Best Smart Speakers: Experience the power of Alexa or Siri
To me there are 2 devices now in smart speaker; HomePod by Apple and Echo by Amazon.
The HomePod speaker will provide a wireless audio experience with voice control from Siri. With the HomePod, Apple is promising not only a premium sound experience, but also the kind of voice-control that will throw down the gauntlet to Amazon's cheaper Echo series.
The speaker will work with Apple Music and features are set to include smart home integration, voice messaging and, ultimately, multi-room audio.
HomePod will be release on the 8th of February, 2018 with price from $349. The HomePod will be the first smart speaker powered by Siri, Apple's voice and smartphone assistant, presenting a big challenge to the company to prove its virtual assistant can compete with the fast-moving Amazon Alexa and Google's Assistant.
The HomePod will not work with Android devices. Compatible devices will include: iPhone 5s or later, iPad Pro, iPad Air or later, iPad mini 2 or later and iPod touch (6th generation).
Amazon Echo (shortened and referred to as Echo) is a brand of smart speakers developed by Amazon. The devices connect to the voice-controlled intelligent personal assistant service Alexa, which responds to the name "Alexa". This "wake word" can be changed by the user to "Amazon", "Echo" or "Computer". The device is capable of voice interaction, music playback, making to-do lists, setting alarms, streaming podcasts, playing audiobooks, and providing weather, traffic and other real-time information. It can also control several smart devices using itself as a home automation hub.
Using Alexa is as simple as asking a question. Just ask to play music, read the news, control your smart home, tell a joke, and more—Alexa will respond instantly. Whether you are at home or on the go, Alexa is designed to make your life easier by letting you voice-control your world. Alexa lives in the cloud so it’s always getting smarter, and updates are delivered automatically. The more you talk to Alexa, the more it adapts to your speech patterns, vocabulary, and personal preferences. Alexa comes included with Echo and other Alexa devices.
Amazon Echo price ranging from $49 upward and will work with Android and other devices. The flexibility is always there.
