Google Chirp To Rival Amazon Echo

An anonymous reader writes: Google is working on a competitor to the Amazon Echo, the smart speaker that has proved to be a sleeper hit for Amazon. The device, which will resemble an OnHub router, has not been officially named yet but is internally known as the Chirp. It has long been suspected that Google was working on a voice-controlled speaker that could integrate with Nest, since Google acquired Nest two years ago. While the Chirp isn't ready for release at next week's Google I/O developer conference, it will most likely receive honorable mention as the conference will highlight voice control, personal assistance, and virtual reality.

Comments

Sleeper hit?

[BitZtream]

What? Sleeper hit? I don't know anyone that owns one outside of my office, the one we have in the office is for testing and it sucks. I hear them talking to it all the time and continually repeating themselves trying to get it to figure out what they actually mean.

Voice 'activation' or 'recognition' SUCKS currently. These types of devices ride a VERY SHORT hype train just like Siri did, and then no one at all cares. I suspect that the general public doesn't give a flying fucking about any voice recognition anymore.

Now tell me ... WHY DO I NEED a voice controlled speaker to integrate with my thermostat and fire alarm ... two things that I NEVER touch. You set the temp and you leave it, it heats or cools the house as needed, if you have a good thermostat (note, the Nest devices are actually pretty shitty as far as 'smart devices' go.) it has sensors in each room that detects occupancy and temp and adjusts the temp based on the rooms people are in.

No one cares about voice recognition in its current, almost absolutely useless state. Its nothing more than a broken toy. The only people who are telling you Amazon has a 'hit' is Amazon.

Stop slashvertising and get a cluepon. Echo isn't impressive, if you can find anyone with one of these 'sleeper hits' for more than a week, ask them how much they use it ... and then I dare you to find me the person who doesn't regret wasting the money after the first month is over.