someone at the hotel come in and order themselves a bunch of stuff. Also, the version in the hotel probably would not let you order a pizza unless it went directly to the card the hotel has on file, and once again, while you were out of the room, anyone could use it. I think there would be some sort of locked down version that would only work for certain tasks, so we can only look at what is in the market and determine where the Echo or Apple would do that better. As of now, Apple doesn't make a stand alone device like the Echo with an array of mics that can pick up your voice from a separate room. However, the Echo would not have nearly the same level of security as an Apple device. As a result, one of the companies would have to go above and beyond to get this business. My guess is that would more likely be Amazon, since Apple doesn't even make such a device, but I guess we will see.

In other words, no one can compare Alexa and Siri in the context that it is being mentioned in the OP. That is why almost all the posts are off subject and more about blasting Apple (hell, didn't someone mention the freakin' Mac line up in this thread for the billionth time?).

 

[avanpelt]

..... I want to check out.

Sure no problem. Sorry, all cards on your account have been declined. Your room door is now locked. Please wait patiently until staff arrives to resolve this matter.

..... NO!!!, Unlock the #@$%* door NOW!!!

Sure no problem, request to send for police confirmed.

..... WTF!!!! I hate you!!!

Actually, with Siri, the checkout process would go like this:

Customer: Hey Siri, I want to check out...

Siri: Ok, here are some things I found on the web for 'I want to check out'.

Customer: Hey Siri, I'm ready to leave.

Siri: Ok, where do you want to go?

Customer: I want to leave this hotel.

Siri: I'm sorry, I don't know what you mean by 'I want to leave this hotel'.

<facepalm>

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

Actually, with Siri, the checkout process would go like this:

Customer: Hey Siri, I want to check out...

Siri: Ok, here are some things I found on the web for 'I want to check out'.

Customer: Hey Siri, I'm ready to leave.

Siri: Ok, where do you want to go?

Customer: I want to leave this hotel.

Siri: I'm sorry, I don't know what you mean by 'I want to leave this hotel'.

<facepalm>

Something Siri lacks is the ability to have an ongoing conversation. Google is excellent at that. With Siri, you have to include the same details with every command.

 

[Uofmtiger]

Actually, with Siri, the checkout process would go like this:

Customer: Hey Siri, I want to check out...

Siri: Ok, here are some things I found on the web for 'I want to check out'.

Customer: Hey Siri, I'm ready to leave.

Siri: Ok, where do you want to go?

Customer: I want to leave this hotel.

Siri: I'm sorry, I don't know what you mean by 'I want to leave this hotel'.

<facepalm>

I guess you have never heard Alexa say "I am having a problem understanding right now"? She does fart sounds, though. That might help get back at those noisy neighbors.
[doublepost=1490214241][/doublepost]

Something Siri lacks is the ability to have an ongoing conversation. Google is excellent at that. With Siri, you have to include the same details with every command.

Wrong. This is a myth. MacBreak Weekly demonstrated this on one of their shows before the Superbowl, but just ask Siri "what was the score of the last Kentucky Wildcats game?" and she will tell you. Then say "when do they play next" and she will show you the UCLA game (assuming you try this before the game is played). Just like all of the assistants, it doesn't work for everything (as they showed that Google Assistant did not work for the Superbowl questions that Leo was asking on the show I mentioned).

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

Wrong. This is a myth. MacBreak Weekly demonstrated this on one of their shows before the Superbowl, but just ask Siri "what was the score of the last Kentucky Wildcats game?" and she will tell you. Then say "when do they play next" and she will show you the UCLA game (assuming you try this before the game is played). Just like all of the assistants, it doesn't work for everything (as they showed that Google Assistant did not work for the Superbowl questions that Leo was asking on the show I mentioned).

You are right. I just gave it a try. This must have changed very recently, cause I remember it wasn't able to do so not to long ago.

 

[npmacuser5]

Multiple Languages an advantage for Siri. I imagine the options for voice integration would be more basic in this environment.

 

[bernuli]

It baffles me that people still do stupid comments like this!

The only time I've seen someone use Siri is in Apple TV commercials. Those commercials made me want it, but I disabled Siri 2 months after I started as it was just not getting it.

I enable Siri every now and again to compare responses with Alexa. Alexa wins, hen I turn Siri back off.

It's nice that the hotels are doing their due diligence but it seems Apple gave up on Siri pretty quickly. Hotels prob do the same.
[doublepost=1490225862][/doublepost]I did not realize how bad Siri was until after using Alexa.

If Siri doesn't get a lot smarter this year along with getting vast improvements in practical usability, she's toast. Even non-tech friends of mine describe Siri as an idiot. I can't say that I disagree with them.

 

[OneMike]

I think Alexa is better than Siri. Siri, is nice on the iPhone, for home Alexa is where it's at.

 

[jcshas]

you said "
Amazon's eco system is massive - you can do everything from same day delivery Prime orders to ordering take-out at local restaurants." who, staying in a hotel, is going to order smething from amazon prime? Thats what i was referring to.

the potential exists for Alexa to provide concierge like services. Examples like using prime delivery to order take out from a local restaurant, and having delivered right to your room, renting a movie from Amazon and having it streamed to your hotel room tv, etc. Siri is capable of doing some of this but when you look at the big picture, I think Amazon's platform extends well beyond what Siri can offer.

 

[AppleScruff1]

I think Alexa is better than Siri. Siri, is nice on the iPhone, for home Alexa is where it's at.

Siri is terrible on the iPhone too.

 

[OneMike]

Siri is terrible on the iPhone too.

Depends on what you want to use it for. Doing search, text, etc it gets the job done.

 

[Sill]

And you can always mute the thing... at any point... or make it only tap-to-listen.

Yes, I'm sure that works.
[doublepost=1490234621][/doublepost]

Within hotels, you'd want to get your doors open and lights switched - regardless of HomeKit security, pairing hassles, time-restricted access, logins and all the associated overhead.
Something that just works.

Yes.. we need something simple... like maybe a keycard you could just swipe on the lock to get in! And maybe... just some little plastic thing on the wall you could touch or flip to make the lights go on!

Seriously. How much easier would hotel room "automation" make things for us? Its already so simple to get into a room and get it ready, yet people act like you have to make your own doorway into the room if you don't have Alexa or bloody Google waiting there in the room for you.
Don't forget to stop off at the textile mill to get some raw linens on your way back from the icehouse! Better hurry, the last chariot back to the hotel is at three knots past mid-day, good sir!

 

[hiddenmarkov]

A war...I have no interest in lol.

Usually not in my hotel room beyond the 2 S's sleep and shower (solo trips I am a good boy, family trips there is the now seven year old so a 3rd S word not really happening lol).

Vaca's stays...I go have an odd thing. I just go out and find stuff. Like my Tokyo trips. No guides, no siri or other things, I just go you know I have never gotten off at this train station. So I get off and see whats there. The usual spots hit already (Shinjuku, shibuya, akihabara, the big names basically).

Annoys the wife...she is one of them planners types. Which is cool, she has pro skill to ensure Tokyo Disney trips our son gets max ride time. Fast pass scheduling master...is what she is. For that, yeah organize away. Chill days..I just go where ever on whims.

Stems from a photography hobby. More on the creative side. I can join the 200000000 others who have shot the same things/areas or find some new subjects off the path (and usually off the guides). I choose the latter. And that has made all the difference to borrow a line from Frost.

Also a foody...its how I have found some go to kick joints to eat at. I like greasy spoon, mom and pop stuff that stays that way. Where I find the best eats usually. Guides (and siri like stuff) usually leads to tourist traps. Which to me means overpriced and recipes tweaked to lose any "soul" they had since a greedy manager/owner changes them to be made cheaper for max profit. even locally I see this. Stopped going to a fave spot more than once. Became a tourist hit over time and the food when to crap really, at higher cost.

 

[MacBH928]

Is it April 1st? A hotel room that listens to the occupants 24/7 -- progress!

No, it seems to be 1984

 

[sidewinder3000]

I'd prefer Siri in my hotel room, as it's next to useless....

Nonsense. I use Siri 30 times a day and it's great. For a huge range of activities. Haters gonna hate.
[doublepost=1490248399][/doublepost]"Although most users agree Siri is inferior to other assistants from Amazon, Google, and Microsoft..."

This is an absolutely specious statement. And 135° from the truth. Siri does a ton of great, useful stuff, and you don't need ****ing speakers around your house to do it. I use Siri 30 times a day for stuff that helps save time, answers questions, and adds fun.

 

[Tech198]

I rally don't think it will that make much of a difference when everyone has a smart phone in their pocket with a voice assistant anyway. Its the only "use case" for "so i don't need to get out of a pocket" to use.

And it your in a hotel room, why the hell can't u walk and pick up a phone?

I'm still waiting for my elevator to speak to me first.

 

[MrGimper]

Nonsense. I use Siri 30 times a day and it's great. For a huge range of activities. Haters gonna hate.
[doublepost=1490248399][/doublepost]"Although most users agree Siri is inferior to other assistants from Amazon, Google, and Microsoft..."

This is an absolutely specious statement. And 135° from the truth. Siri does a ton of great, useful stuff, and you don't need ****ing speakers around your house to do it. I use Siri 30 times a day for stuff that helps save time, answers questions, and adds fun.

Why do you need to set that many timers each day?

 

[mattopotamus]

Siri next gen is coming out this year, but in the meantime you are confusing a stand alone device that has multiple microphones with a system that works on devices on your desk top and, more importantly, with the devices you have with you. A system that speaks but one language with one that understands over twenty languages and even more dialects. And most importantly, a system that leaks like a sieve and stores information for a company that needs your information to survive by selling you things, and is rushing out money losing Echo products that allow even more insecure devices to interface with it, with a company that is committed to protecting your privacy and security and has privacy in its DNA.

You do realize Alexa is in more devices that just the echo, including phones and cars?

 

[shk718]

the potential exists for Alexa to provide concierge like services. Examples like using prime delivery to order take out from a local restaurant, and having delivered right to your room, renting a movie from Amazon and having it streamed to your hotel room tv, etc. Siri is capable of doing some of this but when you look at the big picture, I think Amazon's platform extends well beyond what Siri can offer.

I couldn't order food from a place I don't know in a town I'm not familiar with without seeing pictures of the restaurant and it's offerings and reading reviews. This is another example of a service that requires a screen. You can do far more with a screen than without. Amazon is at a huge disadvantage in this area. Plus how do you pay for it? I don't have an account with Amazon and I won't verbalized my credit card info to it.