Sonos To Launch a Wireless Speaker That Would Support Multiple Voice Assistants (yahoo.com) 33
Sonos, a mid- to high-end speaker manufacturer, released an updated privacy policy for its speakers that almost certainly confirms that the company will release a speaker with Amazon's Alexa voice assistant built into the device in the near term. From a report: Though many devices that integrate with Alexa have been announced and are starting to come to market, this is one of the higher-profile examples and could be instructive for smart-speaker designers. The company first announced its intention to add voice-assistant integration to its speakers over a year ago, but didn't give any specific time frame for that step. And an FCC filing from the company that surfaced a few weeks ago showed that it is looking into systems that would support multiple voice assistants, so a user could potentially have the option to choose between Amazon's Alexa or Google's Assistant, depending on what other devices they own and what platform they prefer.
Terrific invention (Score:2)
Watch out Sonos (Score:1)
Sometimes trying too hard to be something more than you need to be can be a fatal mistake.
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Sonos products have always been "more than you need". That's what luxury products are.
Comment removed (Score:3, Insightful)
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Huh? How does this progress from "Sonos is supporting multiple voice assistants"?
Why? (Score:4, Insightful)
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Why would I want a device listening to everything in my home?
Why would I want windows on my home. They allow anyone to look in.
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Come on, by integrating the device into the speakers, let's hope it will be smart enough not to listen to itself and order unwanted things when the next South Park episode airs. That's obviously a win-win, or isn't it?
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Why would I want a device listening to everything in my home? Why would I want speakers that integrate such an unwanted feature? Why would I want speakers that can just stop working [slashdot.org] if I don't go along with their new privacy policy (which no speakers should ever have or need). This product line is on my never buy list, that's for certain.
Why do you keep asking why when you clearly are not part of the stupid masses that welcome always-on listening devices and for-dummies integration?
I find it far easier to sit back and watch wealthy ignorance fuel our IoT-riddled economy than keep asking why all the time. Besides, I gave up on the average consumer gaining some level of technical skill or respect for privacy long ago.
Nag-O-Matic (Score:3, Funny)
"Alexa, please tell Siri to shut up."
"Order Milk" (Score:2)
>> "Order Milk"
Alexa: OK, ordered.
Assistant: OK, ordered.
Siri: OK, ordered.
(3 gallons of milk appear in three cardboard boxes mid-morning and are brought just after sunset.)
Re:"Order Milk" (Score:5, Funny)
With my experience with voice assistants I would expect
1 DVD of the movie Milk.
1 spool of silk.
and 1 reply of "I'm sorry, I don't know how to do that".
"Sorry, Dave..." [Re:"Order Milk"] (Score:1)
Do they make a snarky assistant with a HAL9000 voice?
like the nerdy kids in school (Score:2)
Alexa: Pick me!
Google: Pick me!
Siri: Pick me!
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In the Trump-era the 3 co's will merge: "We are the Borg, resistance is futile. Order something expensive or be assimilated."
Orwellian naming (Score:3, Insightful)
If you sell a computer that the user cannot control, and which constantly runs malicious software,
call it a "telephone" because telephones aren't threatening like computers are.
If you sell a constantly-enabled microphone that sends everything to some central headquarters,
call it a "speaker" because speakers aren't threatening like microphones are.
Thank you for your co-operation.
Signed, Ministry of Truth.
Multiple Voice assistants? (Score:2)
I want Multiple Voice Assassins!
So that I can become an instant criminal mastermind overnight.
FTFY (Score:3)