Smart Vs SMART
Tech minded people have always been quick to voluntarily divide themselves into segregated groups.
Apple V. Microsoft
Play Station V. Xbox
iOS V. Android
AND of course; Amazon V. Google.
I have been cynical against Apple for quite some time.
I have owned at least one of every type of Apple product, despite never falling head-over-heals with it. Also, to fully appreciate their products you have to create a backhanded compliment for it.
I always felt that the MacBook was the average player in the varsity PC market.
The iPad had high promises, but it failed to deliver as a full-functioning tablet device and allowed for that void to be filled by Microsoft’s ambition of recapturing a portion of the consumer market with their Surface products.
And the iPhone. I have to admit that I use the iPhone 7 as my daily drive, but I am inherently an android fan.
Apple’s iPhone is comprised of two components in which drives its success: mind-blowing, revolutionary hardware, and the refinements of some else’s idea.
The first development and use of Multi-touch, best-integrated music player (prior to Spotify, Amazon music, Google Play Music, and others), and Siri.
Notification Center, Control Center, widgets (poorly), multitasking, split-screen (on iOS, but proprietary to the iPad), Spotlight Search, and this list could go on and on.
Before it sounds like I’m just bashing Apple, let me say that my early statement was that Apple is really good at refining other people’s ideas.
Steve Jobs can be credit for one of my quotes about Apple’s development process; “Picasso had a saying — ‘good artists copy; great artists steal’ — and we have always been shameless about stealing great ideas.”
In my opinion, Apple’s true success can be summed up in just two words; “just works.”
To me, that is the appeal of Apple over all other manufacturers. Their ability to create something that anyone of almost any age can pick up their product, turn it on, and be off.
This is what other companies have been trying to achieve. Half of all Android devices on the market come with bloatware, slow initial system start-ups, hours of configurations just to get it how you want it. If you willing to sit through the customization, then an Android device will prove to be a great option.
But how does all of this relate to Amazon and Google?
The answer is simple; Apple has chosen to take a back seat to automation, and until they decided to fully plunge into the market of integrated automation we have to wait and see who emerges as the victor.
Apple already has planted many seeds that they are extremely interested in whole-system automation, and have real potential to cut everyone out of the market.
Apple is the only one company with a broad ecosystem where others have failed. My theory is that once Apple feels comfortable that they have enough market share in a whole ecosystem, then they will storm into home automation.
Why have an Echo Dot when you always have your iPhone, why need separate smart speakers when you have an apple tv connected to different speakers in different rooms? OH, and iTunes has a hidden feature that allows for whole-house audio between ATV and macOS.
Apple: Phone, Tablet, Laptop, Desktop, TV Streaming Device, Wearable, Voice Assistant, Smart Speaker (coming soon).
Amazon: Phone, Tablet, Laptop, Desktop, TV Streaming Device, Wearable, Voice Assistant, Smart Speaker.
Google: Phone, Tablet, Laptop, TV Streaming Device, Wearable, Voice Assistant, Smart Speaker. (I am hesitant to mention Laptop since its capabilities are limited)
So here is my review of which is better: Amazon Echo or the Google Home.
The upfront winner — is neither.
Both excel in different ways, and each one excels where the other one lacks.
The Google Home wins best smart speaker, and the Amazon Echo wins for best automation/assistant.
Ironically, the Echo excels over Google Home in the same way that Android excels over iOS: its ability to allow 3rd party groups to create and enable skills.
The only reason I bought an Echo after my Google home is that I bought a house and the Google Home did not work with my automation/security company, Fluent Home.
The Echo is open up to more affordable 3rd party option like TP-Link, where the Google home really only works, well, with Samsung Smarter things, nest, and Phillips Hue.
The Google Home is extremely capable and has a lot of promise. It was announced 2 years after the Echo and it has already gained a lot of ground.
The lows seem to drown out the mids and highs at lower volumes but sounds much better than the Echo at higher volumes.
Amazon has the dots that can range from $30-$50 dollars, but Google has Chrome Audio and Chrome Cast, which both start at $35.
The Google Home excels at entertainment by having great meshing between all of its devices. The nicest thing is its simple ability to play specific things on youtube to your TVs.
The Google Homes voice assistant also has a much more natural voice than the Echo, and it seems that my Google Home has few accidental wakes.
I think Google also has a better app environment. The use of the Home App and the Google Assistant app (Android & iOS) work well together.
So which one would I buy knowing what living with both of them is like?
The Amazon Echo.
I love Google and I had more good things to say about the Google home than the Echo, but the whole point of these devices is to make your home life more productive and include a great way to get into automation.
I’m sure with just a little more time we will see Google close the gap even more, and Apple WILL eventually enter the market.
I think we’re in the age of Betamax (Google) and VHS (Amazon), but DVD (Apple) is just around the corner.