First Ring Daily 758: Digital Assistants Aren’t so Great

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On this episode of First Ring Daily, we dive deep into if digital assistants really are all that good, a little about Facebook, and even less about baseboards.

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Conversation 6 comments

  • panjjj

    Premium Member
    28 January, 2020 - 3:18 pm

    <p>I have found the level of "smartness" on music services to be valuable. For example, from both Spotify and Pandora if I create a station based on a particular artist or style, for the most part, the other musicians that it suggests and plays are spot on and have resulted, as well, in my discovering new music/artists I didn't know previously but now enjoy. I agree that we are in the early stages of intelligence/AI with Alexa, Google and the others but I appreciate (I have standardized on Alexa) being able to give verbal commands for music, short wikipedia type questions. weather conditions, traffic, etc., without having to look for my phone and in most rooms in the house. But I do agree, the breakthrough will come when one can be "conversational", accomplish useful iterative conversations.</p>

  • Patrick3D

    28 January, 2020 - 3:28 pm

    <p>@Brad: If the power outlets behind the entertainment center are a pair of 2 outlet units, replace one with a unit that has 2 outlets and usb charge ports built-in.</p><p><br></p>

    • Brad Sams

      Premium Member
      29 January, 2020 - 9:46 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#516378">In reply to Patrick3D:</a></em></blockquote><p><br></p><p>The problem is the clearance in the walls, I am using shallow boxes as the walls are 2×2, those USB outlets are quite wide and with two 12/2 wires in the box, the clearance is a serious challenge. </p>

  • joshhuggins

    28 January, 2020 - 4:25 pm

    <p>I would have some kind of surge protection built between the outlets and the electronics anyway, why not get a low profile protected powerstip?</p>

  • wright_is

    Premium Member
    29 January, 2020 - 2:49 am

    <p>@Brad, don't worry, we bought a dishwasher from Amazon last year, it only took them 6 months to realise that we probably don't need additional ones and stop suggesting them in every newsletter and on the home page. The same the year before, when I bought a new smartphone, the next 6 months was an almost daily barrage of Amazon ads for yet more smartphones, or accessories for smartphones I hadn't bought…</p>

  • Jeffsters

    31 January, 2020 - 9:14 am

    <p>Digital assistantshave such promise but so frustrating. Sure you can pick features and capabilities to create a table comparison but there are broader issues. These devices go from awesome to $%#! from one command to the next. I have all Apple and HomeKit devices and they often work awesome. But how the %$#@! does it go from a perfect execution of a time, location, or voice initiated execution of a routine or shortcut to utter confusion? My friends with Alexa, who to be honest are not as pioneering as I am, report similar frustrations. I have lights, locks, garage door, heating/AC, audio/video, etc., all interconnected that I want to control with Siri. Maybe it’s still to early and I expect to much but when it works I feel like a kid watching star trek but when it doesn’t I yell swears all through the house. </p>

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