The exact coverage
of voice control features haven't yet been fully revealed, but it's not hard to imagine it will at least consist of playback controls and searching.
The driver can activate an array of functions in the automobile using a new, natural
form of voice control.
However, it's a rather narrow view — there's so much more to smart speakers than impressive sound with a
side of voice control.
The feature allows the
use of voice control with Siri, or by using the car's touchscreen, or by using the knobs or buttons built into the car already, so the driver's eyes don't have to leave the road to access the features made possible with CarPlay.
«The smart home promises to be the new standard for living and Apple HomeKit is leading the way with guiding principles such as simple set up and configuration, a secure foundation, and the convenience
of voice control with Siri,» said Andy Fathollahi, Chief Executive.
It makes sense, though: the app already has some form
of voice control in place, so it seems Amazon just took all that and made it part of the Alexa ecosystem, which, coupled with bringing Alexa to Android, helps it hit two birds with one stone.
Latest infotainment system Including more detailed 3D sat - nav mapping, a greater
range of voice control functions and online concierge services.
Addresses entered with the screen can then be assigned voice keywords for later retrieval, but this is much less useful than the
level of voice control allowed by other nav systems such as Honda's.
One huge complaint against Google Now has been the lack
of voice control support for using key features: especially playback for music apps like Google Play Music or podcast apps.
«link's seamless setup and easy - to - use interface provided a catalyst for our product's explosive growth and the
addition of voice control through the Amazon Alexa platform marks the next, bold step in Blink's progression as an industry - leading home security and monitoring system.
In addition, there is an improved driving mode which supports a range
of voice control functions like automatic GPS navigation, message replying, call answering and music control.
While some reviewers noted the glaring absence
of voice controls for Spotify, a couple noticed that the speaker can't make calls for you.
The infotainment system can additionally be operated via the touchpad with controller (new: haptic feedback) in the center console or by
means of voice control.
Alexa can already control your Fire TV to help you launch Netflix or find your favorite show, among other things, but today Amazon is announcing a new tool for developers that will allow any cable and satellite TV company, streaming service or other content provider to add the same
sort of voice control to their apps, as well.
Previous job listings said that Spotify wants to create a «category defining product akin to Pebble Watch, Amazon Echo, and Snap Spectacles» and suggested the
inclusion of voice control features.
Of course, since the effect is accomplished through an Amazon Alexa Skill, users will need to enable the skill in order to take advantage
of the voice controls through Amazon's Echo device.
The Amazon Echo, released in 2014, has become immensely popular and capable, awakening users to the
utility of both voice control and smart home devices.
We analyze the factors driving demand for smart home devices and smart home voice speakers, and discuss the
future of voice control in the home.
Kinect may be more novel and theoretically more convenient, but to paraphrase Joe, it only takes a few
hiccups of the voice controls before you go back to the old standby with buttons, because at least that option never fails.
JaguarVoiceTM, meanwhile, offers the driver the
option of voice control for functions including audio, CD and TV, satellite navigation, telephone, climate control, and display and memory functions.
The
bulk of the voice controlled actions pulls up listings from Amazon Instant Video, which excludes every country in the world other than the US and UK.
I believe SSML is also supported, but it's not the custom flavour of EPUB and we weren't getting to that level
of voice control so I couldn't tell you much about how to do it (we were only trying to make the worst offenses legible).
The release of Amazon Echo was a significant development in the next
stage of voice control that integrated voice recognition software to otherwise unconnected accounts and devices — making the «smart» homes and offices of the future no longer a distant reality.
Another
foible of voice control with Siri is a prickliness to the naming schemes when setting up devices in rooms and groups, and the precise and rigid language needed to later control them should be far more flexible at this point.
For sources that don't work directly with Chromecast, such as iTunes, you can stream them from your smartphone or other device over Bluetooth (although that also defeats the
purpose of the voice control).
Amazon hasn't made a big deal of its latest smart - speaker feature, but it's an extremely interesting development for anyone who's been thinking about how playlists evolve in a
world of voice control.
With HomeKit, you'll also be able take advantage
of voice control via Siri, as well as control all of your devices via Apple's Home app.
Amazon landed with a splash in the smart home space, the Echo smart speaker opening our eyes to the
potential of voice control, and Alexa hasn't stopped accelerating since.
The biggest developments have come with the widespread
adoption of voice control, with Amazon's Echo family way out in front in terms of new products and third - party support.
We're also seeing new tech like wearables and car - related security integrations fighting for a stake in the smart home, as well as an increasing
number of voice control integrations with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit and Google Home.
Outside of the voice controls, there will be an intelligent camera feature that can identify real - world objects and point you to relevant information like links to purchase stuff on Amazon or cool places to visit near the landmark you just snapped.
Amazon Echo is another standout in this regard, providing proof of concept for the
role of voice control in the smart home of tomorrow.
For the UK specifically, 54 % of adults expected to further increase their
usage of voice control this year because 46 % have discovered new applications and uses, 25 % have found it fun and engaging, and 26 % have invested in associated smart home technology they can control using their voice.
But the phone also has its own
set of voice controls, which lets you make quick calls (just hold down the volume down button and call out the name of the person you wish to call), make or reject calls (simply say «answer call» or «reject call»), and there's our favourite, the Voice Wakeup, which lets you not just wake up your phone by saying «Dear Honor» but also locate it — simply say «Dear Honor, where are you.»
The
proliferation of voice controls is so rampant that we already have voice - activated trash cans, which basically means that the capabilities required for this «new» communication method are already built into the latest gadgets for the home.
«I think this
idea of voice control is really going to accelerate this whole market, and I think Amazon is very much ahead,» said Victoria Petrock, an analyst at eMarketer, a technology research firm.
The
introduction of voice control — with Amazon Echo and Alexa technology and the slower - to - market Apple HomeKit certified products — signals a new era in device interfaces.
It has a 0.6» tweeter and does not include the same room - filling sound as its big brother, though has the same seven microphone voice pick - up, and, of course, the exact same Alexa intelligence without any
diminishment of the voice control experience.