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Amazon's Bizarre New Product

scott
edited November 2014 in Off-Topic
Basically, a little device that is always listening to you (The more you use Echo, the more it adapts to your speech patterns, vocabulary, and personal preferences - oh, good....) and is Siri. Only, you already have Siri (and whatever Google voice is called) on the phone you probably have. Why would anyone pay $200 for this? This will probably sit with all of the unsold Fire phones.

http://techcrunch.com/2014/11/06/lets-call-the-amazon-echo-what-it-is/

Amazon version:


Parody Version (funny):



Comments

  • CharlesCharles
    Crack me up!
  • hank
    edited November 2014
    Hi Scott: You may be correct. Maybe not. Agree the technology is nothing new. We had a Ford 7 or 8 years ago with Microsoft's rudimentary voice activated "sync." Looks like this thing has multi-directional highly sensitive microphones. In time you should be able to change your thermostat settings, switch various lighting on and off, control all your home entertainment devices, send and listen to emails, operate the coffee maker, oven, etc. all from the comfort of your easy chair - or for that matter, anywhere within range of the Echo device. The highly sensitive microphone would seem to be the advantage. Has potential - if they don't get clocked by Apple and Google.

    "Hey Siri" now in IOS 8 is similar. There's nothing to prevent it's being connected to a more sensitive microphone. You say "Hey Siri" to activate. As long as device is plugged in, it works even when the device is locked. Had it plugged into the USB port on car's audio system while driving the other day and was easily able to ask & receive remaining miles to destination, stock market reports, outside temperature, weather forecast, etc. It alerted me to a new email and read the contents aloud which made me cringe. You need to disable the function in settings when not in use or it would allow anyone to access your email - even when the device is locked and seemingly password protected.

    Looks like Bezos is throwing darts at this point hoping to catch some trend and make up for losses on "Fire" phone (What an inopportune name for that device:). As far as "always listening", Apple's Siri does the same. That's why you need to be connected to use it. Your queries go first to Apple's computers where they are answered but also recorded. The recording is to further enhance the system's capabilities. Apple claims it does not know your identity and that it retains these recordings for only two years.
    --

    BTW: "Always listening" may be a bit of an overstatement. The device is "always listening" for the command phrase (Alexis) at which time it self-activates. Certainly, there is the potential for abuse with a live-mic in one's home. If running for public office or operating some type of criminal enterprise, you may not want to power up Echo.:)
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