tedcranmore

I think there is an easy explanation here. It was rumored last summer (Google “Andrew Left predicts Apple acquisition Sono)”, Apple killing the HomePod means this will happen soon. Why support a high-end speaker solution that isn’t selling well when Sonos will provide that product via acquisition?

Sono has a market cap of 5 billion. That’s pocket change for Apple. 

Nope sorry, you missed the entire point of this machine. This machine actually fits in the lineup like a fantastic piece of a puzzle. Great that you compared it to the higher end MacBook Pro with the M3 pro chip, but the really important one is the below comparison — you should’ve also chosen  the 15 inch MacBook Air. Line that machine up with the 512 GB storage option and you have a machine that is only $100 away from this machine. That is an easy $100 to spend for all you get in this machine. You must always compare the machine below and the machine above to find out  if the machine has a rightful spot in the lineup. For $100 you get the M3 versus the M2 chip — that alone is worth $100 easily. In addition,  you get the ports,  you get the display,  you get the speakers,  and you get the mics,  and you get a much longer battery life. This is a no-brainer upgrade from someone who wants the 512GB option on the 15 inch MacBook Air. Comparing to the old 13 inch MacBook Pro touch bar was interesting,  but nobody has that option today so it is worthless comparing to that when making a buying decision. The M3 MacBook Air that is not exist yet and is therefor an exercise in imagination. Compare to the machine above AND the machine below and you’ve got a better article. 

There are some good points made, but no matter the cost, I don’t want a smart speaker in every room. I want the habits and commands I use to be with me everywhere. In the park, in the car, in the shower, while on a walk — everywhere. The only way to achieve that is not by making a smart speaker cheap — that will only get it in more rooms at that approach falls way short. The solution is clearly to make it a wearable. You glossed over the correct answer because it’s not good enough today on the watch. However, give it time and that solution will be far superior and your echo Dots will languish in the attic. The ONLY solution that allows you to be truly ‘always works’ and create real habits is by having your voice assistant be on your body and therefore be ALWAYS with you. Maybe someday that will be glasses or something in your shirt, but for now the answer is the watch. While we are still struggling with a small mic and battery life, we have trouble imagining that future when those issues fade away just like we had trouble imagining the smartphone in 1996.

I don’t have any trouble agreeing that Siri isn’t good enough — because it isn’t. But truly, other than some edge cases when you really dig into Google and Amazon assistants, they are far from good enough either. Just ask those that use these devices over time, the cases that are sticky tend to end up at that same core set that Siri is actually pretty good at — timers, music, weather, shopping lists, scores, etc. The big farce is all the skills that 3rd parties are developing. The vast majority are laughable from a real human mass market perspective.  

There are tons of real wins easily achievable with voice assistants.  Tech writers gets sucked into the next 12 months, but the real destination requires them to see several years down the road.

There is  always a hole somewhere, it's just a matter of finding them AND determining impact. What the article doesn't make clear, is what is the impact of this hole? Is your personal information at risk? Or, it is that a thief will be able to re-use your device after he steals it? Activation lock has reduced iOS device theft, and this appears to suggest that the impact here is not to your personal data, but to your stolen device being of some value because it can be setup again. Not great, but not putting your personal information at risk. 

You need to remove the part of the article that implies the AirPods will fall out. If they fit you correctly they will not fall out no matter what, even during a hard workout.  I've tried my best to shake them out by violently twisting and turning  and they just will not fall out.  The lack of physical volume controls is something, but  I rarely need that and when I do I have another device either in my pocket or on my wrist. When working out I just take my Apple Watch, and that is a  good way to change the volume. The other advantages far outweigh this slight con.  For me, not having a connecting wire between left and right is a godsend as well.