Samsung Galaxy Home will fight smart speakers from Apple, Amazon & Google

AppleInsider · August 9, 2018 4:25PM

In addition to revealing the Galaxy Note9, one of Samsung's other product announcements on Thursday was the Galaxy Home, the company's first smartspeaker.

The device is based on Samsung's Bixby voice assistant, and has eight far-field microphones. Speaker technology comes courtesy of Samsung's AKG, and the device will have a built-in SmartThings hub to connect smarthome accessories.

Little else has been revealed so far, but a partnership with Spotify should make the latter's music easier to move between Samsung devices. An unusual design touch is that the base is supported by three metal legs -- most smartspeakers, such as Apple's HomePod, sit directly on a surface.

More details will be announced at a developers' conference in November.

Samsung faces an uphill battle, given overwhelming control of the smartspeaker market by Amazon and Google. Even Apple's HomePod has just a 6 percent install base in the U.S., which may be why the company is rumored to be considering a cheaper version.

Many Amazon and Google speaker owners also have multiple units, meaning they're unlikely to switch ecosystems.

ihatescreennames · August 9, 2018 4:31PM

I was thinking about Bixby last night and it occurred to me, I don’t think it was included in that test a week or so ago. If my memory is accurate, that test only covered, Siri, Google Assistant, Alexa and Corana. Too bad, I’m curious to know how Bixby is doing.

gatorguy · August 9, 2018 4:33PM

Samsung says it can detect a listener's location and direct audio to that spot by speaking "Hi Bixby, Steer Sound". Like other recent higher end smart speakers it can also adapt sound to the shape of the room. But the design! Ugh!

edited August 2018

jdgaz · August 9, 2018 4:36PM

Will they give this away along with a refrigerator purchase?

nunzy · August 9, 2018 4:46PM

The sooner Samsung is destroyed the better off Apple will be. Apple can't do nothing without Samsung copying.

Samsung never had an original idea ever. They just copy Apple.

macpro · August 9, 2018 4:56PM

Gosh what a shock!

edited August 2018

king editor the grate · August 9, 2018 4:57PM

Buh, Scamdung, the 1950s called. They want their design back.

That thing is rocking some Sputnik action.

edited August 2018

soli · August 9, 2018 5:13PM

gatorguy said:

Samsung says it can detect a listener's location and direct audio to that spot by speaking "Hi Bixby, Steer Sound". Like other recent higher end smart speakers it can also adapt sound to the shape of the room. But the design! Ugh!

1) I don't think the design is bad. It looks like the stuff I see in higher-end home stores.

2) Should the user really have to steer the sound as they move around the space? I'm not opposed to the option if there are multiple people, pets and other things that could affect how the sound is focused, but I'd hope that it would auto-steer the sound so that the user can move about the space with the best possible sound. Maybe one day it could be as consistent as walking around with quality headphones on.

gatorguy · August 9, 2018 5:17PM

Soli said:

gatorguy said:

Samsung says it can detect a listener's location and direct audio to that spot by speaking "Hi Bixby, Steer Sound". Like other recent higher end smart speakers it can also adapt sound to the shape of the room. But the design! Ugh!

2) Should the user really have to steer the sound as they move around the space? I'm not opposed to the option if there are multiple people, pets and other things that could affect how the sound is focused, but I'd hope that it would auto-steer the sound so that the user can move about the space with the best possible sound. Maybe one day it could be as consistent as walking around with quality headphones on.

That would require constant scanning and sensing. Even Apple's Homepod only does so when it's first set-up or moved. This would at least be a one-up on that assuming it actually works.

... and I still think the shape and tripod legs, at least what we've seen of it, is horrid. Looks like 1950's design IMHO.

anantksundaram · August 9, 2018 5:27PM

I can see that it's going to be an udder success...

(Groan. What a horrendously ugly-looking thing. I really do feel badly for their lack of design skills.)

ericthehalfbee · August 9, 2018 5:33PM

Technically speaking, with the vast resources within Harmon (of which I own 6 figures plus of their professional gear), they should be able to come out with a phenomenal home speaker. If they don't, then Samsung blew a huge opportunity to incorporate a portion of the enormous amount of IP Harmon has regarding all aspects of sound.

soli · August 9, 2018 5:38PM

anantksundaram said:

I can see that it's going to be an udder success...

💯

foregoneconclusion · August 9, 2018 5:39PM

Looks like a cross between a fondue pot and a votive candle.

folio · August 9, 2018 5:47PM

foregoneconclusion said:

Looks like a cross between a fondue pot and a votive candle.

Yes! As Samsung is into kitchen appliances, it looks like it might convert into a hotpot, or maybe a hibachi.

folio · August 9, 2018 5:52PM

This "home made" contraption kinda tarnishes the whole Galaxy name brand. What the heck are they thinking? I'm almost embarrassed for them. Yet as an Apple stockholder I do hope they advertise it like crazy.

maciekskontakt · August 9, 2018 6:01PM

gatorguy said:

Samsung says it can detect a listener's location and direct audio to that spot by speaking "Hi Bixby, Steer Sound". Like other recent higher end smart speakers it can also adapt sound to the shape of the room. But the design! Ugh!

Tri-legged kettle

melotron · August 9, 2018 6:16PM

I just don't want the same pills they are eating at Samsungs design department.

mjtomlin · August 9, 2018 7:07PM

and has eight far-field microphones

See it is better, it has one more microphone than the HomePod!!!

Seriously, you damn well know that 8th one was put in just to make the above statement, as there's no technical reason for it.

soli · August 9, 2018 7:31PM

mjtomlin said:

and has eight far-field microphones
See it is better, it has one more microphone than the HomePod!!!

Seriously, you damn well know that 8th one was put in just to make the above statement, as there's no technical reason for it.

I remember before the HomePod was every announced (perhaps even before it was even being engineered) I was told on this forum that the fact that Amazon uses 7 far-field mics on their Echo is proof that it's a failure because a company with any real engineering talent should be able to do have just one microphone.

hentaiboy · August 9, 2018 7:51PM

At least this device won’t cause another “Ring Gate” fiasco 😂

blunt · August 9, 2018 8:18PM

They drew inspiration from a cow i guess.

Samsung Galaxy Home will fight smart speakers from Apple, Amazon & Google

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