TechAudioSpeakersSonos could be getting its own voice assistant but do we really need another one?A Sonos voice assistant means remembering more wake names, and that’s not what the smart home needsWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
TechAudioSpeakersSonos could be getting its own voice assistant but do we really need another one?A Sonos voice assistant means remembering more wake names, and that’s not what the smart home needsWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
A Sonos voice assistant means remembering more wake names, and that’s not what the smart home needs
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Sonos One)
(Image credit: Sonos One)
Voice assistants in smart home devices are pretty useful. I use mine for setting kitchen timers, turning on and off lights, listening to order notifications fromAmazonand playing music. I’ve even set up a few routines to combine some of these actions.
When I tell it to start my day, my speaker plays Chicago’s Q101 and my desk light comes on. And when I say bedtime, it turns off my living room lights and sets the bedroom ones to a nice low level. It’s not a huge amount of time-saving, but it makes me happy. What I don’t like doing is having to swap between different voice assistants, as it confuses the hell out of me.Alexa, HeyGoogle, Hey Siri – you need to remember which one to talk to.
So when I heard thatSonoscould be planning to launch its own voice assistant, a part of me inside died a little. Does anyone really want another name to remember when talking to their home?
Amazon’s Alexa works with a wide range of devices to control your whole home.(Image credit: Amazon)
Amazon’s Alexa works with a wide range of devices to control your whole home.
Amazon’s Alexa works with a wide range of devices to control your whole home.
(Image credit: Amazon)
According toThe Verge, a leak suggests that Sonos will introduce its new voice assistant on June 1st and it will run alongside Google and Amazon Alexa on its products. Using the wake word, Hey Sonos, it says the assistant will work withAppleMusic, Amazon Music, Pandora, Deezer and its own Sonos Radio. Focusing on this more limited remit, there are claims it will be faster than using Google or Alexa.
If you have so far managed to avoid any other voice assistants in your home – first of all, well done – this might be of interest. But for those of us who already have at least two in the mix, it’s going to get confusing.
When we were first shown a glimpse at how voice assistants would transform the way we interact with our homes, wake words never seemed to be a factor. The idea was that everything would work together, in one system. So you could just say, turn on the lights, or, close the blinds, and your integrated smart home would automatically know which thing to activate.
Google and Alexa go a long way towards this dream, as they are capable of controlling a wide range of home devices but introducing a new system that only controls one thing feels like a step backward. Unless Sonos wants to take on all of the functions that my Amazon system can then I’ll stick to using Alexa to control my sound.
Sign up to the T3 newsletter for smarter living straight to your inbox
Get all the latest news, reviews, deals and buying guides on gorgeous tech, home and active products from the T3 experts
TOPICSsonosAmazon Alexa
TOPICS
Vollebak pushes the limits of outerwear with Double Graphene Puffer and Shielding SuitThe company continues to weave innovation into every thread
The company continues to weave innovation into every thread
Bowers & Wilkins Pi6 review: sensational sound, ordinary ANCBowers & Wilkins' step-down true wireless earbuds sound amazing and are well-priced – so what’s the catch, if anything?
Bowers & Wilkins' step-down true wireless earbuds sound amazing and are well-priced – so what’s the catch, if anything?
The smart Christmas lights I’ve wanted for years just dropped to their lowest-ever priceThese are a great buy right now
These are a great buy right now
Sonos Ace 2 reportedly in the works, with price cut coming for existing headphonesWould a Sonos Ace price drop be music to your ears?
Would a Sonos Ace price drop be music to your ears?
Sonos' hiccups continue as “major outage” hits the systemIf you use Apple Music with Sonos, you might already know
If you use Apple Music with Sonos, you might already know
Sonos Arc Ultra could be the reason you fall in love with the brand againThinner, sleeker and with 14 speaker drivers, Sonos' new soundbar seemingly has it all
Thinner, sleeker and with 14 speaker drivers, Sonos' new soundbar seemingly has it all
Sonos' app woes could end up being great for customersSonos has outlined its strategy to win back customer confidence
Sonos has outlined its strategy to win back customer confidence
Sonos Arc Ultra could be coming soon alongside another speaker refreshCan you guess what colour options they are expected to come in?
Can you guess what colour options they are expected to come in?
Amazon’s paid Alexa service is finally nearing launchAlexa’s getting some premium smarts
Alexa’s getting some premium smarts
Sonos' latest free update is its most useful yet, especially for iPhone ownersIf you’ve had battery issues, download this update as soon as you can
If you’ve had battery issues, download this update as soon as you can
