Amazon Echo
Amazon Echo sounds interesting. It would be great if this could be used as a controller for Sonos.
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Short answer is if you are controlling something attached to your house then the controller should be attached as well... or at least in close proximity. The last thing you want is to not be able to control something because somebody grabbed the primary controller and took it with them to the grocery store or whatever.
For people who always carry a smart device on their person (no not everybody does) then having that as an option to act as a secondary controller can be very handy but there always needs to be a primary controller that stays close to the thing being controlled. Ideally that primary controller will be voice activated.
The other side of that is having to have a static device in every room. Tablets, phones and you name it can have a Sonos controller. I use an old phone and a cheap tablet as remote controls in addition to apps on everything else.
Your primary controller can be any device. That a static voice control may be a preferred method does not by its nature make it ideal and/or robust (especially if it relies on internet access) until it can control everything you want it to control. That does not mean that the desire is not a valid wish list item.
Echo is currently a restricted device which has spawned two further devices. Which of these will be dominant. Will it create any "standards". Does Amazon support its own devices? When will it, and what, roll out globally. These are the crucial questions and actions to see any "pie in the sky" wish become more firmly grounded. What mobile developments are there for automation? What other devices are there? The big manufacturers haven't joined the party yet who will have devices to sell rather than content.
That Echo has, on its home turf, been very succesful and no doubt it will repeat that elsewhere. Whilst there is the element that Sonos needs to keep up with developments rather ignores the opposite premise that Echo not only needs to keep up with itself but to continue to lead - an area Amazon has not shown itself to be very good at, after all it only wants to sell you content - and drive automation. But that has not yet been found in any Amazon product. Content vs devices. Meanwhile the competition looms. Even in the face of competition does Amazon really care provided you continue to buy music etc that will integrate with whatever you buy.
Your primary controller can be any device. That a static voice control may be a preferred method does not by its nature make it ideal and/or robust (especially if it relies on internet access) until it can control everything you want it to control. That does not mean that the desire is not a valid wish list item.
Echo is currently a restricted device which has spawned two further devices. Which of these will be dominant. Will it create any "standards". Does Amazon support its own devices? When will it, and what, roll out globally. These are the crucial questions and actions to see any "pie in the sky" wish become more firmly grounded. What mobile developments are there for automation? What other devices are there? The big manufacturers haven't joined the party yet who will have devices to sell rather than content.
That Echo has, on its home turf, been very succesful and no doubt it will repeat that elsewhere. Whilst there is the element that Sonos needs to keep up with developments rather ignores the opposite premise that Echo not only needs to keep up with itself but to continue to lead - an area Amazon has not shown itself to be very good at, after all it only wants to sell you content - and drive automation. But that has not yet been found in any Amazon product. Content vs devices. Meanwhile the competition looms. Even in the face of competition does Amazon really care provided you continue to buy music etc that will integrate with whatever you buy.
Sonos CEO's response - http://blog.sonos.com/news/industry-in-transition-invest-in-future
Userlevel 1
+1
Very good news to hear! So the new microphones added to Play:5 gen 2 can mean an Alexa in every room with a sonos. Also, I think with true play, the mics might help tune themselves like I believe Bose does with home theater.
Download the Yonomi app. Echo now controls Sonos.
its been two months, any update Sonos on when official sonos/echo integration is coming?
You must be joking! Do you have ANY idea how long it takes just to ramp up an integration project of this scope, much less get it funded, designed, developed, tested, documented, deployed, etc? I don't think so... Maybe six months from now.
1) Sonos never gives timelines, release dates, or detailed roadmaps. The next time you hear about this will be the public beta.
2) Even if Sonos did do #1, you should familiarize yourself with the average software development cycle. A large scale revamp such as this is at the very least a 6 month development course, preceded by at least that number of months planning (which may or may not have taken place already). Nothing major gets done in 2 months in the software world. Matter of fact, the vast majority of the time, nothing minor gets done in 2 months; if you actually want it to be tested and release worthy.
Patience grasshopper. Patience.
1) Sonos never gives timelines, release dates, or detailed roadmaps. The next time you hear about this will be the public beta.
2) Even if Sonos did do #1, you should familiarize yourself with the average software development cycle. A large scale revamp such as this is at the very least a 6 month development course, preceded by at least that number of months planning (which may or may not have taken place already). Nothing major gets done in 2 months in the software world. Matter of fact, the vast majority of the time, nothing minor gets done in 2 months; if you actually want it to be tested and release worthy.
Patience grasshopper. Patience.
thats funny you mention SDLC. i actually have been developing software for the better part of 25 years so i get timelines, patience, etc.
i would hope sonos was well along the path of a release before their CEO's public blog post and the revamping of the organization.
they have already said its coming, they should have a timeline, a plan, a schedule.
i will take your point though of patience and hope that sonos does a really nice integration with echo and its worth the wait.
Amazon only just announced availability of AVS to third party devices on March 23rd of this year. Two months ago. Assuming Sonos uses it, they've barely had time to assess the offering, start talks with Amazon, and maybe get a few developers trained on its use. A long, long road ahead...
Do we even know if they are going to add Alexa to the Sonos (using internal mic), or create a skill? I'm crossing my fingers for a skill, I don't see Sonos catching up with Echo's special mics in time to catch this falling knife.
The way the CEO worded it a while back, it gave me the feeling that decision to adopt Echo was fairly recent. Just my interpretation of his words.
I agree, 2 months is ridiculously short for anything. But if they are only developing a skill, it should be fairly straightforward. A couple people have already created json custom skills, doesn't seem to be that tough, but needs a server.
One big issue I see, and maybe I am completely missing something here, is that I think for an Echo Skill to work with Sonos, they will need some kind of hub on the local network (or software running on local computer). Sonos speakers, unlike many other IoT devices, are not accessible from the internet (a good and bad thing). They do not maintain a connection with 'home base', and are only accessible when the app scans the local network to see what it finds. I'm pretty sure Alexa skills needs a combination of the cloud, plus an IoT devices reachable from the cloud to send commands to. Please correct me if I am wrong.
The way the CEO worded it a while back, it gave me the feeling that decision to adopt Echo was fairly recent. Just my interpretation of his words.
I agree, 2 months is ridiculously short for anything. But if they are only developing a skill, it should be fairly straightforward. A couple people have already created json custom skills, doesn't seem to be that tough, but needs a server.
One big issue I see, and maybe I am completely missing something here, is that I think for an Echo Skill to work with Sonos, they will need some kind of hub on the local network (or software running on local computer). Sonos speakers, unlike many other IoT devices, are not accessible from the internet (a good and bad thing). They do not maintain a connection with 'home base', and are only accessible when the app scans the local network to see what it finds. I'm pretty sure Alexa skills needs a combination of the cloud, plus an IoT devices reachable from the cloud to send commands to. Please correct me if I am wrong.
Well, Amazon has certainly entered the wireless speaker market with a bang.
http://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-echo-speaker-sales-beats-bose-and-logitech-2016-1
https://www.1010data.com/company/blog/can-you-hear-me-now-the-surprising-success-of-the-amazon-echo/
http://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-echo-speaker-sales-beats-bose-and-logitech-2016-1
https://www.1010data.com/company/blog/can-you-hear-me-now-the-surprising-success-of-the-amazon-echo/
Since Amazon famously never releases sales figures on anything it manufactures, take that chart with a grain of salt. I've seen market analysis that had Amazon Fire tablets outselling iPads, and other market analysis where they were trailing Chinese tablet manufacturers. Not coincidentally, the premise behind each article (pretty much "Amazon takes over tablet industry" vs. "Amazon tablet division in big trouble") exactly matched the market "analysis".
Had enough Best Buy points to pick up an Echo for $5 this morning.
Addressing the sound quality first: it's about on part with my Squeezebox Radio, which is to say far below a room-corrected Play:1. About as expected.
Went through a couple of voice training sessions from across the room. I listen to a lot of French, Spanish, Portuguese, etc music, so Alexa has a tough time understanding artist names, but when she finally does, this can be affirmed in the app. Will take some time.
I don't have Spotify account, so am currently limited to Tunein or Pandora, and a few Amazon albums, on Echo. Annoyingly, Alexa seems to want to search I Heart Radio, which I've never used, by default, even though I haven't enabled an account there. I have to specifically mention Pandora or Tunein to play from either. Maybe there's a way to change the default, but I don't see how. No Apple Music, Google Music, SoundCloud, MixCloud, or most other places where I have accounts and can access via Sonos.
Hooked it up with Yonomi to control my Sonos devices. Let's just say that this process isn't up to Sonos levels of simplicity.
Looking forward to Sonos adding voice control, which will no doubt "just work", certainly better than Alexa +Yonomi.
For things like weather and traffic, pretty cool. For music, meh, very limited do far. I'll continue using the Sonos app for music until Alexa is smarter, or Sonos does voice control much better, as I expect they will.
Addressing the sound quality first: it's about on part with my Squeezebox Radio, which is to say far below a room-corrected Play:1. About as expected.
Went through a couple of voice training sessions from across the room. I listen to a lot of French, Spanish, Portuguese, etc music, so Alexa has a tough time understanding artist names, but when she finally does, this can be affirmed in the app. Will take some time.
I don't have Spotify account, so am currently limited to Tunein or Pandora, and a few Amazon albums, on Echo. Annoyingly, Alexa seems to want to search I Heart Radio, which I've never used, by default, even though I haven't enabled an account there. I have to specifically mention Pandora or Tunein to play from either. Maybe there's a way to change the default, but I don't see how. No Apple Music, Google Music, SoundCloud, MixCloud, or most other places where I have accounts and can access via Sonos.
Hooked it up with Yonomi to control my Sonos devices. Let's just say that this process isn't up to Sonos levels of simplicity.
Looking forward to Sonos adding voice control, which will no doubt "just work", certainly better than Alexa +Yonomi.
For things like weather and traffic, pretty cool. For music, meh, very limited do far. I'll continue using the Sonos app for music until Alexa is smarter, or Sonos does voice control much better, as I expect they will.
+20
Interesting to see a licensed third part product...
http://www.invoxia.com/triby/
http://www.invoxia.com/triby/
More tick box pain for sonos, makes sonos look like a 10 year old product....
Why? Sonos has announced it is working on voice control. No other multi-room system has even announced this functionality, Sonos is the first. In what way could these facts make Sonos "look like a 10 year old product"? Seems to me they are ahead of the game, not behind.
Userlevel 7
+22
http://www.invoxia.com/triby/
I think they might regret naming this thing after one of the most infamously annoying Star Trek creatures (Tribble for those under 35!)
Download AnyMote (Android - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.remotefairy4 or iOS -https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/anymote-smart-remote/id881829455?mt=8), select pair with Wi-Fi device, and pair it with your Sonos. Then, connect the AnyMote skill to Alexa. It will allow you to control Sonos speakers with Alexa.
Yes, Anymote and Yonomi both allow very limited on/off control of Sonos devices from Alexa. Existing playlists, volume control too, at least via Yonomi.
No ability to search, though, which the Sonos voice control will no doubt include.
No ability to search, though, which the Sonos voice control will no doubt include.
Josh.ai will let users control Sonos using the Amazon Echo. It accepts commands like a song title. I attached a video below that shows the voice commands.
The Sonos part is at 1 minute and 43 seconds
The Sonos part is at 1 minute and 43 seconds
The Sonos part is at 1 minute and 43 seconds
That's sound great video Josh.ai!
There are plenty of Amazon Alexa commands those make easier to use Echo or Echo Dot devices. Just say “Alexa – and command” to act. Check out some command here https://www.megebyte.com/list-of-alexa-commands-for-amazon-echo/
Userlevel 1
Given the echo itself is a music player I can't very well see them allowing it to control a rival device such as Sonos.
+3
I just saw this too. It's certainly a glimpse of the future, and I love it if I could use one to control my Sonos'!
http://gizmodo.com/amazons-echo-might-be-its-most-important-product-in-yea-1655513291
Surely Amazon will need it to control other home devices for it to be successful; they don't make enough products themselves for it to allow good home automation without allowing it to control other devices, and it shouldn't be too difficult to implement if devices already have apps to do it.
You never know....fingers crossed here!
Unfortunately I've already been told by my wife that we're not allowed one that has Scarlet Johannsen's voice! 😞
http://gizmodo.com/amazons-echo-might-be-its-most-important-product-in-yea-1655513291
Surely Amazon will need it to control other home devices for it to be successful; they don't make enough products themselves for it to allow good home automation without allowing it to control other devices, and it shouldn't be too difficult to implement if devices already have apps to do it.
You never know....fingers crossed here!
Unfortunately I've already been told by my wife that we're not allowed one that has Scarlet Johannsen's voice! 😞
Userlevel 1
I've not seen any suggestion from anywhere (including the Amazon video) that they're interested in home automation with this, I don't think that's the point of it.
+3
No, but there's no reason it couldn't. It'll be pretty dull if all it ends up being is a hands free Siri.
Userlevel 3
+1
It is not the future, it is just another way to buy Amazon stuff.
Apart from that: how is a hardware device in this category useful when it is fixed (by electricity cable) in one room?
Apart from that: how is a hardware device in this category useful when it is fixed (by electricity cable) in one room?
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