I have multiple Echo devices and one older Lenovo Essential Smart Clock (this device was a collaboration between Google and Lenovo and is no longer made). The Echo devices reside in every room (minus bathrooms) and the upstairs landing in my house. The Lenovo clock sits on my desk.
All are integrated with Hubitat (via Echo Speaks and the Google Chromecast integration) and are used for TTS announcements. I've had zero issues with any of the Echo devices or the Lenovo clock.
For longevity, I would lay my bet with Apple. Since Siri is a part of iOS, they are unlikely to ever stop providing service. Alexa is the best for home automation today, but if their AI subscription plans don't pan out, I wouldn't be surprised to see their service move to either paid only, or shut down entirely in the next few years. I would expect their current non-AI to be artificially stunted soon.
Google is fine, but expect them to drop the whole thing at any time. That's just how they roll. I've had my eye toward HomePods for a long time, but for now Alexa is still delivering.
Intercoming between units. So say Hey alexa, intercom this unit, then your message. It's live vs apple which creates the message and will send it to a specific home pod or all of them
This sounds like two different things you're describing. "Announcements" are what Amazon calls a message with no interaction. "Drop-in" is a two-way intercom. Are you saying that HomePod allows a two-way converstation among all HomePods? That sounds like it might be disasterous in terms of sound feedback.
Love this, hadn't heard of it. The idea that changing the language from English to Canadian English (which adds "Eh..." to every other sentence?) defeats the Amazon advertising behemoth is pretty funny.
"Sir, our ads have taken over America!!"
"Great...but what about Canada?!"
"Still working on it. Our AI chokes on all those "eh's," and add in "hoser," "two-four," and something completely confusing called "Timmies" along with their other bizarre colloquisims and it's a completely unfathomable linguistic mess."
We're an Android/GH house, but only have one GH in the fam room, and my wife would be happier if it was gone (calls it "the spy" and she's sort of right). Use it to trigger some HE automations, for Matter support (TBR/commission), and playing music (Apple Music via Chromecast audio connected to a stereo). Frankly, most frequent use is general voice searches where it's faster to ask than type on my phone. Weather, drive time, movies nearby, math questions (how many teaspoons in 1/3 of a cup?), etc. IMHO GH speakers are better than Alexa/Siri at that.
One small Alexa speaker/display (5" one) that I use to add items to our OurGroceries shopping lists - that's pretty much it, aside from being set up to show who's at the door when our Ring doorbell is pressed.
I also got two homepod minis that were on sale at Costco for their Matter TBR capability. One is in the living room (centrally located for TBR) and original idea was to put the other in our bedroom w/all listening turned off, only used for announcements. The wife did not trust that it was not listening, so that homepod ended up in the garage and I use it to play music out there. I haven't talked to her about the one in the living room (it's kind of "accidentally" hidden behind the music stand on the piano) so let's just keep that to ourselves here, OK?
no. Apple's Intercom is you say hey siri, intercom this room. Say the messeage and it gets broadcast to that speaker (or whereever you directed it). Yes, with alexa drop in is live intercom and much more superior... Though that wasn't enough to keep me on alexa.
I primarily use Google--since Google seems to understand me better (Alexa always got it wrong--and I'm just not into the fruit thing).
I do have an Echo for when I need it.
As for using the speakers to talk to me--I went with the ones from IKEA that are actually Sonos under the cover (thus, without the Sonos price tag--when Sonos was prestigious). I am not doing any fancy Sonos-app things with them, I'm only using them to let my Hubs talk to me when desired.
The idea that changing the language from English to Canadian English (which adds "Eh..." to every other sentence?) defeats the Amazon advertising behemoth is pretty funny.
