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Author Topic: Apple needs an "Echo"  (Read 1367 times)

Offline kimmer

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Apple needs an "Echo"
« on: January 27, 2017, 02:04:13 PM »
https://9to5mac.com/2017/01/23/apple-siri-s...er-amazon-echo/

Interesting article. I would love an Apple equivalent of the Amazon Echo. I enjoy my echo and use it to stream radio stations (I can't pull them in where I live, so radios are useless). wink.gif  I also have a few playlists of my digital music stored in the Amazon cloud and I can play those whenever I want*. I do sometimes search for things but Alexis isn't as good as Siri on many searches—and that's sad! I've had "Alexis" read a book to me, and my morning alarm is set on the Echo.

An ideal, for me, would be an Apple version that would do the same things and –AND– play my music from my iTunes playlist. Now that would be my dream gadget. Come on Apple, get it together. yes.gif


*I'd have more playlists, but Amazon requires that their music app be installed on my iMac, and it is a memory hog, causes lots of other problems in the background, and calls home constantly, so I removed it several months ago. See my thread on the problems if you are curious.
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Offline Xairbusdriver

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Apple needs an "Echo"
« Reply #1 on: January 27, 2017, 03:55:30 PM »
Apple doesn't usually like to copy another item. "Echo" seems to be a voice-controlled interface (is that an oxymoron?!) to stuff that is on the web, especially from Amazon. At least that's the 'message' I get from their ads, when I accidentally hear/see one. blush-anim-cl.gif How accurate is my opinion? Is it limited to things you store/have at Amazon, including their servers? Or can you connect to other things on the WWW?
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Offline kimmer

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Apple needs an "Echo"
« Reply #2 on: January 27, 2017, 04:07:37 PM »
QUOTE(Xairbusdriver @ Jan 27 2017, 02:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Apple doesn't usually like to copy another item.

If you read the article, Apple is working on a similar device. wink.gif
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Offline Xairbusdriver

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Apple needs an "Echo"
« Reply #3 on: January 27, 2017, 04:51:10 PM »
Note my 'usual' disclaimer, "usually". tongue.gif
Now, how 'bout them other questions... both earz!    
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Offline kimmer

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Apple needs an "Echo"
« Reply #4 on: January 27, 2017, 06:29:25 PM »
QUOTE(Xairbusdriver @ Jan 27 2017, 02:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
"Echo" seems to be a voice-controlled interface (is that an oxymoron?!) to stuff that is on the web, especially from Amazon. At least that's the 'message' I get from their ads, when I accidentally hear/see one. blush-anim-cl.gif How accurate is my opinion? Is it limited to things you store/have at Amazon, including their servers? Or can you connect to other things on the WWW?

Sorry, I forgot to answer you.

Voice-controlled to stuff on the web: same as Siri is. Alexa will look up info, find recipes, shop at Amazon and other places (I know you can order flowers) -- but I'm guessing that the vendors have a deal of some kind with Amazon. She'll make lists, play radio stations, play music (and I can upload non-Amazon purchased music to my account). I get a daily flash news briefing and I can pick the sources. She reads books from my Kindle, but I don't know if she'll read books purchased from other sources. I've had her look up and read Bible verses/passages to me, but she only reads KJV as it's public domain; so she might read other public domain books. She plays word games, tells corny jokes, and there are skills I've never explored: movies, tv, learn languages, smart home stuff, etc, etc. Pretty much if Siri does it, so does Alexa—so she'll connect to non-Amazon stuff on the web.

My one gripe was the day I asked her who was officiating at an NFL game. Now I was watching delayed via a recording, so it was only the 1st quarter to me. Well, Alexa misunderstood and told me the final score of the game. I wasn't a happy football fan at that point—but I've had Siri do the same thing; so I now always look stuff up by typing a specific question into the browser on my iPad, and I've avoided any more spoiled games. Other than when my team fails to show up and play. tongue.gif
« Last Edit: January 27, 2017, 07:26:28 PM by Xairbusdriver »
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Offline Xairbusdriver

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Apple needs an "Echo"
« Reply #5 on: January 27, 2017, 07:33:08 PM »
Was there a professional football season this/last year?! tongue.gif I heard a great report/interview with (Mike?) Pesca(sp?) this week decrying how bad it was and why the viewership had fallen so much, even at the stadiums. He ended the interview by saying that the Super Bowl will be a big test only for one person...
Lady Gaga!!!
I think she is scheduled to sing our National Anthem? rolleyes.gif wallbash.gif
« Last Edit: January 27, 2017, 07:33:44 PM by Xairbusdriver »
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Offline kimmer

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Apple needs an "Echo"
« Reply #6 on: January 28, 2017, 12:33:25 AM »
offtopic.gif

QUOTE(Xairbusdriver @ Jan 27 2017, 06:33 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Was there a professional football season this/last year?! tongue.gif I heard a great report/interview with (Mike?) Pesca(sp?) this week decrying how bad it was and why the viewership had fallen so much, even at the stadiums. He ended the interview by saying that the Super Bowl will be a big test only for one person...
Lady Gaga!!!
I think she is scheduled to sing our National Anthem? rolleyes.gif wallbash.gif


Luke Bryan is to sing "The Star Spangled Banner" and he should be decent. GagMe  rofl.gif  is doing the potty break show.  rolleyes.gif

Yup, the season stunk, but the bowl of super guys should be decent as long as both teams bring their best to the game. I watch it more for the commercials anyhow.  toothgrin.gif
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Offline Xairbusdriver

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Apple needs an "Echo"
« Reply #7 on: January 28, 2017, 08:45:02 AM »
Maybe "Lady" Gaga sang last year? dntknw.gif Didn't watch it then, either. Although I have enjoyed some of the ridiculously expensive ads it usually premiers... getsick.gif
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Offline Paddy

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Apple needs an "Echo"
« Reply #8 on: January 28, 2017, 02:04:30 PM »
Given that the Apple TV has a voice interface (sometimes comically inaccurate, as all these things sometimes are) I won't be at all surprised if they come out with something that ties it together with Apple Music etc.

I have Sonos speakers, which run off their own app, which includes Apple Music and my iTunes library and a zillion on air and internet radio stations. LOVE the system - we also have a Sonos sound bar for the TV. They're not voice controlled, but I don't really care about that so much. I have seen a few suggestions floating around that Apple buy Sonos - it would be a pretty good fit, especially given that Sonos' ethos seems very similar to Apple's - even down to the exquisite packaging. Here's one from yesterday: http://observer.com/2017/01/apple-should-acquire-sonos/

Apple, BTW, now sell Sonos speakers in the Apple store.
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