Apple allegedly working on Siri stand-alone speaker with HomeKit integration
Apple appears to be stepping up efforts to combat Amazon's suite of Alexa voice recognition devices, with a Siri-based home voice assistant reportedly in the works.
According to a Bloomberg report, a two-year project implementing Siri directly in an Apple TV-sized device has reached the prototype phase. Allegedly, the prototypes "control appliances, locks, lights and curtains via voice activation" according to sources, suggesting a HomeKit controller.
The prototypes are said to include facial recognition sensors for user identification, plus advanced microphone and speaker technology to combat perceived shortfalls of Amazon's Alexa voice recognition family.
Early efforts at home Siri integration reportedly included speakers in the fourth generation Apple TV itself, with the company ultimately deciding to include a microphone in the remote instead. A second effort is said to have included "proprietary surround sound technology" but what that specifically defines is not clear.
A possibility for simple Siri speaker configuration is Apple's new W1 chip, as implemented in the AirPods recently unveiled by Apple. Utilization of the W1 could result in a "one-click" setup through compatible devices, with addition of the device to an existing network with the same ease as pairing the AirPods with an iPhone 7 by opening up the charging case.
Apple's Siri at the core of the device has been given a boost in capabilities and accuracy since release. Siri shifted to a "deep neural network" to improve the product in 2014, according to Apple executives when interviewed in August.
The Bloomberg report suggests that new Siri speaker prototypes are being tested in engineers' homes. Depending on the developmental stage, the prototypes may require U.S. Federal Communications Commission approval, and a device spotted working its way through the system on Thursday matches suggestions that the device may be similar in size to the Apple TV.
According to a Bloomberg report, a two-year project implementing Siri directly in an Apple TV-sized device has reached the prototype phase. Allegedly, the prototypes "control appliances, locks, lights and curtains via voice activation" according to sources, suggesting a HomeKit controller.
The prototypes are said to include facial recognition sensors for user identification, plus advanced microphone and speaker technology to combat perceived shortfalls of Amazon's Alexa voice recognition family.
Early efforts at home Siri integration reportedly included speakers in the fourth generation Apple TV itself, with the company ultimately deciding to include a microphone in the remote instead. A second effort is said to have included "proprietary surround sound technology" but what that specifically defines is not clear.
The stage for a Siri whole-home integration device has been set
A possibility for simple Siri speaker configuration is Apple's new W1 chip, as implemented in the AirPods recently unveiled by Apple. Utilization of the W1 could result in a "one-click" setup through compatible devices, with addition of the device to an existing network with the same ease as pairing the AirPods with an iPhone 7 by opening up the charging case.
Apple's Siri at the core of the device has been given a boost in capabilities and accuracy since release. Siri shifted to a "deep neural network" to improve the product in 2014, according to Apple executives when interviewed in August.
The Bloomberg report suggests that new Siri speaker prototypes are being tested in engineers' homes. Depending on the developmental stage, the prototypes may require U.S. Federal Communications Commission approval, and a device spotted working its way through the system on Thursday matches suggestions that the device may be similar in size to the Apple TV.
Comments
I think Apple need to do more to engage with hardware manufacturers. I have a Tado heating control system and LIFX lights. The manufacturers have already embraced Amazon Echo first and only Tado has announced that it will be providing access to Apple Home. Unfortunately this requires replacement of the recently introduced Tado internet bridge version 2 with version 3. The v 2 bridge works with Amazon Echo without needing replacement .
l plan to try controlling my Tado heating using first Amazon Echo and in a month with Apple Home to compare how well each works.
Show me a light switch that Apple supports instead of a gigantic dongle on the AC?
"To be announced at Apples September event"
Eh. I don't get the point of it either unless it's Siri added to Apple TV or Beats Pill.
Siri is almost useless and even more stupid on Apple TV. I've asked "when does the sun go down?" And Siri replied "The Suns game is Thursday..." I even had it once give me a string of random characters as an answer and Siri tried to pronounce it!!
I wish Apple would purchase will.i.ams tech company. His AneedA tech is so far ahead of Siri and allows 3rd party knowledge to be downloaded. Which I thought was iOS 10s intention but so far it only alllows you to CONTROL 3rd party apps. Big difference.
It seems strange will.i.am has been hanging around Apple though.
While Siri understands me better than before, it fails to correctly interpret my commands. I now switched to the Dutch version and it's even more stupid than I remember. Creating reminders or appointments, asking driving directions, playing a song, ... it just doesn't work. You ask for one thing and it does something completely different and unrelated. it's even a mystery on why it would do a particular thing based on what I asked.
The device mentioned in the other thread, had NFC * and RS-485 ** circuitry. Don't know why either of these, along with facial recognition would be needed in a remote speaker.
*
**
For comparison, Apple's Airport Extreme and latest AppleTV support 802.11ac WiFi:
And, back in the day (1980-1989) we sold hundreds of these -- including 7 different networks at Apple HQ:
And this gem:
All this for an always-on Hey Siri??? Been there, Done that!
Siri can't set the temperature on my Nest thermostat. Echo does.
Siri can't operate my LIFX bulbs. Echo does.
Echo hears me from the next room. Siri doesn't.
Echo doesn't require me to pair to a Bluetooth speaker to get much better sound quality than the tiny speakers in an iDevice.
Don't get me wrong - I'm a loyal Apple fan, but Siri currently doesn't do many of the things Echo does and vice-versa.
Not everything needs to be, should be, or can be "mobile and wireless". Wireless deep freezers? Mobile recliner? Wireless ceiling fans? Mobile wood-burning fireplace?
One of my Echos lives in my kitchen/living area. It's always there and always on. It doesn't need to be charged. I can't lose it or drop it. It's there to listen to the daily news summary when I come home from work. It's there to add items to my shopping list. It's there to play background music when I have guests without having to locate, turn on, and pair a Bluetooth speaker. Another Echo in a bedroom is there to read me a bedtime story. It's there to turn off the lights and lower the temperature when my iPhone is plugged in to charge in another room where Siri can't hear me. Being fixed devices, I never have to worry about carrying them with me - they're always right where they belong.
Guess you've never had a freezer fail, wasting several thousand $ of food -- not to mention the mess and inconvenience.
Here's what we use:
http://www.sensorpush.com