February 2024 ertonline.co.uk


JBL Authetics 500.


Battle of the voice assistants


While the competition between Amazon and Google is an interesting one, it doesn’t help you, the retailer, to provide the answer to the question, which voice assistant is better? There are some key differences between


Alexa and Google. The former can track your Amazon orders, and also detect irritation in your voice and respond in a sensitive way. The latter’s equivalent has a better natural language understanding and can deal with multiple commands; for example your consumer can set an alarm and turn on a plug without having to issue the instructions separately.


Google and Amazon have an extensive past of not working with each other; there is still no YouTube app on Echo Show devices and neither company’s music streaming service works on each other’s devices. Is the American mega-corporation civil war ending?


Portable speakers Elsewhere, Pure’s Woodland portable speaker offers exactly what it says on the tin – the ability to produce music anywhere. Its robust waterproof case and Bluetooth connectivity allows your consumers to produce the sounds they want, wherever they want them. It also has a 14-hour battery life; it’s lightweight and it comes with a handle, which makes it easy to pack up and take out the door.


wireless hi-res audio and is compatible with the LDAC codec, which is exclusive to Android. Its Soundcore app allows your consumers to customise the 9-band EQ to tune the speaker to their listening preferences. The speaker


is also equipped with LED


lights; its Sky Channel on the top of it emits different colours of light, which consumers can customise via the Soundcore app.


Anker’s Motion X500


The key selling point for Alexa is its huge number of smart home integrations, such as Amazon’s Echo series and various security camera systems – such as Ring cameras and Blink doorbells. Whereas Google’s assistant can handle


a more “lifelike” conversation, if that’s what you need; it’s also able to carry on with a previous conversation and because it takes its information from the world’s largest search engine, the information it provides is current.


Samsung’s HW-Q990C 11.1.4 Soundbar with Wireless Subwoofer – Black


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Amit Ravat, Managing Director of Lithe


Audio, predicts that in the future the concept of outdoor active audio will increase in popularity. He says: “These systems are not just about listening to music or watching movies outdoors; they are about creating a fully immersive, high-quality audio-visual environment that complements and enhances your consumers outdoor living experience.


Pure’s Woodland portable speaker.


And Anker has its Motion X500 Portable High Fidelity Speaker; it is enhanced by Soundcore’s customised spatial audio algorithm and a high-end DSP. It has been certified to provide


“Speakers, whether embedded in ceilings or standalone countertop devices, are evolving into vital communication hubs within smart homes. These devices will serve as the nexus for broadcasting notifications, security alerts, doorbell chimes, and can be activated via automated processes - through an app that can be easily accessed.”


Samsung offers its Q-Series Soundbar for


consumers who want the complete home audio cinema set-up, complete with music streaming via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, and with the Alexa voice assistant built-in, you can control it and get the information you need by simply asking. “With the evolution of the connected home emphasis has shifted towards effortless setup and usage,” says Samsung’s Head of Sound and Devices, Dean Hayward. “That’s why people tend to stick to the same AV environments. Virtual assistants and apps, such as SmartThings, streamline control by handling the complex tasks behind the scenes.” >>


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