My number one wish for iOS 10 is a revamped Siri. I also want to see it opened up for development like Will.i.am's AneedA which I've surprisingly been digging. Basically developers can add "skills" to the voice assistant making her more intelligent in specific topics. Or they could acquire AneedA
If Apple DOES create an Echo competitor it will be the first copycat device I've seen from them in the past 2 decades. But be sure that it will look, act, feel nothing like Echo if this rumor is true. They will pave their own path and create the first successful home AI assistant.
I believe Beats Pill already outsells Echo so Apple could potentially outsells the entire market in a matter of weeks or even on launch day.
Apple TV intergration is too obvious. Click Siri Remote, Speak.
Apple's SDK is expected to come with basic query-answer requirements like a generic search term box that would be populated via Siri's voice recognition module. For example, a user might request a taxi service by telling Siri, "get me a ride home," which could trigger an Uber reservation.
The one doesn't imply the other, and any current text input field can do Siri dictation.
Watch the recent demo for Viv and pay close attention to the service clouds where they teach Viv new actions. Somehow, you've got to have an app register a service that tells Siri what words, concepts, and actions that app understands, and have Siri break the request down into actionable segments.
Doing, "Siri, get me ride home" is one thing. Saying, "Siri, I need a ride for 5 people here in 30 minutes" is quite another. The later adds a time element and how does Siri interface with the app to know that with 5 people you're going to need an UberXL and not just an Uber?
Before a select few commenters call foul if the device is not a souped-up Apple TV, ponder the obvious: what price point would this mythical Apple TV hit when you need to include a loud speaker, multiple microphones, maybe a glowing light, and other relevant tech? Surely it could not be kept at $149. Wouldn't the additional tech price the Apple TV out of the market? I believe so.
I would see it as a cheap extender of an apple tv. The apple Tv would give it extra functionality, and act as the hub for homekit and as an iTunes/photos server. The apple Tv could not do this now. in fact apple are probably stupid enough to require a mac to be running and consuming power to properly operate these.
Gads, more @internetofshit. I've got Siri right here on my Apple Watch, and it is hardly ever useful. Much of the time it responds with "continue on iPhone." Well, if I wanted to do that, I would have started right there.
About the only thing I can see Siri useful for is where you simply can't look at a screen. And that is available in CarPlay.
Siri has been around for 5 years? Gotta say it is one of the more disappointing Apple products I have.
I've always thought that Siri would be useful in these Echo type boxes. On my iPhone I just launch a weather app, I don't ask "will it rain tomorrow" but in the abscence of that option it would make sense to use Siri, particularly if it can do more - like control the house light etc.
Agree, it must first & foremost be an Airplay enabled speaker, Siri beacon/home automaton second.
It would tie in better with AppleMusic. Once people saw its simplicity, the stage would be set for discovering the device's home automation appeal later.
Agree, it must first & foremost be an Airplay enabled speaker, Siri beacon/home automaton second.
It would tie in better with AppleMusic. Once people saw its simplicity, the stage would be set for discovering the device's home automation appeal later.
That's the same route another tech is taking with their "Echo" competing home controller, good music quality first and foremost.
Agree, it must first & foremost be an Airplay enabled speaker, Siri beacon/home automaton second.
It would tie in better with AppleMusic. Once people saw its simplicity, the stage would be set for discovering the device's home automation appeal later.
I wonder how necessary a separate hardware speaker is really.
soon you'll be able to say "Siri turn on AC" on your iPhone. Why need a piece of hardware that sits in a specific room?
I don't doubt Apple and this is probably a problem they're working on. The speaker needs to be unique from iPhone Siri. The reason Alexa works for Amazon is because no one has an Amazon phone.
Before a select few commenters call foul if the device is not a souped-up Apple TV, ponder the obvious: what price point would this mythical Apple TV hit when you need to include a loud speaker, multiple microphones, maybe a glowing light, and other relevant tech? Surely it could not be kept at $149. Wouldn't the additional tech price the Apple TV out of the market? I believe so.
I've said many times in the past, why doesn't Apple release a Kinect type device. A Mic array with a Camera that will plug into the AppleTV, which has a USB-C type port now. Now you have SIRI support, along with Facetime, I'm not sure at this point if you need to use the Apple Remote and Push the SIRI button, or just be voice activated, though that's a little big brother. Maybe make it a choice. This would also create even better support for Homekit. Use the Camera/Mic setup ,or your AppleTV Remote to do Homekit. Apple could also release a Stand Alone unit. This way you have a couple choices and can spread Mic Array's around your house and have SIRI everywhere.
Apple really needs to kick it into gear.
Watch the recent demo for Viv and pay close attention to the service clouds where they teach Viv new actions. Somehow, you've got to have an app register a service that tells Siri what words, concepts, and actions that app understands, and have Siri break the request down into actionable segments.
You said it best, I imagine. Thanks for being up the potential elephant in the room. It's easy to assume next generation Siri will be very much like Viv. Especially if the upcoming Siri developer's kit functions similarly to Viv. The only meaningful difference will be platform availability. Siri limited to Apple's ecosystem, of course, whereas Viv will be platform agnostic. Tho Viv sounds innovative, it's hard to imagine that after Apple updates Siri (in a big way) that Viv could be anything other than dead-on-arrival. Why would android developers flock to Viv when Google Now has made meaningful advances? Same will be said from Apple developers soon enough.
Surely if Siri is to become a standalone interface then the design reference to use is the Star Trek comms badge! Having a fixed set of speakers seems like a non-starter to me, Siri shouldn't have to work out who the user is and a set of speakers could be anyone.
or in other words. Reinvent the iPod shuffle give it wifi HaLow (or lte cat-0 as an upsell then again that might be next year lte-m)*. Let it stream music from iCloud, AppleMusic or any of my Devices. Let it acts as wireless headphones from any of my devices while in wifi range. Let it connect direct to Facetime Audio for talking to others on facetime. Drop the headphone port use Lightening port and let it charge off the phone.
Apple SiriPOD then if you really wanted a fixed set of speakers then any current iPod compatible will work.
*lower power lte would need to me bigger commitment for Apple to work. Like a full revamp of Airport hardware to create local consumer hot spot. Also bigger carrier support for eSIM (or eAppleSIM) so might be second gen not first.
I know it's not going to happen, but it would be great if Apple released a series of HomeKit devices to really accelerate the home automation market.
The current range of devices is not only limited, but I get the impression they're far larger than they need to be. (E.g. the electrical socket devices are quite large for what they do.)
Apple is going to introduce iGlyph, a personal maid in the form of floating orb that can follow you anywhere in the house, taking order and programmable to do house chore like cleaning (by sending command to Apple Vacuum, cooking simple meal by sending command to Apple Fridge+Apple Microwave and turning on/off lights/AC/heater/entertainment center, etc). The device also capable of video security, learning piano and taking photo.
I guess there is fantasy and there is reality. HomeKit is not even a baby, it's more like an embryo. But it's a nice start, just don't expect it to live our own fantasy up.
I'm baffled. Why couldn't Apple integrate those functions in the Apple TV? Doesn't make sense.
You're either wasting an HDMI port when using it in a room without a TV, or you're wasting a speaker/mic array that has to listen for commands over the din of your TV's speakers. If Apple were going to retrofit an existing product, it would make more sense to do it with an Airplay-enabled Airport Extreme.
Comments
is a revamped Siri. I also want to see it opened up for development like Will.i.am's AneedA which I've surprisingly been digging. Basically developers can add "skills" to the voice assistant making her more intelligent in specific topics. Or they could acquire AneedA
If Apple DOES create an Echo competitor it will be the first copycat device I've seen from them in the past 2 decades. But be sure that it will look, act, feel nothing like Echo if this rumor is true. They will pave their own path and create the first successful home AI assistant.
I believe Beats Pill already outsells Echo so
Apple could potentially outsells the entire market in a matter of weeks or even on launch day.
Apple TV intergration is too obvious. Click Siri Remote, Speak.
Watch the recent demo for Viv and pay close attention to the service clouds where they teach Viv new actions. Somehow, you've got to have an app register a service that tells Siri what words, concepts, and actions that app understands, and have Siri break the request down into actionable segments.
Doing, "Siri, get me ride home" is one thing. Saying, "Siri, I need a ride for 5 people here in 30 minutes" is quite another. The later adds a time element and how does Siri interface with the app to know that with 5 people you're going to need an UberXL and not just an Uber?
It would tie in better with AppleMusic. Once people saw its simplicity, the stage would be set for discovering the device's home automation appeal later.
soon you'll be able to say "Siri turn on AC" on your iPhone. Why need a piece of hardware that sits in a specific room?
I don't doubt Apple and this is probably a problem they're working on. The speaker needs to be unique from iPhone Siri.
The reason Alexa works for Amazon is because no one has an Amazon phone.
Having a fixed set of speakers seems like a non-starter to me, Siri shouldn't have to work out who the user is and a set of speakers could be anyone.
or in other words.
Reinvent the iPod shuffle give it wifi HaLow (or lte cat-0 as an upsell then again that might be next year lte-m)*.
Let it stream music from iCloud, AppleMusic or any of my Devices.
Let it acts as wireless headphones from any of my devices while in wifi range.
Let it connect direct to Facetime Audio for talking to others on facetime.
Drop the headphone port use Lightening port and let it charge off the phone.
Apple SiriPOD
then if you really wanted a fixed set of speakers then any current iPod compatible will work.
*lower power lte would need to me bigger commitment for Apple to work. Like a full revamp of Airport hardware to create local consumer hot spot. Also bigger carrier support for eSIM (or eAppleSIM) so might be second gen not first.
Looking at you @nhughes ;