Speaker maker Sonos launches its own voice assistant

Most voice assistants transfer your instructions to the Internet, where they are immediately analyzed and then sent back to the corresponding smart device (which then performs the desired action). But at Sonos, we see that a lot of users don’t appreciate this kind of thing, because they’re worried about their privacy.

“Hello Sonos”

To remedy this, Sonos, which has plenty of smart speakers with microphones in its range, has developed its own voice solution: Sonos Voice Control. This processes the instructions entirely on the device itself. “No audio recordings or transcripts are sent to the cloud, stored, listened to or played back,” according to Sonos.

An important difference with Siri (Apple), Alexa (Amazon) and Google Assistent is that Sonos Voice Control is not an all-terrain voice assistant: for the weather, calendar appointments or interesting information on Wikipedia, you will effectively miss the point. direction with this newcomer. But for controlling your Sonos music setup, the solution is simply superior, according to its producer.

With ‘Hey Sonos’, followed by a short instruction, it should be, for example, much easier for you (you understand: easier than with one of the existing voice assistants) to group branded speakers or ‘grab’ your music favorite from room to room. We know from experience that it’s not really easy with Siri or Google Assistant in particular. Voice Control would also react to very natural commands like ‘volume up!’. Sonos also boasts that its solution is faster than the competition, precisely because there is no Internet communication.

Not yet Spotify

It goes without saying that you can use a simple voice command to listen to your favorite music, without sending any information to the Internet. There is certainly a ‘but’ not minor, since Sonos Voice does not collaborate with Spotify yet. This will be, he says, for a ‘later phase’. The services that will be well supported in any case will be Apple Music, Deezer, Pandora (especially for the American market) and Sonos Radio.

It is obvious that for Spotify, you can always use Google Assistant for example. But there’s still a time limit here: using two crossover voice assistants only works with the Amazon Alexa – Sonos Voice combo. In other words, if you prefer to use Google Assistant, you won’t have access to Sonos Voice.

However, the main restriction for our local market is that Sonos Voice will only be introduced on the 1^Ahem June than in the United States in American English. Of course, the solution can also be used with us in principle, but it remains to be seen whether users will find it more practical than, for example, Google Assistant in their native language. You should also know that for the American version, Sonos has managed to attract actor Giancarlo Esposito, known for his roles in Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul and The Mandalorian.

Later this year, Sonos Voice will also be available in France. Other markets will follow, with the timing yet to be revealed.

Most voice assistants transfer your instructions to the Internet, where they are immediately analyzed and then sent back to the corresponding smart device (which then performs the desired action). But at Sonos, we see that many users don’t appreciate this kind of thing, because they are concerned about their privacy. To remedy this, Sonos, which has plenty of smart speakers with microphones in their range, has developed its own voice. solution: Sonos voice control. This processes the instructions entirely on the device itself. “No audio recordings or transcripts are sent to the cloud, stored, listened to or played back,” according to Sonos. An important difference from Siri (Apple), Alexa (Amazon) and Google Assistant is that Sonos Voice Control is not a whole – On-the-ground voice assistant: For the weather, appointments on the agenda, or interesting information on Wikipedia, you won’t really be heading in the right direction with this newcomer, but for ordering your Sonos music setup, the solution is simply superior, according to your producer. With ‘Hey Sonos’, followed by a brief instruction, it should be, for example, much easier (read: easier than with ‘one of the existing voices’ assistants) to group branded speakers or ‘bring ‘ your favorite music from room to room. We know from experience that it’s not really easy with Siri or Google Assistant in particular. Voice Control would also react to very natural commands like ‘volume up!’ Sonos also boasts that your solution is faster than the competition, precisely because there is no Internet communication. It goes without saying that you can, by means of a simple voice command, play your favorite music and this, without sending any information to the Internet. . There is certainly a ‘but’ not minor, since Sonos Voice does not collaborate with Spotify yet. This will be, he says, for a ‘later phase’. The services that will be well supported in any case will be Apple Music, Deezer, Pandora (especially for the American market) and Sonos Radio. Obviously for Spotify, you can always use Google Assistant for example. But there’s still a time limit here: using two crossover voice assistants only works with the Amazon Alexa – Sonos Voice combo. In other words, if you prefer to use Google Assistant, you won’t have access to Sonos Voice. However, the main restriction for our domestic market is that Sonos Voice will only be released in the United States on June 1 in American English. Of course, the solution can also be used with us in principle, but it remains to be seen whether users will find it more practical than, for example, Google Assistant in their native language. You should also know that for the US version, Sonos has managed to attract actor Giancarlo Esposito, known for his roles in Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul and The Mandalorian. Later this year, Sonos Voice will also be available in France. Other markets will follow, with the timing yet to be revealed.