There’s been an explosion in voice controlled technology. The number of products that can be controlled by just asking has grown amazingly; there’s Google Home, Amazon Echo and a yet-to-be released Apple Home device. Plus there are speakers and headphones that also allow you to forgo typing and just make a request.
What can voice control technology do?
With smart digital assistants, you can have a virtual assistant at the ready. Devices that employ voice controlled digital assistants can set timers and alarms for you if you ask them to, or give you weather forecasts, answer math questions, listen to e-books and podcasts, and even add items to your grocery list — all without ever having to pick up your phone or type.
Voice control: Who you talkin’ to?
Depending on the device you choose you’ll have access to a variety of robot digital assistants:
Hey, Siri
Apple’s ubiquitous assistant with the soothing voice, Siri answers your queries through your Apple iPhone, iPad or Mac computers.
Ok, Google Assistant
Google Assistant is now built into everything from Android phones, to smart home speakers and even Android TVs.
Attention, Alexa
Amazon’s slightly robotic digital helper comes standard with Amazon Echo, Echo Plus and Dot devices. It’s also available on some speakers (like Sonos, but not yet in Canada).
Wired or wireless voice controlled devices?
There are two kinds of voice controlled devices: wired and wireless. For the most part, smart home digital assistants come wired; think Amazon Echo and Google Home.
There are also wireless speakers that have the power of voice control too; like Bose QC 35 II headphones, the UE Megablast speaker and Apple’s Beats Studio 3 wireless headphones.
Wired voice controlled devices
Google Home
Google Home is a smart speaker that can not only play music but it’s a fully digital concierge. Want to know more about what this smart home system can do? Read our review. There’s also the Google Home Mini for smaller spaces.
Amazon Echo and Dot
Brand new to Canada, Amazon’s Echo line is here and it’s being snapped up by the smart home-curious.
Read Ted’s review of the Echo or check out the smaller Amazon Echo Dot.
Wireless voice controlled devices
UE Megablast speaker
Ultimate Ears MEGABLAST portable speaker comes with Amazon Alexa built-in. It connects directly to the cloud with Wi-Fi so you don’t need a smartphone to take advantage of this feature. Just jump on Wi-Fi or any mobile hotspot to enjoy voice-controlled music and the full range of Alexa’s skills, all from just about anywhere.
Several headphones now allow you to contact the wireless digital assistant on your smartphone with a touch too.
Bose QC 35 II headphones
Google Assistant comes standard on the QC 35 II headphones. Android users can play music, receive texts, manage your daily tasks and get answers—all with your voice. You access the assistant by pressing and holding the Action button.
Apple Beats Studio 3 wireless headphones
Get access to Siri with a press on the Beats Studio 3. You can get your daily schedule, set reminders and alerts and even make and review phone calls. Read the review.
Jabra Elite Sport
The multifunction button on the Jabra Elite Sport headphones lets you access the digital assistant on your phone, whether that’s Google or Siri. Read more about them in the Best Buy review.
Rockstone Audio RockPods
The multifunction button on these headphones also means you can access the digital assistant on your phone, whether that’s Google or Siri. I recently reviewed the Rockpods, and they’re surprisingly great. Read more about them here.
Expect to see more and more voice controlled devices in the smart home space in the next year or two… and from there, it probably won’t be long before you can talk to your fridge, stove and even your house too.
