Alexa for Automobiles

[Kaido]

https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/591054

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075H6MFCZ

I will absolutely get one if it works with Spotify.

 

[Elixer]

Curious, since it will always be listening, will there be a way to disable that?

 

[Kaido]

Curious, since it will always be listening, will there be a way to disable that?

On the Echo Dots, there's a mute button, but I'd imagine the car version is probably always on.

I used to be more concerned about it, but Snowden said they can hack your phone & turn on your mic without you ever knowing, so meh. And even if you dump your phone (hah), everyone around you still has a phone. Kind of negated the tinfoil hat feeling for me, I guess.

 

[Kaido]

Gizmodo has a hands-on:

https://gizmodo.com/forget-bmw-the-garmin-speak-is-a-cheaper-way-to-put-al-1819510039

It's tiny!

 

[Kaido]

3 thoughts:

1. 'You need to remember to always say, “Alexa, ask Garmin to...” when it comes to asking anything navigation-related' - yeah, that needs to DIAF. Seriously tho, they need to just have the trigger word activate nav. Also, they need more name options than just Alexa/Computer/etc.

2. I love Garmin, but I always use Google Maps these days because it's great & it does live traffic. I drive a ton for work these days and live traffic is awwwwwsome. I also like seeing the map on my screen so I can see the next few turns & ramps ahead of time. I'd love gMaps integration, but since Google has their own assistant, I doubt that will ever happen, or if it does, the integration probably won't be great.

3. They really should have put a dashcam in there.

Also, I really hope Tesla integrates Alexa at some point. That would be sick..."Alexa, drive me to work" haha!

 

[tsupersonic]

Why? I don't understand the point of these smart assistants, whether it's for the car or home... I have Android Auto, and I don't even use Google Assistant.

I will say that unit is pretty slick, love the minimal design and OLED display.

 

[PricklyPete]

I guess this is good. What do you actually use Alexa for in a car?

I am able to summon Siri using a button on my steering wheel. I only use it to change music, text/call someone, or add a reminder. I guess Alexa can do 2/3...but not worth it enough to pay for another gadget (especially when my phone already does what I want).

 

[Kaido]

I guess this is good. What do you actually use Alexa for in a car?

I am able to summon Siri using a button on my steering wheel. I only use it to change music, text/call someone, or add a reminder. I guess Alexa can do 2/3...but not worth it enough to pay for another gadget (especially when my phone already does what I want).

I'd use it for Spotify...Alexa's voice recognition is excellent, use it at home all the time for music.

Also I guess for directions, although I prefer seeing the map on my phone via dash mount.

 

[Kaido]

Why? I don't understand the point of these smart assistants, whether it's for the car or home... I have Android Auto, and I don't even use Google Assistant.

I will say that unit is pretty slick, love the minimal design and OLED display.

Alexa is the only voice assistant I like using. Cortana, Siri, Google, etc. are all meh. Amazon nailed the voice interface.

 

[PricklyPete]

never mind...missed post above

 

[Squisher]

So, I expect to see people stopped at red lights arguing with their cars. Hopefully after they yell, "Alexa stop!" the whole car won't stop if it's in motion.

 

[PricklyPete]

I'd use it for Spotify...Alexa's voice recognition is excellent, use it at home all the time for music.

Also I guess for directions, although I prefer seeing the map on my phone via dash mount.

Can your phone not handle changing Spotify via voice commands? I’m not familiar enough with Spotify, but I have Siri do all kinds of things with Apple Music and it works incredibly well.

 

[Kaido]

Can your phone not handle changing Spotify via voice commands? I’m not familiar enough with Spotify, but I have Siri do all kinds of things with Apple Music and it works incredibly well.

Personal thing, I just don't like Siri.

 

[PricklyPete]

Personal thing, I just don't like Siri.

Enough to buy another device for this simple task? Again,I have no idea whether Siri even works with Spotify...but no way I’d buy another whole device if Siri worked. I didn’t like Siri at first...but I really have nothing to complain about these days (with the limited functions I ask of it).

 

[razel]

I read the Infiniti InTouch Press Release earlier about their support for Alexia and thought this was a thread about it. I do like the tiny display on this Garmin add-on. I'm currently using a small cube Bluetooth speaker in my car paired to my smartphone for calls and Android Assistant support for selecting podcasts and playlists off my phone to play.

By the way the Infiniti inTouch support I thought was pretty useless. It's all the same features available on your key fob plus remote start/stop. That means you must be around an Echo to issue commands or use the developer app to add Alexia to your Android phone over cellular when mobile.

I do like how they support cars back to 2013 and it's not just new vehicles only. We develop Alexia skills here and will be toying around with it in my car later this week. Fun idea Infiniti, but useless honestly since you have to be around a Echo that's has power and WiFi connection.

 

[Kaido]

Enough to buy another device for this simple task? Again,I have no idea whether Siri even works with Spotify...but no way I’d buy another whole device if Siri worked. I didn’t like Siri at first...but I really have nothing to complain about these days (with the limited functions I ask of it).

I am not a fan of Siri. I bought an Echo on a whim (half-off at Whole Foods) & ended up falling in love with it. Great piece of tech. Siri, not so much, for me at least.

 

[Kaido]

Per Garmin:

No, Spotify is not supported at this time. Prime Music is available, along with several other music services.

My brother got a new 8" Kindle tablet, where you press a button for Alexa. It does not support Spotify either, which is lame. I'd imagine there's some kind of licensing rights for playback in certain ways. I am definitely interested in the Garmin if it were to support Spotify. Might be worth just getting a Dot for the car, although the boot time is long.

 

[tsupersonic]

Enough to buy another device for this simple task? Again,I have no idea whether Siri even works with Spotify...but no way I’d buy another whole device if Siri worked. I didn’t like Siri at first...but I really have nothing to complain about these days (with the limited functions I ask of it).

Siri has definitely gotten more features and way faster over the years... Even on the original iPad Air (from 2013), Siri is quick on iOS11. I'm not impressed with Alexa; I'd say it's third with Google/Apple being superior.

 

[Pulsar]

I guess this is good. What do you actually use Alexa for in a car?

I am able to summon Siri using a button on my steering wheel. I only use it to change music, text/call someone, or add a reminder. I guess Alexa can do 2/3...but not worth it enough to pay for another gadget (especially when my phone already does what I want).

It's not gonna give me a blowjob. It's not gonna bitch about my driving habits. I'm really not seeing any upside to having another female in the car.

 

[Kaido]

2018 update - Garmin Speak Plus:

https://www.engadget.com/2018/01/08/garmin-speak-plus/

* Adds a dashcam (yay)
* Gives alerts (warns you if you're too close to a car, if you're drifting out of your lane, or if that gridlocked traffic has finally started moving)
* The Speak Plus will sell for $230 when it ships on January 22nd ($200 if you pre-order by January 20th), or well over the $150 for the original Speak
* Spotify support is expected to be added

For the sake of complaining, I'll start out by saying "no rear dashcam?" Seriously though, this is becoming a VERY cool product. Amazon's VUI (voice user interface, new acronym, whoohoo!) is absolutely fabulous.