Notsofast

Aside from the overpriced product, the other key thing that doomed their prospects is a rapidly shrinking market since most new cars come with back up cameras and in 2018 it is mandatory for all new cars to have them. 

So much of the superiority of Google's assistant is just hype.  I wish more folks, especially bloggers posting articles like this on sites like AI would research it more.  Assistants need to be able to do much more than Internet searches.   Indeed it's really how well can they perform a variety of tasks.  Alexa is well behind Siri and Google, who are very close, with Siri able to do some things that Google can't and vice versa, but with Google, you have to give up all privacy.

Here's a recent thorough test of the big three against each other with a wide variety of tasks.  

http://www.businessinsider.com/siri-vs-google-assistant-cortana-alexa-2016-11/#so-what-did-we-learn-here-46

To whet your appetite,  here's from the author's summary of the face offI know,

 "I know — there are a lot of embarrassing moments for Google up there. If I were to simply count each "winner" above, Siri would be right there with it. Things are closer than the recent Google hype machine would suggest."

ireland said:

HomeKit ecosystem of available products lacking in this part of the world compared to the US. I also dislike how Phillips have (as far as the average consumer is concerned) currently a near monopoly on the HomeKit lightning market with so-called “starter kits” consisting of three bulbs and an unwanted customer lock-in hub for €200. WTF!? I can get three regular LED bulbs for €15. So sick of these companies ripping us off. I got to believe this is largely due to Apple making the HomeKit development process so completely onerous. Hopefully, for the consumer’s sake some of these new policies help to democratize the HomeKit lighting market.

I hope Apple doesn't do anything to relax security.  The next big scandal that is looming is  replacing ransomware  with massive blackmail where instead of threatening businesses with permanent bricking of data, they threaten individuals with releasing their personal information, e.g., video and audio recordings of what these non-secure devices have been collecting and sending to their servers.  How much will individuals pay to not have those videos and such released????  No, I for one thank Apple for requiring a much more rigorous than Amazon's "bring on all comers" approach.

And so it begins.  The era of censorship. It will be accomplished in incremental steps where "incorrect" information as determined by the "correct" people first just label the information, at some point progressing to deleting it,  then banning the user, and then "legal" action, which will range from civil to criminal sanctions.  

Putting up with silly, offensive and even lies is an vital part of a true freedom of speech. Yes, Facebook is a private entity and the Bill of Rights does not apply to them so they can censor in any way they want, and yes there are always limits to the First Amendment protections, libel/slander laws, etc, but because of the reach and expanse of Facebook , and the likelihood that this will be emulated elsewhere, this is an ominous development.   

Even with the best of intentions, this is unworkable.  Take the recent controversies over the alleged spying by the Obama administration on the Trump campaign team, and the alleged involvement of the Russians with Trump staff.  When someone posts a story, comment, etc., that "Obama spied on Trump" or "The Russians teamed up with Trump staffer" who is the oracle that gets to decide if either, neither or both or false/true?   Now carry that out a thousand times every day with every story, report, etc. 

Indeed, the beginning of a dark era if this isn't fought by civil libertarians left and right.

This picture sums up why wireless has taken over and most people are rapidly moving away from this tangled mess.  Seems like these are a big step backwards in terms of even heavier, less flexible cables.  Ugh!

http://photos5.appleinsider.com/gallery/19432-22182-IMG_1147-l.jpg