Big hoopla about voice control

They use it to set a timer and ask about the weather.

Too funny! I do those things also on my phone and I don't know why it would better to do them verbally.

Good points, particularly about younger users. I use my Dots for lights, temperature control (Ecobee), door control (August) and a bunch of other things. And I amaze my friends in Brasil by telling Alexa to turn on lights in my place in Canada while they watch a video feed of the Canadian living room, lol. For that kind of stuff, I love Dots.

That is amazing, however again I question: Why is it better to do this via voice command when it is already possible via buttons / screen on any type of controller device? I'm just curious (or maybe I'm the boring guy:-))

it feels more "natural" to speak than process and coordinate iterative tasks with your eyes/ hands which also require you pause all other activities/ perception while you do that.
That one sec task turns into a 10 sec one because you don't find the Clock app, is it in this folder, I could have sworn I had it on the 2d page here...

I know, I know....

Perhaps people enjoy bossing another person/ persona around.
Can you imagine if Siri had a sultry voice (I wish it did, I'd ask her about the weather).... lol

Thanks to all for your insightful replies. It looks like it isn't really NECESSARY to do all those things via a voice interface, but it seems that at this point it is more about the "coolness" / novelty factor than a real need... at least that's my gist of things so far.

This is all about behavioral experiments. The tech companies are in a unique and powerful position to influence entire populations on several levels.

Not only because they have our data.
The smartphone usage has impacted the way people feel, stand, (don't) interact with others etc, in the markets where its use is preponderant.

Ditto with voice. It's just a matter of time. It will be everywhere once it gets really good. It's in its infancy now.

We are not a good sample. We are on a tech related forum.

I bet people were asking the same thing when digital clocks started showing up. There are still people out there that don't see the point of smart phones. In some ways the 'life improvement' is so small that you have to ask if it matters. It may not matter now, but it also could be step towards something that really will matter.

In my case it's probably pertinent to mention that I've been fascinated by technology from childhood through what is now middle age. I'll be the first to acknowledge that there may not be any real "need" for many of the gadgets I currently own or have purchased in the past. Just, I suppose, as there is no real "need" for music or television. However, I derive pleasure from experimenting with new technology, and an equal amount of pleasure in investing the time to understand how it works. I was around when computers were new technology, and when the Internet emerged (and long before either). Thanks to an inquisitive nature, and the occasional professional purpose, I'm one of the small percentage of the population who knows more about tech, networks and internet-related matters than their kids or their neighbours' grandkids. What starts as a novelty often morphs into useful knowledge. I'm sure there are plenty like me in this group. As for music...well my children (now grown) will probably tell you I know nothing, lol. But, then again, they grew up where I didn't. Their home is Brasil, my childhood home was Canada.

Ditto with voice. It's just a matter of time. It will be everywhere once it gets really good. It's in its infancy now.

I agree.

But I can also see immediate uses for voice - when cooking with both hands in the mixing bowl for example. Or for people with disabilities. Even today, I suspect an Echo in a not too large kitchen is a better idea than Sonos if Amazon Music caters to all if the user's listening preferences, which it probably does.

I too was surprised when Sonos had its Iceberg dead ahead moment a year or so ago about voice. Someone then pointed me to the Echo sales numbers and review count on Amazon that was an order of magnitude higher than that for play 1 that is the highest selling speaker in the Sonos range.

I still think that just voice control for music is a gimmick, but could be very useful if part of a home control environment that has voice as an active element. The other thing is that while many of us here will disagree, many already find the sound quality of Echo to be perfectly adequate and given a choice between a play 1 of today, pick it for its feature set.

I for one was an early adopter of the Echo Dot as I saw potential to integrate it into my Sonos system through line in. However the work arounds I had to do to get it working the way I liked in the rooms I wanted was inconvenient. I was elated to hear of proper integration between Alexa and Sonos.

In any event I too became a bit skeptical of the eventual impact of voice control to the average Sonos user. Particularly after playing around with the echo dot for several months now. I think the typical Sonos user has a profile. We are deep music lovers - we are explorers. In light if this I think Alexa is not going to fundamentally alter the way we interact with Sonos. The kind of engagement I fundamentally want with my music cannot be done with voice control. Voice control will allow for great convenience in certain settings and essentially with your "favourites". I want to explore new artists, playlists, stations etc. The Sonos app is a much better place to do that. The tactile and visual is more appropriate.

Also it still feels a bit unnatural for me to speak to a device. I honestly think it's the sci-fi coolness of voice control that enraptures all of us. It just seems like something we must try and experience. I am just skeptical on its real value within the context of truly engaged music fans.

I think it's better in the overall context of how it's marketed by Amazon as an assistant for all life's routine things. Making them easier. But as ppl have already mentioned clearly there is HIGH excitement about its integration into Sonos. Excitement like we have never seeen. I just think it wouldn't have the impact we expect from a music exploration standpoint.

I tend in the same direction; IMO there is a Sonos user whose requirements are different from those that buy the Echo/Show. I doubt that the Alexa integration of 2017 will do much to change that state of affairs on either side. Perhaps as or if it gets deeper over time, this may happen.