Amazon Echo Club - Page 131

jswinden · 06-05-2017, 03:17 PM

Here is the new Apple HomePod. Don't much about it yet. Butt ugly though. It is their reply to Echo and Google Home. See attached image. Image not to scale of course. I'll post more as I get the info.

.......

wodin · 06-05-2017, 03:26 PM

It'll take more than a HomePod for me to buy into Apple's garden.

jswinden · 06-05-2017, 03:34 PM

Here are some screen captures during the WWDC keynote. They pretty much show you an overview of the new HomePod.

Rather pricey at $349! Available in December. the one thing that is good is Apple's attention to security. The HomePod never sends anything you say to the servers until you use the wake word, then it uses an anonymous ID to send the info, and it is encrypted. So Apple understands our concerns about privacy better than Amazon and certainly better than Google.

I think it is way to pricey myself, and I'm not sure how well, if at all, 3rd party music like Pandora and Spotify will integrate.

As for as Apple's garden, come on Wodin, Google has their own BS garden wherein they try to force Google apps down your throat and anything you do is subject to be sold to prying eyes of advertisers. This garden BS is getting old. Either you buy into Apple's ecosystem, or some other company's ecosystem. They all come with plenty of gotchas. At least Apple tries to protect its customers as opposed to Google and others selling them down the river.

ETA 1: I started a thread about the HomePod in the Apple Devices section of this forum where it is a better place for it to reside. But we can certainly discuss it here too in this thread since it compares to the Amazon Echo, Tap, and Dot, as well as to Google Home.

ETA 2: Apple now has a web page up for their new HomePod.
.....

Catlady · 06-05-2017, 04:28 PM

It looks like a skein of yarn.

jswinden · 06-05-2017, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Catlady

It looks like a skein of yarn.

Yep, the cats will love it!

They ignore my Echo and my Echo Dot, but methinks they would play with the HomePod.

jswinden · 06-05-2017, 04:38 PM

I see a lot of talk about Apple music on their web page for the HomePod, but nothing about Pandora, Spotify, etc. I think that will be a deal killer for a lot of us, not that I was interested in another home assistant to collect dust on a shelf! I think anything it does I can pretty much do now with my iPhone and iPads. Nothing really appeals to me with it, or with my Echo and Dot as far as that goes. Meh, just another expensive device I don't need or want.

Siri might be better than Alexis. I rarely use Siri, so I cannot compare them.

The speakers and sound quality might be better on the HomePod. But cannot really tell without listening to one. The Echo has been a disappointment as far as sound quality.

tubemonkey · 06-05-2017, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jswinden

Here are some screen captures during the WWDC keynote. They pretty much show you an overview of the new HomePod.

Rather pricey at $349! Available in December. the one thing that is good is Apple's attention to security. The HomePod never sends anything you say to the servers until you use the wake word, then it uses an anonymous ID to send the info, and it is encrypted. So Apple understands our concerns about privacy better than Amazon and certainly better than Google.

Outrageously priced at $349! But then, it's Apple.

1 HomePod = 7 Echo Dots

jswinden · 06-05-2017, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Outrageously priced at $349! But then, it's Apple.

1 HomePod = 7 Echo Dots

Yep no doubt, you can definitely get 7 times the dust collecting ability with the Dots.

jswinden · 06-05-2017, 04:57 PM

I chuckle when I see all those pseudoscience shows on TV these days talking about AI. Yep, no way we will ever create AI that is smarter than we are. They cannot even get Alexa or any of the other voice recognition services to work right yet. No way humans will ever make AI any smarter than the average dummy. I think the best we have to look forward too is a bunch of androids with a Jethro Bodine intellect!

And that is probably a good thing. I suspect we need to stay way smarter so we can outwit them. Besides, if they are too smart then good luck trying to convince them to do our work for us.

Meet Alex (Alexa with male voice)

Actually, Jethro was way smarter than Alexa.

wodin · 06-05-2017, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jswinden

...
As for as Apple's garden, come on Wodin, Google has their own BS garden wherein they try to force Google apps down your throat and anything you do is subject to be sold to prying eyes of advertisers. This garden BS is getting old. Either you buy into Apple's ecosystem, or some other company's ecosystem. They all come with plenty of gotchas. At least Apple tries to protect its customers as opposed to Google and others selling them down the river
...

Apple announces HomePod speaker to take on Sonos

Setup is simple — simply hold an iPhone next to the HomePod, similar to setting up a pair of AirPods. (HomePod is compatible with the iPhone 5S and up.)

So I gotta buy an iPhone in order to set up my shiny new very expensive HomePod? Not only does Apple have a garden, but it's got very HIGH walls around it.

jswinden · 06-05-2017, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wodin

Apple announces HomePod speaker to take on Sonos

Setup is simple — simply hold an iPhone next to the HomePod, similar to setting up a pair of AirPods. (HomePod is compatible with the iPhone 5S and up.)

So I gotta buy an iPhone in order to set up my shiny new very expensive HomePod? Not only does Apple have a garden, but it's got very HIGH walls around it.

Some people will believe whatever they want to. If you don't want to buy into Apple's ecosystem, then don't. But the "walled garden" reference if total garbage. You heard that garbage from someone who didn't have a clue, or who is a Google fanboy or a Amazon fanboy, and you simply repeat it without totally understanding what it means.

Cinisajoy · 06-05-2017, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jswinden

I chuckle when I see all those pseudoscience shows on TV these days talking about AI. Yep, no way we will ever create AI that is smarter than we are. They cannot even get Alexa or any of the other voice recognition services to work right yet. No way humans will ever make AI any smarter than the average dummy. I think the best we have to look forward too is a bunch of androids with a Jethro Bodine intellect!

And that is probably a good thing. I suspect we need to stay way smarter so we can outwit them. Besides, if they are too smart then good luck trying to convince them to do our work for us.

Meet Alex (Alexa with male voice)

Actually, Jethro was way smarter than Alexa.

Just for you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9TADqm28s4
Be sure and listen to #2.

Conan46 · 06-05-2017, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Catlady

It looks like a skein of yarn.

I was just going to say the same thing. Who did they hire to design that thing?

tubemonkey · 06-05-2017, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Conan46

I was just going to say the same thing. Who did they hire to design that thing?

The same team that designed the air freshener called Google Home

Conan46 · 06-05-2017, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

The same team that designed the air freshener called Google Home

You got it

Amazon probably had no designer and yet their Alexa devices do not look obnoxious

06-05-2017, 03:17 PM	#1951
jswinden Nameless Being	Apple introduced the HomePod today at WWDC Here is the new Apple HomePod. Don't much about it yet. Butt ugly though. It is their reply to Echo and Google Home. See attached image. Image not to scale of course. I'll post more as I get the info. ....... Attached Thumbnails Last edited by jswinden; 06-05-2017 at 03:46 PM.

06-05-2017, 03:34 PM	#1953
jswinden Nameless Being	Apple HomePod will cost $349 Here are some screen captures during the WWDC keynote. They pretty much show you an overview of the new HomePod. Rather pricey at $349! Available in December. the one thing that is good is Apple's attention to security. The HomePod never sends anything you say to the servers until you use the wake word, then it uses an anonymous ID to send the info, and it is encrypted. So Apple understands our concerns about privacy better than Amazon and certainly better than Google. I think it is way to pricey myself, and I'm not sure how well, if at all, 3rd party music like Pandora and Spotify will integrate. As for as Apple's garden, come on Wodin, Google has their own BS garden wherein they try to force Google apps down your throat and anything you do is subject to be sold to prying eyes of advertisers. This garden BS is getting old. Either you buy into Apple's ecosystem, or some other company's ecosystem. They all come with plenty of gotchas. At least Apple tries to protect its customers as opposed to Google and others selling them down the river. ETA 1: I started a thread about the HomePod in the Apple Devices section of this forum where it is a better place for it to reside. But we can certainly discuss it here too in this thread since it compares to the Amazon Echo, Tap, and Dot, as well as to Google Home. ETA 2: Apple now has a web page up for their new HomePod. ..... Attached Thumbnails Last edited by jswinden; 06-05-2017 at 04:24 PM.

06-05-2017, 04:38 PM	#1956
jswinden Nameless Being	I see a lot of talk about Apple music on their web page for the HomePod, but nothing about Pandora, Spotify, etc. I think that will be a deal killer for a lot of us, not that I was interested in another home assistant to collect dust on a shelf! I think anything it does I can pretty much do now with my iPhone and iPads. Nothing really appeals to me with it, or with my Echo and Dot as far as that goes. Meh, just another expensive device I don't need or want. Siri might be better than Alexis. I rarely use Siri, so I cannot compare them. The speakers and sound quality might be better on the HomePod. But cannot really tell without listening to one. The Echo has been a disappointment as far as sound quality. Last edited by jswinden; 06-05-2017 at 04:41 PM.

06-05-2017, 04:57 PM	#1959
jswinden Nameless Being	I chuckle when I see all those pseudoscience shows on TV these days talking about AI. Yep, no way we will ever create AI that is smarter than we are. They cannot even get Alexa or any of the other voice recognition services to work right yet. No way humans will ever make AI any smarter than the average dummy. I think the best we have to look forward too is a bunch of androids with a Jethro Bodine intellect! And that is probably a good thing. I suspect we need to stay way smarter so we can outwit them. Besides, if they are too smart then good luck trying to convince them to do our work for us. *Meet Alex (Alexa with male voice)* Actually, Jethro was way smarter than Alexa. Last edited by jswinden; 06-05-2017 at 05:16 PM.

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06-05-2017, 03:26 PM	#1952
wodin Illiterate Posts: 10,279 Karma: 37848716 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: The Sandwich Isles Device: Samsung Galaxy S10+, Microsoft Surface Pro	It'll take more than a HomePod for me to buy into Apple's garden.

06-05-2017, 04:28 PM	#1954
Catlady Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,421 Karma: 52734361 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: Kindle Fire, Kindle Paperwhite, AGPTek Bluetooth Clip	It looks like a skein of yarn.