Re:Amazon Echo
by colinramsay on Thursday November 06, 2014 @12:12PM
(#8568079)
Well hang on - doesn't my iPhone already do all this? And presumably so does the Android equivalent? I appreciate this will have much better microphone technology but it still seems a little redundant.
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A couple differentiators:
-The speaker in Echo is presumably much better
-The microphone in Echo is presumably much better
-On most Android phones (I don't know about iPhone), you have to wake the phone up before you can talk to it
Well, unless you own a Moto X. The 2014 version lets you also choose a custom hotword.
Re:Amazon Echo
by colinramsay on Thursday November 06, 2014 @02:34PM
(#8569186)
If your iPhone is plugged in to power, you can trigger Siri by saying "Hey Siri". I believe this is off by default and there's a settings switch for it.
Re:Amazon Echo
by sagarjauhari on Thursday November 06, 2014 @12:17PM
(#8568128)
Yep, exactly my thoughts. With Siri and Google voice, why do I need to buy another piece of hardware. Amazon could have integrated all of this in kindle or amazon phone if they really wanted to.
I have found both android and iOS implantation to be quite poor at hearing you from afar or in any kind of noise. I was actually hoping someone would make a product like this, with much better microphones so it could hear me anywhere. Also, for battery concerns, you should only use always on listening on your phone when plugged in.
I'm guessing it will initially be more of a speaker with some voice command capabilities before it is regarded as a full-blown Siri. There's definitely some value in not having to fiddle around with a phone to listen to music/radio. And then the mind wanders.
This is going to have better microphones and a better speaker, suitable for listening to music in a medium sized room it seems. Also your phone can't hear you from across the room.