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Google Home Is 6 Times More Likely To Answer Your Question Than Amazon Alexa (adweek.com)
According to software developed by New York-based 360i, Google Home is six times more likely to answer your question than Amazon Alexa -- its biggest competitor. Adweek reports: It's relatively surprising, considering that RBC Capital Markets projects Alexa will drive $10 billion of revenue to Amazon by 2020 -- not to mention the artificial intelligence-based system currently owns 70 percent of the voice market. 360i's proprietary software asked both devices 3,000 questions to come to the figure. While Amazon Alexa has shown considerable strength in retail search during the agency's research, Google won the day thanks to its unmatched search abilities.
Why are people actually buying stuff like that google box and amazons Alexia?
I keep mine in the kitchen.
Voice activation is nice when my hands are busy with other things.
While fixing breakfast: "Alexa, give me a news report."
While eating lunch: "Alexa, tell me some jokes about Donald Trump."
After cooking dinner: "Alexa, turn off the sink light."
I never will have need for such a thing
The Slashdot consensus was that every new tech product in the last decade was stupid, pointless, and doomed to failure. Google's share price would collapse right after their IPO, Facebook was another passing fad, and the iPhone would never be successful. So I doubt if Amazon cares what you think. They have a successful product and their customers are mostly happy with it.
Well, they can be convenient for certain things.
For example, the other night a friend of mine and I were going out to dinner and she suddenly asked, "What time does the restaurant close?" She immediately brought up a browser to look up the closing time. I just pulled out my iPhone, pressed a button, and said, "What time does The Fish Company close?" and had the correct answer while she was waiting for her browser to launch.
I could see the "always-on" nature being worthwhile, mostly for lists. Get up in the morning, go to brush your teeth, and notice that you're running low on toothpaste? "Hey, Alexa, add toothpaste to my shopping list." Problem solved.
Again, these things are convenient. Sure, I can look up restaurant hours in my browser. Sure, I can keep a list on a notebook--or in my phone--so that when I go to the supermarket, I can look at my list and pick up toothpaste. But it's more convenient to be able to ask the question and get the answer. And, at least among most people, convenience wins out.
How about just using the thermostat or light switch?
It might be useful if it can handle more complex queries, like "open blinds every workday from x:xx to y:yy"