Amazon Alexa vs Google Home
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Soldato
We went for Amazon. Got a couple of dots and an echo show. We bought our V1 Show more or less when it was released as it was discounted when buying 2. Ones at my in-laws so they can see /speak to our daughter on a regular basis. As for smart home integration we're only using it for hue lights and nursery camera.
Caporegime
2 Google homes and a mini.
I can't same I'm massively impressed. They do all lighting voice controls ok, I love speaker group, I stream radio 4 with ease, big deal for me. 50% of the time though I get the sorry I don't understand bs. It's probably due to Sweden not rolling out super good yet.
It's hard to teach yourself to use voice commands but we are getting there.
I can't same I'm massively impressed. They do all lighting voice controls ok, I love speaker group, I stream radio 4 with ease, big deal for me. 50% of the time though I get the sorry I don't understand bs. It's probably due to Sweden not rolling out super good yet.
It's hard to teach yourself to use voice commands but we are getting there.
I've got a few Dots and an Echo. I mainly use them as a glorified audio system to play the radio and music from Plex. I have Hue lights so control them via Alexa and use them to add things to the shopping list when I think of them. I've only ever bought them when they've been on offer and the Dots are £25 again at the moment so might grab another. I recently mounted a Dot in the ceiling in the bathroom to hook up to the speakers there which is great when in the shower.
Soldato
Home is a pile of crap. I've had mine since last year August I think and it is a typical mish mash Google product that breaks half the time due to ever evolving Google beta software.
I use mine to control my household Hue lighting. Whilst it can do that well enough. The software app is just a cluster duck of settings buried under settings - even after the latest app revamp.
Voice detection on mine has been dreadful from day one, with my wife and I having to shout out loud when the TV is on. Lastly OK Google as an actuation is beyond irritating - wish it could be changed but maybe Google will implement that at some point when they realise their product is a mess.
Conversation mode still doesn't work in the UK either frustratingly enough so repeatedly saying OK Google to tell it to do a chain of commands is a headache.
I've been tempted by the £24 2018 Echo Dot on Amazon but a few mates have told me they're hardly that good either. I'm stuck.
I use mine to control my household Hue lighting. Whilst it can do that well enough. The software app is just a cluster duck of settings buried under settings - even after the latest app revamp.
Voice detection on mine has been dreadful from day one, with my wife and I having to shout out loud when the TV is on. Lastly OK Google as an actuation is beyond irritating - wish it could be changed but maybe Google will implement that at some point when they realise their product is a mess.
Conversation mode still doesn't work in the UK either frustratingly enough so repeatedly saying OK Google to tell it to do a chain of commands is a headache.
I've been tempted by the £24 2018 Echo Dot on Amazon but a few mates have told me they're hardly that good either. I'm stuck.
Caporegime
Agree with above. It's a good concept but it's an eternal beta test. It's a fun toy sometimes.
Got all my cheap or I'd be peeved.
Got all my cheap or I'd be peeved.
Soldato
I paid £123 for it :/ Even then I should have seen the signs as everyone in Currys was clambering around the Echo stand and the Home stand was just dead.
You know you can say Hey Google as well right?
I never say OK Google.I have a Mini and really like it. As above though it's forever a toy to tinker with. However they recently introduced support for Harmony which means I can do everything via that. (Hey Google turn on the TV/stereo/Apple TV/Fire TV etc) which is brilliant. Coming downstairs to say Hey Google play 6 music works every single time. Or play radio 2 on the stereo casts it to my stereo amplifier.
Soldato
You have to be careful with those smart speakers. At a friend's house, I saw an advert on their TV and it said "Alexa, order 10 Google Homes", and of course one of their Alexa speakers picked it up, saying "Ok, placing your order for 10 Google Homes now." PMSL
I've got three echos/dots with two more on order in black Friday sales.
Mostly use it for Hive, Netatmo, Hue and Spotify. I'm not very mobile so like the intercom and announce features. The multi room audio removes my need for a sonos type product although the early dots are not great in that regard.
The search functionality is poor when asking general knowledge questions.
I've never used a google home but I probably don't do anything with my echos that I couldn't do with google home, I'm trapped in the amazon ecosystem now I suppose. Guess its true what they say about first to market and early adoption.
Now that they've purchased Ring I'm hoping they'll make it work in a meaningful way with Alexa
Mostly use it for Hive, Netatmo, Hue and Spotify. I'm not very mobile so like the intercom and announce features. The multi room audio removes my need for a sonos type product although the early dots are not great in that regard.
The search functionality is poor when asking general knowledge questions.
I've never used a google home but I probably don't do anything with my echos that I couldn't do with google home, I'm trapped in the amazon ecosystem now I suppose. Guess its true what they say about first to market and early adoption.
Now that they've purchased Ring I'm hoping they'll make it work in a meaningful way with Alexa
Soldato
Yeah I know about Hey Google, I just always end up starting with Ok. Prefer if we could set a actuation word ourselves tbh.You know you can say Hey Google as well right?
I have a Mini and really like it. As above though it's forever a toy to tinker with. However they recently introduced support for Harmony which means I can do everything via that. (Hey Google turn on the TV/stereo/Apple TV/Fire TV etc) which is brilliant. Coming downstairs to say Hey Google play 6 music works every single time. Or play radio 2 on the stereo casts it to my stereo amplifier.
My issues last year began almost immediately thanks to the broken Google echo-system cross functionality. Getting the home to play my tracks from my Google Music library was a consistent hit and miss affair, to the point where I ended up using Spotify and ignoring G.Music altogether. Then it began ignoring the wife - can't blame it tbh as it was hilarious at first but then I realised it really wasn't picking up her voice. Then after a few weeks it did recognise her for a bit... It was on and off for a few months before settling down this year.
The Home still cannot switch off the TV when I ask it, yet when I speak to g.assistant on my phone it works perfectly!
Urgh!
Correct.
Haha, I've had the neighbour round before asking if I'm ok because I was screaming at Google home to stop playing the song I didn't ask for.. Hey Google, play "nothing else matters by Metallica" sure, playing viva forever by spice girls.. I was so close to throwing it out the window multiple times.
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We have Amazon's effort, but I'm pretty peranoid when it comes to stuff like this. I notice myself not saying anything personal in front of the thing. It doesn't matter what their privacy policy is, I just know they're taking note of everything you say.
Soldato
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Love mine, but you need to heavily invest on the rest of the house for it to make sense. Heating, cameras, lights, door lock, tvs, blinds and curtains. Just having the speaker would be ok but really comes into its own when paired with everything else.
Soldato
i have an amazon echo, which im ready to throw out the window. i use it to turn on a light, and 70% it doesn't do as i tell it. Its quicker for me to get my arse up and turn the light on myself.
I picked up the google home hub and 3 minis today, thought I'd see if they're better than amazon echo.
Agreed, the app is horrendous. Took me so long to find the routines section. Can't believe they thought this was user friendly.
Hey google is much easier than OK google, but still not as slick as Alexa.
Ah, I thought this was the best bit about the set up - everything just... works. TV etc. Smoother and works 100% of the time (so far) compared to very hit and miss with Echo.
Me too!
So far:
Pros:
Better speaker in the mini vs gen 2 dot
looks nicer
complete integration with my google calendar/emails/youtube etc
the home hub is probably overpriced for what it is, but looks good and I'll be getting a second for the kitchen
multiroom audio & casting from mobiles is great
Routines look much better - turn off all lights, check my alarm time then give me 15 minutes of sleepy rain sounds before fading out, great
Cons:
The hub only works with the nest camera, not sure if this is any better on the Show
Lack of 'skills' but not found anything yet I can't do that I'd want a skill for
"Alexa" is nicer than "Hey google"
Agreed, the app is horrendous. Took me so long to find the routines section. Can't believe they thought this was user friendly.
Hey google is much easier than OK google, but still not as slick as Alexa.
Ah, I thought this was the best bit about the set up - everything just... works. TV etc. Smoother and works 100% of the time (so far) compared to very hit and miss with Echo.
Me too!
So far:
Pros:
Better speaker in the mini vs gen 2 dot
looks nicer
complete integration with my google calendar/emails/youtube etc
the home hub is probably overpriced for what it is, but looks good and I'll be getting a second for the kitchen
multiroom audio & casting from mobiles is great
Routines look much better - turn off all lights, check my alarm time then give me 15 minutes of sleepy rain sounds before fading out, great
Cons:
The hub only works with the nest camera, not sure if this is any better on the Show
Lack of 'skills' but not found anything yet I can't do that I'd want a skill for
"Alexa" is nicer than "Hey google"