Smart speakers: what are they for and how can you take advantage of these speakers?
Smart speakers or speakers have become popular in recent years, going from being very expensive devices designed to control a Smart House to equipment that can be very useful in any home. What can they do?
Thanks to the fact that they integrate artificial intelligence, these speakers can be used to control other devices in your home. For example, a television, lights, your sound system, air conditioning, among other compatible devices.
However, that is not their only function, since they can also be used as a virtual assistant. In this way, you will be able to obtain current information on the weather, news of interest (local and international), the price of the dollar, etc.
It is even possible to give them all kinds of commands such as setting an alarm at a certain time, making it remind you of something at a certain moment, playing your favorite song or favorite radio station, among other options.
Types of smart speakers
The first smart speaker was the Echo, a device created by Amazon in 2015 that comes with a virtual assistant called Alexa. A few months ago, the international version of this device was launched, which includes more local options.
Because of the success of the Echo, other companies launched similar products. Google, for example, introduced Home, a device that had its own artificial intelligence called Assistant. Currently, it has several models, including a mini one.
Another very popular smart speaker is HomePod, a product released by Apple in 2018 that comes with Siri. Like the previous ones, this speaker is available in several versions (which vary in price) and it is not necessary to have an iPhone.
Among the lesser-known smart speakers we have Portal, a device developed by Facebook that is shaped like a screen and has an integrated camera that allows the user to make video calls.
Another not so popular speaker is Movistar Home which uses an artificial intelligence called Aura from Telefónica. Because it is linked to the TV, you will be able to ask it for various actions such as changing the channel, turning up the volume, etc.
Finally, we have the Sonos One, a speaker created by the American company Sonos, which has two integrated artificial intelligences (Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa). It stands out above all for its excellent sound quality.
How to make the most of these speakers?
Before buying a smart speaker, you should take into account that they work with an internet connection (via Wi-Fi). Similarly, most must always be connected to power, since few models have an integrated battery.
A good way to take advantage of these devices is by linking other devices in our home. For example, you can forget about turning the lights off and on if you buy a set of smart lights that you can control with your voice.
You could also ask it to turn on your Smart TV, to activate the air conditioning in case you're hot, even some devices such as smart vacuum cleaners are compatible with these speakers.
Just like phones, some speakers need additional apps. For example, Amazon speakers require you to install 'skills' from other services (Spotify, Deezer) if you want to listen to music on those platforms.
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