Posts by Smitter

Someone has to say it: Voice assistants are not doing it for big tech

Hey Google … You Got Basic Usability Problems!

The problem with the entire category is that they haven’t figured out that:

A) they are JUST a new type of input device and

B) nobody is using it because it’s buggy AF!

Listening to my wife try to add items to our shopping list (Hey Google doesn’t understand, try again), play a song (that song is not available, especially on Google music), or simply trying to figure out why I can’t get my Philips Hue lights to turn on (network problems, maid turned off the mic, guests using the wrong command). And Heaven forbid there’s any type of background noise (dish washer running, people talking at a party).

Instead of whining about people not using these voice assistants for buying stuff, why don’t you double down on fixing the basic usability problems. In my experience it works about 50-60% of the time, for myriad technical reasons, and until you improve that success ratio it’s not gonna be an integral part of our lives!

Bottom Line: we are not using it for more interesting stuff because we CAN’T … not because the demand isn’t there! Fix the basic usability issues!!

Dear Apple: Want to stay in business? Make an iPhone people can afford

Not Too Worried About Apple

Is the Author seriously concerned about whether Apple "Want to stay in business"? I don't think there is any danger of them going out of business. Yes the iPhone has lost its luster (thus the need to add faux gold), but this of the most successful/profitable companies in history. They aren't going away any time soon.