NOW SMART SPEAKERS ARE TALKING BACK
No longer just purveyors of music, digital assistants can answer questions put to these high-tech boxes
This holiday season a speaker can deliver the gift of music and more for the techie on your list.
The newest smart speakers play music plus do everything from controlling the lights in the living room to telling you the weather forecast.
Shopping is next on the agenda. Our American neighbours already have that service from Amazon; in Canada we’re waiting for the company to bring voice-controlled shopping across the border, rumoured to be soon.
Meanwhile, there’s more choice for consumers. The lead-up to the holiday shopping season saw speaker pioneer Sonos unveil its first voice-controlled speaker, and Google announce an updated smart speaker lineup.
Sonos’ new Sonos One uses Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant. Earlier Sonos speakers can be controlled by voice with an Amazon device such as the Echo Dot, expected to launch soon in Canada with other Echo devices. For now, early adopters are downloading the Alexa app from the U.S. app store to control the Sonos One.
Sonos once had the wireless speaker space virtually to itself, but it has come under increasing competition. What sets Sonos apart in smart speakers is the company’s plan to work with several different voice assistants, an approach it also took in making streaming music available from some 80 different services, including Apple Music and Spotify.
Sonos announced it’s bringing Apple’s Airplay 2 to the Sonos platform next year. That means if you’re watching videos or Netflix via your iOS device, you’ll be able to stream the sound simultaneously through Sonos speakers.
Google’s new Home Mini is available now; its Home Max isn’t available in Canada yet. Google is also partnering with Sonos to have Google’s voice assistant integrated into Sonos speakers, starting in 2018.
Giles Martin, a producer, music director and Sonos’ sound experience leader, said the proliferation of voice-controlled speakers represents “a cultural shift as well as a technological shift.”
“Speakers don’t just make noise, now they listen to you as well,” he said.
Sound, not shopping, will remain top of the agenda for Sonos voicecontrolled speakers. “Ordering an Uber is useful and we’re working on that but it’s not the heart and soul of the company,” said Giles.
SMART SPEAKER GIFT SUGGESTIONS
Sonos One
Sonos is known for its audio quality and it brings that to its new smart speaker. It uses Amazon Alexa but expect to see Google Assistant voice controls in 2018, with others to follow.
Sonos One $250 (available in black or white) | sonos.com
Google Home Mini and Home Max
Google’s new Home Max isn’t yet available in Canada but you can find the earlier version voicecontrolled Google Home, which uses Google Assistant. The Home Mini is a budget way to try out a smart speaker. Limited in music services — to Spotify, Google Music and Tunein internet radio — although next year you’ll be able to use it to control Sonos speakers. Google Home, $180, Home Mini, $80 | store.google.com
Apple HomePod
Apple’s HomePod (US$350) isn’t being released in Canada in time for holiday shopping, but Apple’s AirPod wireless headphones at $219 make for a personalized wireless speaker with Apple’s voice assistant Siri.
AirPod wireless headphones, $219 | apple.com/ca