“More details on Apple’s anticipated standalone Siri speaker have emerged, suggesting the device could look similar in some ways to the company’s cylindrical Mac Pro desktop, and could be released as soon as WWDC in June,” Neil Hughes reports for AppleInsider.
“Details about the purported device were shared by leaker Sonny Dickson with reporter Jen Ryall, who shared the information via Twitter,” Hughes reports. “It was said that the Amazon Echo competitor will have a concave top with physical controls on top.”
“Below that, the device is expected to have a speaker mesh portion covering the body of the device,” Hughes reports. “Fans anticipating the hardware should ‘think Mac Pro style,’ borrowing its concave top, Ryall wrote.”
More claims from @SonnyDickson on Apple's Alexa competitor:
– Think Mac Pro style.
– Same style UE boom mesh.
– Possible release WWDC.
2/2— Jen Ryall (@jennijenni) April 28, 2017
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Bring it on!
Some prior commentary:
Something along the lines of Amazon Echo is what Apple should have done if run by competent, forward-thinking management. When Apple finally does do their version of Amazon Echo (and they will get around to doing such a product eventually) they will rightly be called a follower. The company had all of the ingredients to make their own Echo, before Amazon, except for the vision, it seems. — MacDailyNews, March 29, 2016
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There could be a psychological component to this that leads people use Alexa over Siri precisely because they know the Echo is there (it’s a physical object), but forget about Siri being everywhere, even on their wrists (because Siri is embedded inside devices that are “for other things” in the user’s mind (telling time, watching TV, computing, phone calls, etc.) and therefore “hidden” to the user. Hence, Siri gets forgotten and goes unused while people use Alexa…
Again: We believe people use Alexa because Amazon Echo is a physical manifestation of “her,” while forgetting about Siri even though she’s on their wrists at all times and/or in their iPhones and iPads because Siri is hidden inside objects whose primary function is something other than “personal assistant” in people’s minds (watch, TV, phone or tablet, as opposed to “Siri.”) Alexa is present thanks to the Amazon Echo. Siri is absent because she has no such counterpart; no physical manifestation.
Siri is a ghost. Alexa is that cool, fun, glowing tube right there on the counter.
Apple would do well to not discount the psychology behind why people use certain features, even though cold, hard logic tells them it’s a redundant and unnecessary product.
An “Apple Echo” device would sell in the millions of units per quarter and boost Siri usage immensely. — MacDailyNews, June 15, 2016
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Wi-Fi router capabilities to be built into Apple’s Echo echo? — MacDailyNews, November 21, 2016
SEE ALSO:
Apple said to be working on a Siri-based Amazon Echo rival – April 27, 2017
Apple’s Amazon Echo echo: What if AirPort Extreme becomes the Siri speaker? – December 1, 2016
Apple abandons development of wireless routers – November 21, 2016
Apple’s Amazon Echo echo – September 26, 2016
Apple’s Amazon Echo rival said to include includes built-in cameras to read users’ emotions, recognize faces – September 23, 2016
Apple’s Siri-powered Amazon Echo-like device reportedly now in prototype testing – September 23, 2016
Why an ‘Apple Echo’ would be a hit – June 15, 2016
New Apple TV to take on Amazon’s Echo, source says – May 26, 2016
Apple preps Amazon Echo rival, opening up Siri – May 24, 2016
Apple should make a stationary voice command device like Amazon’s Echo – May 19, 2016
Google unveils its Amazon Echo knockoff called ‘Google Home’ – May 18, 2016
Where’s Apple’s answer to Amazon Echo? – March 31, 2016
Amazon Echo leads mindshare in smart home platform war – February 29, 2016
Why did Apple buy a startup whose tech can read emotions via facial recognition?/a> – January 7, 2016
Apple buys Emotient, maker of artificial-intelligence tech that reads emotion by analyzing facial expressions – January 7, 2016
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Dan K.” for the heads up.]
So Apple can take all the unsold Pros, rip out the guts and put in Echo like tech.
What else you going to do with all the unsold units? Repackage them and spin it to something else of course.
And then Apple can make believe that its users FINALLY have a new Mac Pro. LOL.
I am starting the rumor Apple is contracting out their R&D to MDN because the current bunch couldn’t pour water out of a boot with the instructions on the heel.
you say: “Something along the lines of Amazon Echo is what Apple should have done if run by competent, forward-thinking management.” – why do you say that? when has apple ever been first to something? They do much better when they see what’s out there and do it in a better way.
Because they had Siri years before anyone else had their knockoffs, perchance?
“Knockoffs” are inferior copies. It’s hard to compare Siri to its competition and keep a straight face while saying that.
Your standard labeling of non-Apple alternatives as “inferior copies” just doesn’t hold water anymore. I still prefer MacOS (in most ways, and enough to stick with it so far – if the Mac lines are revived at least).
But when it comes to products like Siri, the head to heads I’ve seen on Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri aren’t always kind to Siri.
Jus’ saying. Bring the proof if you want people who bang on comparative products to accept that you’ve got the truth.
And yeah, yeah, yeah, Google and Amazon have your info (the better to both serve and market to you). But for anything that’s one the web, c’mon, don’t kid yourself… ….what determined enough party doesn’t or can’t get chunks….?
I guess my point was vague. I meant in a round about way that saying the competition to Siri are knock-offs without laughing is a challenge. I am well aware that Siri does only one thing well, chatting you up. Everything else useful falls to Google and Amazon. If only Apple hadn’t lobotimized Siri in the name of security when they bought ‘her’ from her creators, iPhones would have an assistant that at least would stand shoulder to shoulder with Alexa and Google Assistant.
Answered already, as so:
“The company had all of the ingredients to make their own Echo, before Amazon, except for the vision, it seems.” — MacDailyNews, March 29, 2016
Tim Cook is a caretaker CEO.
Apple was first with iPhone and iPad style devices. Then everyone copied their style. Typically Apple comes up with the idea, the press releases details about the device before Apple can release it giving their competition time to rush something to market to be the “FIRST” and Apple releases their product which is always better than their junk.
Apple TV is a clear example of where Apple is notably inferior to the other junk.
Seldom does the second entrant to a market understand what they are doing any more than the inventor. Especially when you have Ive and Cue and Dre on the team.
“…is what Apple should have done if run by competent, forward-thinking management.” I am so glad MDN is not running Apple. While not perfect, Apple doesn’t need to be first in order to make a breakthrough device. Apple has been doing a lot in the AI and machine learning field and have been buying companies in those areas. Apple will want to nail this type of device by being powerful, easy to use and secure and private. Sometimes it take time in order to make an amazing product and Apple not have the need to “be first” is something that I think in the end makes their products better. (Most of the time). 😉
Echo and Alexa are built to feed personal data to amazon and google – another form of “you are the product”. Where is the use case for this thing?
I may have been the first to call it the trashcan. My proof is out there. Proud.
Siri isn’t even close to Alexa. The product will be god awful unfortunately.
Under Tim Cook, Apple has become a “Me too!!!” company.
You mean like since the 1984 Mac? Apple has always been about seeing other’s efforts and building their own unique take on it, usually to other’s market or profit detriment. You don’t have to be first, just best. Most innovation and invention is on the backs of others before you. And what is Siri, Alexa, etc. but inspired from Hollywood science fiction movies? Flip phones inspired by Star Trek? Auto-opening doors also inspired by Star Trek. It’s a beautiful thing.
It will be copied item, put high price tag of $250 or so. Sad state of affairs at apple. To bring Siri and then abandon it was shame.
While Apple tries to compete with the Pringle’s can version Amazon is moving on:
https://www.digitalcommerce360.com/2017/04/26/amazon-turns-alexa-style-assistant-new-echo-look-device/
Please Apple. Don’t just imitate. No ‘trash can’ designs. No ‘air freshener’ designs. No fake robot head designs.
How about something seriously artistic, like this:
Siri and Alexa can asnwer very basic queries like, “how is the weather?”, but when it comes to slightly more complex knowledge and context Alexa is far superior.
Here is a recent side-by-side test of the two voice assistants:
For Apple to compete in the knowledgeable speaker space Siri has to get MUCH better.
Both sucked. The world is in a downward spiral if the most important tech sales are for devices to which one is supposed to ask, ‘ tell me a joke’.
I find it hard to understand why anyone would want to ask such a vague question about the stock market either. Voice tech is just horrible at displaying the many aspects and layers of data any real investors would need.
Finally– I don’t trust either database. Amazon assembled its knowledge from shoppers and Apple relies heavily on Wikipedia for everything.
One could do better with the Wikipanion app on your iPhone.
I figured they would look like Airport Extremes