[Electronics-Talk] Amazon & Google Assistant devices

Wed Nov 30 21:05:16 UTC 2022

I would do a little research, and think, before getting heavily into the
Google Assistant world. They are discontinuing support for "conversational
actions" next June. They seem to be going towards more commercial things. I
think it is an admission that Amazon Echo is eating their lunch.

Dave

-----Original Message-----
From: Electronics-Talk <electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of
Amanda Lee via Electronics-Talk
Sent: Wednesday, November 30, 2022 1:06 PM
To: 'Discussion of accessible home electronics and appliances'
<electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Amanda Lee <amandainparadise777 at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Electronics-Talk] Amazon & Google Assistant devices

I'm in total agreement here.

I utilize and depend on Amazon devices for so many aspects.  I also would
like to obtain a Google Assistant or two.

I would certainly pay a monthly fee.

I already pay for Amazon Music Unlimited and had Apple Music before which I
discontinued.

I also pay for iHeart radio which I stream through Amazon as well as I have
a Lifetime subscription (no longer available) to Sirius/XM.

I suppose, one needs to decide for themselves, what's it worth to them, how
does it enhance quality and productivity in one's life.

Unfortunately, so many expect services to be free.  However the resources
required to support said services are not free.

-----Original Message-----
From: Electronics-Talk <electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of
Sherry Gomes via Electronics-Talk
Sent: Wednesday, November 30, 2022 9:54 AM
To: Discussion of accessible home electronics and appliances
<electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Sherry Gomes <sherry.gomes at outlook.com>
Subject: Re: [Electronics-Talk] Amazon & Google Assistant devices

I'm willing to pay a monthly fee for the ability to continue using my echo
devices, depending on the fee of course. Besides all the other things you
mention, there are people behind these devices, those who develop the
skills, those who work with and for other companies that incorporate echo
use in to their appliances and devices, and so forth. Also with the huge
amount of touch screen devices now, sometimes using an echo is the only way
to access a device or appliance.

-----Original Message-----
From: Electronics-Talk <electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of
David Waybright via Electronics-Talk
Sent: Wednesday, November 30, 2022 6:09 AM
To: electronics-talk at nfbnet.org
Cc: David Waybright <link at pt-solutions.org>
Subject: Re: [Electronics-Talk] Amazon & Google Assistant devices

I think clarification is needed.

When Amazon made Alexa, they did not do it for audio, they did it to have
customers sign up for prime and buy stuff straight from the speaker without
logging in to their phone, tablet, or computer. They were banking on this
sure-fire sales increase so much so that they sell every Alexa device at
cost. This is where they made a mistake, now they're reporting billions of
dollars in losses since sales via the Alexa devices have not gone up to the
levels they were expecting. No one is sure rather they'll pull the plug or
try charging a monthly fee but be warned, the writing is on the wall for
either to happen. They're not going to sit there and bleed money.

What users don't think about in this IoT (Internet of things) world we live
in is that every cloud connected IOT device has a service that lives on the
cloud basically a server or servers out there somewhere. The company behind
these cloud connected IOT devices have to keep the lights on and if they
don't wrap that fee into the price of the device or with a service fee then
the lights will go off.

I've been in the Home Automation industry now for several years both DIY &
Pro. The most recent IOT cloud outage due to poor financial management was
when the company Smarthome went bankrupt a few months ago and shut all their
servers off which left thousands of Insteon users without any automation
control over their devices. Luckly some enthusiasts of the Insteon tech
jumped in to buy the company's assets and bring the servers online. At this
point the future for the new company is bleak since lots jumped ship but the
company is trying to forge a new future under different management. This
included them apologizing but stasting that they must issue a monthly
service fee to keep the lights on. Yes some people left after this fee
started, others moved their insteon devices into Homeassisant or Homeseer,
and others moved away from Insteon all together.

I didn't bring the alexa story up to be pessimistic or to burn them at the
stake. I more wanted to shed the light on the subject since if it does
disappear there will be many people in our community who will be without
their devices.

Thanks,

David Eugene Waybright
CompTIA A+, NET+, & Security+ Technician Crestron Certified Masters
Technology Architect; Core, Flex, DMC-D-4K & E-4K, SCT-R & C, DCT-R & C,
TCT-R & C AVMM Engineer; and Audio & Shades Technician Extron Certified A/V
Associate

IT Operations & Secure Infrastructure Specialist

Tesla Referral Code: https://ts.la/david55244 $300 OFF Solar Roof or Solar
Panels!
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________________________________
------------------------------

Message: 9
Date: Tue, 29 Nov 2022 22:32:02 +0000
From: Christopher Chaltain <chaltain at outlook.com>
To: "mattchao at verizon.net" <mattchao at verizon.net>, Discussion of
        accessible home electronics and appliances
        <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [Electronics-Talk] Amazon & Google Assistant devices
Message-ID:

Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

True, but Amazon is already losing money, so doing nothing is only going to
make things worse. In other words, they really have nothing to lose.

--
Christopher (AKA CJ) =>?
Chaltain at Outlook, USA
-----Original Message-----
From: Matthew Chao <mattchao at verizon.net>
Sent: Tuesday, November 29, 2022 4:09 PM
To: Discussion of accessible home electronics and appliances
<electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Christopher Chaltain <chaltain at outlook.com>
Subject: Re: [Electronics-Talk] Amazon & Google Assistant devices

Of course, if they try to monetize this market, as they've done with music
and movies, the whole thing could backfire on them and they could start to
lose money.  If they do that with their smart speakers, I'm outa
here.--Matthew Chao On 11/29/2022 4:43 PM, Christopher Chaltain via
Electronics-Talk wrote:
> I'm not so sure the smart devices landscape won't change quite a bit. 
> I
think David is on to something when he talks about paying for this service.
I'm not worried they're going away any time soon, but I'd also never say
they'd never be shut down. For me, what will happen will happen, and since
there's nothing I can do to prepare for it, I'll just wait and see.
>
> I'm also not sure what other smart speakers Amazon wants to compete
against. I know Google has their smart speakers out there, but I don't know
if they're generating a lot of revenue for Google either. If Amazon is
losing money with their smart speakers, and they've been doing this for
years, why would they want to compete over a market where there's no profit
to be made? Like I said above, I'd be surprised if Amazon doesn't do
something to try to monetize this service more.
>
> --
> Christopher (AKA CJ) =>?
> Chaltain at Outlook, USA
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Electronics-Talk <electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf 
> Of Amanda Lee via Electronics-Talk
> Sent: Tuesday, November 29, 2022 10:11 AM
> To: 'Discussion of accessible home electronics and appliances'
> <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Amanda Lee <amandainparadise777 at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [Electronics-Talk] Amazon & Google Assistant devices
>
> Wow how pessimistic!
>
> Amazon will likely never shutdown these devices.  After  all, they 
> want to
continue to compete with the other smart speaker technologies out there.
>
> Amazon also released new devices this year.
>
> It's a very different time in terms of the financial scene right now 
> and I
personally would say that in some respects, that the market may be reaching
more saturation as well.
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Electronics-Talk <electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf 
> Of David Waybright via Electronics-Talk
> Sent: Tuesday, November 29, 2022 7:18 AM
> To: electronics-talk at nfbnet.org
> Cc: David Waybright <link at pt-solutions.org>
> Subject: [Electronics-Talk] Amazon & Google Assistant devices
>
> I was wondering if people are concerned about the recent news 
> reporting
how both the Amazon & Goggle Assisant devices have been considered a
'Colossal Failure' with reports Amazon is losing 10 billion a year. Should
we expect these devices to start shutting down or be put behind a pay wall?
>
>
> Thanks,
>
>
> David Eugene Waybright
> CompTIA A+, NET+, & Security+ Technician Crestron Certified Masters 
> Technology Architect; Core, Flex, DMC-D-4K & E-4K, SCT-R & C, DCT-R & 
> C, TCT-R & C AVMM Engineer; and Audio & Shades Technician Extron 
> Certified A/V Associate
>
> IT Operations & Secure Infrastructure Specialist
>
> 