In recent years, the biggest names in the tech world have introduced a personal assistant meant to help you manage every aspect of your life. Apple's Siri is the oldest on the list (created in 2011), but it doesn't have the superiority over the other virtual assistants (including Google Now in 2012, Microsoft Cortana in 2014, and Amazon Alexa in 2014) that you might expect. Q>
Alexa, especially, has given Siri a run for her money over the last three years.
The internet is full of examples of two assistants facing off in parody videos, ridiculous assignments, and rigorous experiments. Despite all this, there is still no obvious answer as to which is better! One article can be quick to call out the competition in favor of Siri, while the next hurls insults at Siri while praising Alexa's efficiency.
As in most things, the answer to the eternal question. “Alexa or Siri?” It probably depends a lot on your personal needs and opinions. We have analyzed the evidence and found a direct comparison between the two attendees in the areas that matter most.
While Alexa voice recognition technology, how does Siri work? Voice control explained Alexa, how does Siri work? Voice Control Explained The world is moving towards voice commands for everything, but how exactly does voice control work? Why is it so glitchy and restricted? This is what you need to know as a lay user. Read More is getting better, most users are painfully aware that there is still a long way to go.
Most users find Siri to be better than Alexa at recognizing context clues around the questions it asks. For example, you can usually ask a question. The master list of all Siri commands and questions. The master list of all siri commands and questions. Siri can do a lot for you, but did you know she could do so much? Here's an exhaustive list of commands Siri will take. Read More Plus, you can often ask a follow-up question without Siri forgetting what her first question was..
Technically, however, Alexa takes the lead. Amazon keeps a log of every command you give Alexa, and you can go in and flag commands she misunderstands. This process improves her ability to understand you over time..
Additionally, Alexa can be used up to 11 feet away from the Amazon device, and its functionality can be accessed by anyone in your home at any time. In contrast, Siri-enabled devices must be very close to you to accurately hear commands from her, and you are the only one who can control Siri on your device.
If You Exclusively Use Apple Music 10 Essential Apple Music Tips You Really Need To Know 10 Essential Apple Music Tips You Really Need To Know Since its release in 2015, Apple Music has come a long way, baby. Unfortunately, it's still not the easiest or most intuitive service to deal with. Which is where we come in... Read More You can ask Siri to play a song, playlist, station, or any specific playback control (eg “next”, “pause”, “skip”, etc). Siri can also tell you what song she's currently playing, as well as identify songs playing on other devices.
On the other hand, if you use literally any other music player to store or stream your music library, chances are you'll prefer Alexa. With Alexa, you can connect directly to several key music databases, including Spotify, Amazon Prime Music, Pandora, TuneIn, and iHeartRadio.
And that's not all:With IFTTT, you can essentially connect Alexa to any web-based music service you can think of. Like Siri, you can use voice controls to select music and control playback, but you won't be able to identify songs playing on another device.
Smart home connectivity is a major source of competition for these two wizards.
Siri (via Apple HomeKit) get the most out of Apple HomeKit and the iOS 10 Home app get the most out of Apple HomeKit and the iOS 10 Home app In this article, you'll learn about the growing list of HomeKit-related products and how to control them. You will also see how to detect a compatible product on the market. Read More) currently works with the following product systems:Ecobee, Philips, Anova, First Alert OneLink, Canary, Elgato, Luther, Scalage, Flir, Logi, iDevices, Withings, iGrill and Chamberlain.
It doesn't mean that your iOS device can't connect with Samsung or iHome products, because you can use the developer's app. But what if you want to use Siri to connect with a device? It needs to be compatible with HomeKit.
Alexa, on the other hand, is currently compatible with:Samsung, Philips, Wemo, Insteon, Wink, Lutron, Triby, Caseta, Lifx, Haiku, GE, TP-Link, Levitron, iHome, Nest, Ecobee, Sensi, Honeywell, and Lyric. Alexa can also talk to IFTTT, which can act as a bridge to other unsupported devices and DIY smart home systems. Get started with OpenHAB Home Automation on Raspberry Pi. Get started with OpenHAB Home Automation on Raspberry Pi. it runs on a variety of hardware and is protocol independent, which means it can connect to almost any home automation hardware on the market today. Read more.
Obviously, some of Alexa's compatibility (*cough* Nest *cough*) is a huge advantage over Siri. In general, because Amazon has done it. a lot Easier for third-party developers to create Alexa-compatible software, you'll have a much wider selection of gadgets to choose from.
When it comes to your smart home, which assistant is better Smart Home Smackdown:Amazon Alexa vs. Apple HomeKit Smart Home Smackdown:Amazon Alexa vs. Apple HomeKit In this article, you'll learn more about Amazon Alexa and how Apple Siri integrates with HomeKit. See a comparison between both products and decide which one is better. Read More
A clear victory for Apple? The integration of Siri in conventional vehicles through the CarPlay system..
Solving multiple problems in one, CarPlay's Siri integration allows drivers to stay connected while avoiding the dangerous distractions of texting or checking a cell phone on the road. Instead, voice commands allow drivers to text and make calls while staying safe.!
Unfortunately, Alexa can't go on a trip with you. The closest it comes is through the third-party Connected Car Auto Adapter, an Echo-enabled device that gives you information about your vehicle's status, gas levels, driving history and locations. Enable Alexa's “Automatic” ability, and you'll be able to ask her questions like “What's my fuel level?” and “Where is my car?”
While Siri can't answer those questions for you, the rest of Automatic's functionality is also available in iOS/Android apps that integrate easily with IFTTT.
Security is a big consideration for smart home owners, and it shouldn't be taken lightly. Any device connected to the Internet is a security risk. 5 Security Issues to Consider When Building Your Smart Home. 5 Security Issues to Consider When Building Your Smart Home. have expressed genuine concerns about how safe these automated living spaces actually are. Read More
Apple's HomeKit system is widely considered the most secure smart home system currently on the market due to its end-to-end encryption and strict requirements for any compatible device. However, even if it is more secure than the other systems currently on the market, it is still not perfect.
One security option Amazon has made is to make sure that Alexa can't be used to open smart locks or doors, something Siri can do it if you enter your PIN code or fingerprint.
The closest you can get to this functionality with Alexa is through the use of the August smart lock. This lock allows you to ask Alexa. "Is my door locked?" and receive a response. Alexa may not let you change the status of your lock, but it can at least give you some peace of mind.
One of the biggest benefits for Alexa? She is so funny! A whole world of “skills” that can be applied to Alexa in seconds, giving her functionality Siri can only dream of.
This is where the fun part comes in. Use Alexa to order pizza, tell her information about dogs, or start training yourself in a seven-minute workout. Not enough for you? 20 Echo Skills That Show Alexa Isn't Always That Smart 20 Echo Skills That Show Alexa Isn't Always That Smart it is much more intriguing. Here are 20 echo skills that may surprise you! Learn More It can also play calming storm sounds, give you heart attack warning signs, and access news briefings from a variety of reputable sources.
The freedom for third-party developers to develop their own Alexa skills (completely opposed to Apple's position on this) is creating a world of opportunity for Amazon users. A full list of Alexa skills can be found here.
As good as Alexa is, she's trapped in a cylinder on your living room table. Siri? On your Apple Watch, iPad, iPhone, or Macbook, it's with you wherever you go. Siri's portability allows her to become a constant in her lifestyle. 11 fun ways you can ask Siri to help you be better. 11 fun ways you can ask Siri to help you be better. ask. Siri's artificial intelligence can be surprisingly helpful for everyday productive tasks. Read More
It's also important to mention that as long as you're using apps within the Apple ecosystem (such as iCal and Apple Music), Siri generally enables much more complex tasks than Alexa Let's face it:Amazon's Alexa Echo is stupid Let's face it:Amazon's Alexa Echo is stupid There is no doubt that voice-controlled assistants are the future, but is Alexa the solution? Maybe not. In this article, I am going to argue that Alexa is pretty stupid. Read more . For example, both Siri and Alexa can schedule appointments, but only Siri can go back and edit that appointment by moving it to a different date. Siri is also the much more reliable option for communicating with others via text, email, or social media.
As I said at the beginning, it is impossible to find a “one size fits all” answer to this question.
You probably prefer Siri if... you are a hard-core Apple who relies heavily on native iOS apps for your daily activities. You're more interested in the “assistant” part of a virtual assistant than cool tricks, and you want to have voice recognition functionality with you throughout the day. Security is important to you and you already own HomeKit compatible products.
You probably prefer Alexa if... he cares more about new concepts than brand loyalty and is always interested in pushing the boundaries of his smart home. You want a one-size-fits-all approach to setting up new technology, and multiple people in your household are interested in using voice controls.
Of course, this market won't stay the same for long, and rumors abound that Apple is hard at work creating a direct competitor to the Amazon Echo.
Siri or Alexa:Which virtual assistant comes out ahead? Tell me about your experiences in the comments!
