So, what commands are you using on these other devices that makes them more useful. I’m really curious here. I’ve seen lots of claims but no proof. In fact when Siri has been compared I feel it is more useful in real use situations.
A few examples that Google Home gets right and all other smart devices (including Alexa) fail:
Me: Hey Google play my Morning Tunes playlist Google Home: Plays _my_ Spotify Morning Tunes playlist
Me: (while Spotify is playing) Hey Google add this song to my library Google Home: Ok, I added that song to your Spotify music library
My Girlfriend: Hey Google play my Morning Tunes playlist Google Home: Plays _her_ Spotify Morning Tunes playlist
Me: Hey Google what's on my calendar today? Google Home: What's on _my_ personal calendar
My Girlfriend: Hey Google what's on my calendar today? Google Home: What's on _her_ personal calendar
I could keep going... but I don't need to. Apple completely forgot that many people in this world are not single people living by themselves. They also completely forgot that _Millions_ of people like Spotify...
Now that you reminded them, I'm sure they'll fix it in the next update. Unless, Apple didn't "forget" those things at all.
Remember is another of those simple yet really helpful commands. "Remember I put the spare spring in the top drawer of the old toolbox". I can ask "Where did I put the spare spring" months from now, and it will remember and tell me.
That's a cool example, but I expect that 99% of the time it wouldn't work in practice. First you have to remember to ask your device to remember every random thing (which personally I would be very unlikely to do) and then you have to phrase things the same way you will "months from now." Then when you (or someone else) actually uses that thing, you have to remember to tell your device about it again. No thanks, but if it works for you, that's cool.
People put effort into finding a s piece of string, cutting it, and then tying it around a finger to remember things, so I think that having a thought and then stating that thought outloud the exact same way you'd ask someone to remind you to do something later isn't going to need any additional brain power or training.
Hell, I've been doing this with Siri since it came out and even before then with my Notes app on my iPhone—I think of something, I write it down or dictate it into one of many Notes itms that are then sectioned off with various groupings which themselves are often categorized further. If you use a Reminders app or the Timer you're already doing that. You've never once put change into a parking meter, saw how much time it gave you and then said, "Hey Siri set timer for x-minutes"?
The closest I've come to this is taking a picture of the parking sign when I park in long-term parking at the airport. How would this work if I did it verbally? "Hey siri remind me that I parked at green 16." How would I retrieve that information? "Hey siri, where did I park?" Would that work? And next trip when I say "remind me that I parked at Blue 12" what happens to the green 16 reminder? I suppose I just don't trust AIs enough to do these flawlessly, so I don't bother trying.
Two options: Hey Google, this is where I parked my car. Weeks later: Hey Google, where'd I park my car? [Map shows you]
Hey Google, remember that my car is at green 16 Weeks later: Hey Google, what'd I tell you to remember about my car? Google: You asked me to remember that your car is at green 16
I keep meaning to comment on one of the recent AI videos: I really like the practice of including (effectively) the script in words as a complement to the video. This makes it much easier to skim the article and, for me as someone that doesn't much like videos, the chance to read instead of watch/listen.
Lots of cries I see with regards to HomePod, and not supporting Spotify and blah blah, but with time, all the dust will settle down. I find HomePod's sound quality best so I kept it. Sonos, Google Home or anything else are totally out of equation for me. Perhaps after a few months or so people who don't like HomePod will change their mind. I am in fact happy that Apple restricted Spotify.
Ya'll losing your minds. Keep sitting around and hoping all it takes is a "software update", which is "easy." Siri hasn't got smart in a very long time. First to market in devices and by far the dumbest personal assistant. This is the ONLY reason why I went Sonos One. First off, the sound quality between the two isn't night and day.
The Sonos one is a great speaker. And I got two for the price of ONE Homepod. First I had them paired in stereo mode in my living room and it sounded amazing. But ultimately decided to split the two and have one in my kitchen and one in my bedroom because for one, it is a smart speaker and Amazon Alexa capabilities is endless. Two, they still sound amazing by itself.
Now using Alexa in my Kitchen and Bedroom to start and end my day is going well. And it really makes you hate Siri. Which is sad because I'm an all Apple Ecosystem user until this purchase (iPhone X, Macbook Pro Retina, two AppleTV 4K, Apple Music, AppleWatch Wife Macbook Air, iPhone 8 and Apple Watch, Daughter iPad Mini and a slew of smart home products that works with Homekit. Luckily for me, all except my garage door opener also works with Alexa).
Once AirPlay2 is added. I'll be thrilled. One thing I do wish the Sonos was capable of, using Alexa to start songs on Apple Music like I can with Amazon Music (free trial and may have to switch), Spotify (if I desire its service), iHeart and Tunein Radio (which I both use). I can play Apple Music but have to use the Sonos App. Not necessarily a big deal. But would be nice if voice control of Apple Music was allowed (obvious reasons why it's not).
Comments
Hey Google, this is where I parked my car.
Weeks later: Hey Google, where'd I park my car? [Map shows you]
Hey Google, remember that my car is at green 16
Weeks later: Hey Google, what'd I tell you to remember about my car?
Google: You asked me to remember that your car is at green 16
I really like the practice of including (effectively) the script in words as a complement to the video. This makes it much easier to skim the article and, for me as someone that doesn't much like videos, the chance to read instead of watch/listen.
Thanks for that and please continue to do it.