Siri on HomePod Correctly Answered 52.3% of Queries in New AI Test

[gnasher729]

I agree. Altering room treatments can be very helpful for acoustics. Unfortunately, many audiophiles share living space with spouses/partners/roommates who are less than eager to sacrifice room aesthetics for room acoustics. Even if they're okay with it, changing room decor can get expensive (at least compared to the price of a HP) pretty quickly if one isn't careful, and room shape will remain a limiting factor.

Audiophile solution: Get rid of the curtains. The harder solution: Convince the spouse that both sides of a room should have similar acoustic properties and create a design that takes asthetics and acoustics into consideration.

What I would like is a serious review of the HomePod under acoustic conditions. One simple test: A room with heave curtains, HomePod vs. optimised traditional setup, and then you open all the curtains and see if HomePod adapts.

 

[AppleScruff1]

And where was that?

At my local Apple Store. It was far from a smooth interaction. I liked the sound, but the thought of repeating myself and yelling to get Siri to activate and then not understand on a regular basis led me to hold off for the time being.

 

[citysnaps]

I don’t have Google or Alexa. I saw it at the local Apple Store, demonstrated by Apple employee and myself. I found the voice recognition to be just like Siri on the iPhone. My first song request was Dire Straights, Walk of Life. Siri came back with some nonsense about Detroit Lions. Sometimes hey Siri worked on the first try, other times it took 2-3 tries to activate. And it seemed like you had to yell at it to get it to work. Very un-Apple like, but typical Siri experience.

"My first song request was Dire Straights, Walk of Life."

Just tried that: "Hey Siri play Walk of Life by Dire Straights."

No problem. From 12 feet away from HomePod in a normal conversational voice.

If you're seriously interested in HomePod. I'd suggest evaluating a unit where you live.

 

[AppleScruff1]

"My first song request was Dire Straights, Walk of Life."

Just tried that: "Hey Siri play Walk of Life by Dire Straights."

No problem.

Could it have been the Apple Store environment? Too big, too noisy?

 

[citysnaps]

Could it have been the Apple Store environment? Too big, too noisy?

I don't know. Could be.

When I picked up my HomePod Friday, I didn't even try out the demo units they had on tables. Much too noisy from a music-listening and evaluation perspective.

 

[Glideslope]

I suppose I could mention that I used to live in Urbana, Illinois, where the HAL-9000 was built. It understood Dr. Frank Poole's voice perfectly, even as degraded by a layer of (apparently analog) radio transmission noise, and murdered him anyway.

“Dave, I see you are attempting to create a playlist. Do you really expect me to play those selections? May I suggest checking the aft Satalite Antenna first?”

 

[tubular]

Since I purchased "All Things Must Pass" from Apple Music a while back, I just said to Siri, "Hey Siri, play Apple Scruffs." And it said "Apple Scruffs by George Harrison coming right up." And it was.

 

[AppleScruff1]

I don't know. Could be.

When I picked up my HomePod Friday, I didn't even try out the demo units they had on tables. Much too noisy from a music-listening and evaluation perspective.

I thought it sounded good, even in that environment. Obviously it wasn't a critical listen, but I wouldn't be buying a product like this for critical listening. To me, it would be more of a casual, fun, convenient listening device. It would be neat just to request any song and have it play.

 

[Baymowe335]

Pretty much like most product releases since the accountants took over, underwhelming performance and a beyond premium price. Apples reputation over the past 5 years has dropped through the floor for new product releases and each release is followed by the inevitable dot release 2 weeks later to fix basic issues that should have been fixed in testing. That or ‘beta’ versions on some devices, which is 5he new code word for we wanted to include this s but ran out of time to get the release out in time for the next gift buying season.

You’re riffing. Apple’s reputation hasnt gone “through the floor” for anything.

AirPods? Best truly wireless earbuds.
HomePod? Best hardware in the space. Software can and will improve.
iPhone X? Huge hit. Best selling iPhone every week since released. FaceID is great. Best screen. Best still camera. Best silicon.

 

[AppleScruff1]

Since I purchased "All Things Must Pass" from Apple Music a while back, I just said to Siri, "Hey Siri, play Apple Scruffs." And it said "Apple Scruffs by George Harrison coming right up." And it was.

I still have that on vinyl, bought it when it was released. And my username came from that song.

 

[tubular]

“Dave, I see you are attempting to create a playlist. Do you really expect me to play those selections? May I suggest checking the aft Satalite Antenna first?”

"Dave, I have detected a problem with the Alpha Echo Thirty-Five radio transmission guidance module. Until I have fully diagnosed the problem and can suggest a solution, here is some Dashboard Confessional."
[doublepost=1518366734][/doublepost]

I still have that on vinyl, bought it when it was released. And my username came from that song.

One of my favorite chunks of vinyl ever! And a nice little third LP of Apple Jam.

And I guess I could add that if my username reminds you of Mike Oldfield, that may be for a reason.

 

[Blaze4G]

I measure the success of any purchase by the price / years of use.
There's nothing in the Home Pod that can't be improved upon over the next year or so that requires new hardware.
In that respect the Home Pod is a clear success. The software, and AI, are fixable.
Can you say the same about the other smart speakers?

Ah yes. The Google Home Max.

 

[Tiger8]

64% for Alexa isn't exactly groundbreaking either.

Yea, but it has scored almost 25% higher, and it costs almost 25% of what homepod costs.

Let that sink in for a minute, given that this is a category that apple mainstreamed 7 years ago (And now comes third in)

 

[sofila]

Siri is Apple's biggest failure. They have had years to make it at least 80% functional and have failed to do so. Just like the ATV, it seems to be just a "hobby" for Apple.

I agree with you on Siri, but I would say ATV is better than Siri at getting its own job done

 

[CristianM]

I think Siri is more than adequate for what most need it for the HomePod. Is it better than Google Home? No. Does it need to be better than the competition? Not necessarily. I use Siri all the time and I really don’t have any general complaints, aside from not understanding some of the things I ask it. None of these voice assistants are perfect.

Yeah but when you pay $1000 for a phone or $350 for a bluetooth speaker, you should get more than ‘adequate’.

 

[Heineken]

No kidding. “Siri, play Kashmir by Led Zepplin and where can I get a box of Cheerios.”
[doublepost=1518361813][/doublepost]

Please refresh us on your Audiofile background and your preferred Vacume Tube Amplifier.

Open a dictionary and look it up. I'm not going into philosophical discussion.

 

[ersan191]

I don’t have Google or Alexa. I saw it at the local Apple Store, demonstrated by Apple employee and myself. I found the voice recognition to be just like Siri on the iPhone. My first song request was Dire Straights, Walk of Life. Siri came back with some nonsense about Detroit Lions. Sometimes hey Siri worked on the first try, other times it took 2-3 tries to activate. And it seemed like you had to yell at it to get it to work. Very un-Apple like, but typical Siri experience.

Really not indicative of actual experience with it. I find that you can talk much quieter with the HomePod even if there is a lot of ambient room noise or if you are blasting music. It has excellent echo cancellation compared to its competitors. I have all three (HomePod, Google Home, and multiple Echo devices). HomePod hears better than all of them, no contest.

 

[Heineken]

Yea, but it has scored almost 25% higher, and it costs almost 25% of what homepod costs.

Let that sink in for a minute, given that this is a category that apple mainstreamed 7 years ago (And now comes third in)

Still not very reliable.
[doublepost=1518367672][/doublepost]

At my local Apple Store. It was far from a smooth interaction. I liked the sound, but the thought of repeating myself and yelling to get Siri to activate and then not understand on a regular basis led me to hold off for the time being.

Apple store is not exactly best place with all the people inside to judge how good it is.

 

[falainber]

I'm a recovering audiophile. I know exactly what an excellent home audio system sounds like, both in ideal rooms, and less than ideal rooms. The reality is that $1000 and an ideal room will provide FAR better sound quality than $10,000 and a typical non-symetric room.

After a great master and good (not great) speakers, the next low hanging fruit (i.e., best bang for buck improvement) to improve sound quality is replacing the room. For most people, that's not a practical option, despite being the most logical next step (if only sound quality is considered). Apple has used machine learning in an innovative way to correct for poor room acoustics. I've been waiting 23 years for someone to provide an affordable solution to the very problem HomePod is designed to address. I don't care about Siri performance in the least, beyond functionality equivalent to a three button inline headphone remote.

As far as stereo sound, a single HP provides up to 7.1 discrete channels in a single enclosure. Stereophonic sound does not require multiple enclosures, only multiple drivers. When AirPlay 2 arrives, two HomePods offer the potential of up to 14.2 discrete channels. Claims that HP doesn't support stereo are wholly incorrect.

7 channels emanating from the same point in space is one channel. Typical 7.1 system will have 15 to 20+ drivers. Some stereo systems have 10+ drivers. Sure, HP speakers are pointed in different directions. This might create some maneuver for spatiality but given the fact that the speaker has no idea where the listener is and Apple marketing emphasis on how HP fills the room the beamforming is likely not intended to create channels but rather to evenly distribute the sound around the room.

 

[The Game 161]

Could it have been the Apple Store environment? Too big, too noisy?

surprised there wasn't a room you could test it out for that. I know in most hifi shops they let you do that and testing things in shops is never the real thing.

 

[AppleScruff1]

Really not indicative of actual experience with it. I find that you can talk much quieter with the HomePod even if there is a lot of ambient room noise or if you are blasting music. It has excellent echo cancellation compared to its competitors. I have all three (HomePod, Google Home, and multiple Echo devices). HomePod hears better than all of them, no contest.

If it didn’t work smoothly in the demonstration, it certainly makes me wonder if it would work in my own home. It was a carbon copy of my experiences with Siri. I have nothing else to compare it to in this category as I don’t own Google Home or Alexa.

 

[Rogifan]

Yeah but when you pay $1000 for a phone or $350 for a bluetooth speaker, you should get more than ‘adequate’.

Unless you use your phone and speaker for more than just Siri?

 

[Paul9000]

Technology should simplify life. Something that misses the meaning of what you are asking for in more than 1% of cases does not do the job. Better skipping it, unless you want your life quality worsen.

As example, take SIRI: it almost never understands what one says; as a result, one looses time and gets nervous; solution = skip it, and do your stuff the usual way. I did so and feel much better now.

 

[AppleScruff1]

Still not very reliable.
[doublepost=1518367672][/doublepost]
Apple store is not exactly best place with all the people inside to judge how good it is.

I agree, not the best place to judge sound, but I thought it sounded fine in that environment. What I didn’t like was how Siri performed. If it was too noisy do Siri standing 2 feet away and yelling, I wasn’t impressed. Perhaps in house it will be better.
[doublepost=1518368330][/doublepost]

surprised there wasn't a room you could test it out for that. I know in most hifi shops they let you do that and testing things in shops is never the real thing.

No, it is set up in the Apple Store just like all the other products. There isn’t any room in the Apple stores to set up a listening room. They are loaded with stuff. And you’re right, you never know exactly how something will sound in your listening environment.

 

[Heineken]

I agree, not the best place to judge sound, but I thought it sounded fine in that environment. What I didn’t like was how Siri performed. If it was too noisy do Siri standing 2 feet away and yelling, I wasn’t impressed. Perhaps in house it will be better.

Maybe different types of background noise are more difficult to filter than others, because last time i was in 5 avenue apple store it was pretty damn noisy.