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Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant Are Coming To Xbox One (windowscentral.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the couch-potato dept.

According to Windows Central, the Xbox One will soon support Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, which should provide a decent alternative to Kinect for controlling your console via voice commands. Microsoft stopped manufacturing the Kinect in October of last year. From the report: This picture comes to us from a reliable source who is familiar with Amazon and Microsoft's efforts to link Alexa and Cortana. In upcoming Xbox One builds, the Kinect & Devices menu should have a new "Digital Assistants" section, which lets you enable Alexa, Google Assistant, and Cortana, for use on your Xbox One. It then directs you to install the Xbox skills app for those respective platforms to get connected. The full range of features for those assistants remains unknown, but it could bring back many of the voice-assisted features abandoned Kinect users are yearning for.

29 comments

  1. Spyware by stroxor · · Score: 1

    With the constant nagging. This should be demoed at White House.

  2. Do people actually want by cdsparrow · · Score: 2

    All these voice command devices? I mean, people buy it, but after the first day of playing with it, do they actually use it?

    1. Re:Do people actually want by olsmeister · · Score: 2

      I find it more of a pain to remember what can and can't be done with voice commands, and how to ask, than it is just to manually do whatever I want to do.

    2. Re:Do people actually want by PolygamousRanchKid+ · · Score: 1

      I mean, people buy it, but after the first day of playing with it, do they actually use it?

      It doesn't matter if the people who bought it use it.

      The FBI/CIA/NSA will use it to spy on the people who bought it.

      --
      Schroedinger's Brexit: The UK is both in and out of the EU at the same time!
    3. Re:Do people actually want by Gojira+Shipi-Taro · · Score: 1, Flamebait

      Tighten up that tin foil, you paranoid maniac. And take your fucking pills.

      --
      "Oh my God. This is terrible. This is the end of my Presidency. I'm fucked."; ~ Donald J. Trump
    4. Re:Do people actually want by h33t+l4x0r · · Score: 1

      *giggle* - but yeah, they really are listening in.

    5. Re:Do people actually want by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      All these voice command devices? I mean, people buy it, but after the first day of playing with it, do they actually use it?

      I keep one in the kitchen.

      I use it for news in the morning. Music works well too if you have a spotifyesque subscription.

      It works great for managing your shopping list since you can just yell out "Add milk to the shopping list" as you notice you're running low on something.

      Setting multiple named timers is a friggin god-send. "Set a pasta timer for 10 minutes", "Set an oven timer for 20 minutes." and it lets you know which one is going off.

      Occasionally I use it to turn off Hue lights. That's really limited use, granted, but I do actually use it.

    6. Re:Do people actually want by AdeelYounas · · Score: 1

      I had the same question and there is another article on Xbox having Alexa and Google assistant and their use that do not answer this question

    7. Re: Do people actually want by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm sure they love being bored to death over my very droll and boring home life. Coupled by bouts of my wife being colorfully worded when I'm fucking her.

    8. Re: Do people actually want by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Ah the ole "but I have nothing to hide!" argument, or a variation thereof. 1.) Being Gay isn't quite a fucking bad as getting you on a watchlist these days, but it was in the 50s -- remember, times change and that includes what's worthy of hiding. 2.) You don't shit with the door open, do you? Wanting some fucking privacy isn't a crime.

    9. Re:Do people actually want by ndnet · · Score: 1
      In my house, yes. We're actually up to a number of Google Homes in my home.
      • Direct control of Philips Hue lights and Wemo/TPLink Kasa outlets is surprisingly handy.
      • Nest thermostat control is nice.
      • Streaming music from Google Play Music on demand is pretty nice.
      • The alarm/timer functions are nice when cooking.
      • My wife (a SW tester) asks it the weather in the morning so she knows whether or not to take a jacket.
      • Adding things to the shopping list is easy.

      I'm also running Home Assistant (https://www.home-assistant.io/) to try to beef it up. Some of the projects I'd like to tackle:

      • When the washer or dryer finish, announce it in rooms that have lights on.
      • Announce package deliveries via the email notifications (HA has UPS and Fedex hooks that work, but the USPS is only web-scraping, and apparently they DO ban...)
    10. Re: Do people actually want by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      (Yawn)

      I'm sorry, were you saying something of value?

    11. Re:Do people actually want by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      All this, and it plays internet radio.

      I have one in the kitchen to replace the radio my Mom likes to listen to. The radio was annoying because it's hard to tune correctly to the station, and the volume control is finicky, and then someone moves the tuner dial instead of the volume. With an echo, it's just Alexa, play.

      I have one in the bedroom instead of a clock, so I don't need to wear glasses to see the time. Alexa, what time is it? That alone is awesome. Use it as a sleep timer, or alarm clock is just bonus.

  3. The EVIL!!! by Narcocide · · Score: 1

    It's spreading!!

  4. Alexa, please find Melania by PopeRatzo · · Score: 0, Troll

    If this were an episode of Homeland, right at this moment, Melania would be in a bunker having a nice chat with Robert Mueller.

    "Can we get you something to drink, Madame First Lady? Maybe some tea?"

    "He wets the bed and sleeps in a hairnet, Bob. I can't take it any more. I'm willing to go back inside one more time, this time with a wire. But I want a team protecting me. If he puts one of those greasy little hands on me again, just take him out."

    "We can do that, Madame First Lady. And may I say, you're a lovely woman?"

    "Why Bob, I was wondering when you were going to notice. I'll take that tea now."

    --
    You are welcome on my lawn.
    1. Re:Alexa, please find Melania by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      My doctor has been quite concerned with my sodium levels for the last year. It's just that the tears of the lefties are sooo delicious.

      I didn't vote for Trump, but at times, frankly I wish I had, so that I could take even more pleasure in the unhinged derangement of those who think the way you do.

    2. Re:Alexa, please find Melania by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      My doctor has been quite concerned with my sodium levels for the last year.

      Yeah, like you have health insurance. Don't you mean your Chinese mail order fentanyl supplier?

    3. Re:Alexa, please find Melania by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Cool story, Boris.

    4. Re:Alexa, please find Melania by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You are dangerously unhinged. Please seek help.

    5. Re:Alexa, please find Melania by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hah, you're right. That does sound like something that show that parodies conspiracy theorists would do.

  5. "Hey Xbox..." by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "What is the whopper?" *smug bastard*

  6. Ads meet PRISM by AHuxley · · Score: 2

    with a mic and games.
    A full range of collect it all.

    --
    Domestic spying is now "Benign Information Gathering"
  7. Bone by dohzer · · Score: 1

    Is that the same thing as the xbone?

  8. [PROOF] Alexa is a retarded brainwashed liberal by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Alexa is a retarded brainwashed liberal.

    PROOF:
    https://youtu.be/MECcIJW67-M

  9. Why isn't Microsoft promoting Cortana? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    A Microsoft product which support multiple Voice Assistants but not their own Cortana?
    Have they realized themselves that their offering isn't competetive enough?

    Even with that in mind though, the only thing I use my voice assistant on my phone for is to set reminders, because otherwise that is hidden under more than 10 buttons so it's just because of bad UI design.

  10. Google Support by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Nice article. Very helpful. Google assistant is one of the most awaited technologies of 2018.
    Hopefully, it will come with all what people wanted out of it with no major flaws.
    If you do face any issues with any Google application or product, you can visit our website Google Support for all the tips and support available all the time.

    Thank you.

  11. As if it didn't surveil you enough already.. by Rick+Schumann · · Score: 1

    More surveillance.