Column With "Alice": An Overview Of Portable "smart" Speakers. How To Set Up The Voice Assistant Inside? What Can "Alice" Do?

2024 Author: Beatrice Philips | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-18 12:09

According to the latest statistics, the demand for smart speakers is growing at a record pace. At the same time, gadgets with an integrated voice assistant function are worthy of special attention. It is for this reason that many users are interested in high-quality and objective reviews of smart speakers with "Alice" inside, as well as the criteria for choosing such devices presented on the market by different manufacturers.

Characteristics and functions of "Alice"

Before getting to know the devices in question more closely, it will be useful to understand their functionality and objectively assess the capabilities of the gadgets. Now on the vastness of the World Wide Web, you can easily find a sufficient number of detailed descriptions, thanks to which the user will know what a "smart" column is capable of.

The record popularity of the described electronic devices is mainly due to their functionality . As numerous reviews show, the object of interest of most users is a talking column with a built-in voice assistant function. When analyzing the principle of operation of such devices, it is necessary to pay attention to skills.

The overwhelming majority of the models on the market have a fairly rich arsenal of useful abilities, which list includes various functions.

• Music streaming . In this case, we are talking about the ability to play almost any track from one or another online service. This is ensured by the constant connection of the speaker to the global network.
• Play music through a Bluetooth headset . Most models of "smart" speakers have in their arsenal the option of setting up synchronization with a smartphone or other mobile device.
• Controlling Smart Home functions … According to statistics, in the United States of America, smart speakers are most often purchased for this very purpose. As a result, the user gets the opportunity to control almost all equipment in his home.
• Prompt provision of background information necessary to perform various household chores … The voice assistant can easily find everything there is to know on the Web, for example, about cleaning kitchen utensils or pipelines.
• Option targeted at audiobook lovers … According to reviews, this function is relevant for parents who do not have the ability to read ordinary books to their children.

It may seem that smart speakers with voice assistants are practically flawless. However, on the Internet, you can also find negative reviews about these popular gadgets. At the same time, it is worth noting that the topic of most negative posts is complaints about poor sound quality.

When comparing conventional portable and smart speakers in the same price range, the former will generally sound noticeably better.

It's no secret that artificial intelligence has the ability to self-study . One of the most striking examples is the voice assistant "Alice" from "Yandex", which the developers "settled" in "smart" speakers. The main advantages of such gadgets include their functionality. In order to use the services of an assistant, it is enough to give her the appropriate commands. After that, the user will be able to access such sections as, for example:

• "Fairy tales";
• "Zoology" - questions for children with the ability to guess animals, as well as a section dedicated to animals and their offspring;
• game "Find the extra", "Guess the number" or answer the "Riddles";
• section for lovers of mathematics;
• exciting games "Kiosk with lemonade", "Alphabet", "Edible inedible";
• Paint Mixer and Guess the Sound;
• a game in which you need to guess a fairy-tale character;
• section for tongue twisters lovers;
• "Cheerful speech therapist" and "Music Zoo";
• "X for a game".

Today, "Alice" can easily play with a child, assist in checking the text for literacy, tell about the situation on the roads and the weather .… And also the voice assistant will acquaint the user with the latest news and find his favorite music. An equally important point here is its interaction with the "Smart Home" systems. By the way, this function appeared in the arsenal of "Alice" relatively recently.

It should be noted that not without some inconsistencies . First of all, it should be borne in mind that the capabilities of the assistant are limited both by Yandex itself and by its partners. In this case, we are talking about services for ordering a taxi, making purchases online, as well as searching for films. Another important point is the lack of integration of accounts when interacting through Alice with partners of Yandex services.

In other words, you will need to log into each of the existing accounts, which creates certain inconveniences.

And also it should be taken into account that " Friendship" of the voice assistant with the aforementioned "Smart Home" system is still at the development stage … In particular, there have been reports of compatibility with devices from a number of major manufacturers. Their list includes Xiaomi and Redmond. In addition, Alisa is able to control devices manufactured under the Yandex brand itself, namely, a smart socket, a universal remote control, a light bulb and a TV set-top box.

List of smart speakers with voice assistant

Given the record growth in the popularity of smart speakers of this type, you can now find a fairly wide range of appropriate gadgets on the market. In addition to devices from Amazon and Google, as well as the aforementioned Yandex column with a speaking assistant, other devices began to appear on sale.

Today the user can choose a red or black "smart" column with "Alice".

Yandex. Station"

This gadget was born only in 2018. It is worth recalling that this small and “smart” speaker was the first such device capable of interacting with Russian-speaking users . The sales volumes of the device are showing good dynamics. So, in the first six months since the official presentation, about 40 thousand devices were sold. The reasons for this success include the following important points:

• relatively low cost - the speaker is almost half the price of the Home Pod model manufactured by Apple;
• high sound quality, which is a key criterion for those interested in video and audio content;
• recognition of the Russian language.

The library "Alice", integrated into this station, boasts a rich list of voice messages. In addition to the already mentioned recognition of Russian speech and high-quality surround sound (up to 50 W), the advantages of Yandex. Stations "should include:

• original design;
• the ability to connect the device to a TV;
• maximum ease of setup and operation;
• lucrative gifts from Yandex partners.

The main disadvantages of the station include the limited functionality. Users who do not have a Yandex. A plus.

Irbis A

This device appeared on the market at the end of 2018 and became a joint development of M. Video "and" Yandex ". In this version of the "smart" column, its creators have integrated "Alice". An important point in this was democratic cost of the device , which was immediately appreciated by users. It is worth considering that at a price that is half that of Yandex. Stations”, the model is not inferior to her in terms of functionality.

One of the key advantages of the Irbis A is its compactness. Those who are worried that such home appliances will "fall out" of the interior can be calm … At 160 grams of weight, the column is 5 cm high and 8.5 cm in diameter . But it is worth noting that such small sizes refer to both the pluses and minuses of the gadget. Fans of musical compositions are unlikely to like the almost complete lack of bass . The most rational way out in such a situation would be to connect the device to a more powerful speaker via connector 3, 2-jack.

Returning to the competitive advantages of the intelligent speaker with voice assistant "Alice" Irbis A, you need to pay attention to the following important points:

• Russian-language helper interface;
• the ability to connect to a stereo system;
• support for bluetooth.

Dexp SMARTBOX

In terms of functionality, this representative of the Dexp lineup can be called twin of the previous model of the Irbis brand . This portable smart speaker is powered by the Yandex IO operating system. He rightfully takes his place in the rating of gadgets with "Alice". Unlike its counterpart, the column released by the DNS company has the shape of a square with a side of 7 cm and a height of 2.8 cm.

The list of advantages of the "smart" column Smartbox from Dexp includes:

• compact size;
• Wi-Fi and Bluetooth support;
• Russian-speaking voice assistant;
• affordability;
• good volume and sound quality.

Naturally, this device also has significant drawbacks. And in this case we are talking about the lack of connectivity to a stereo system and other devices. In addition, you should pay attention to the mandatory presence of a Yandex. A plus.

Some users also complain that speech recognition sometimes does not occur immediately.

Elari SmartBeat

Studying reviews of new developments and ratings of smart speakers, you can understand that Elari is trying to keep up with competitors. It differs from the above-described Dexp Smartbox and Irbis A SmartBeat by the presence of an integrated rechargeable battery . Thanks to this feature and the absence of power wires, the speaker becomes a versatile and maximally mobile device. The battery capacity of 3200 mAh allows you to use the column for a long time without recharging. In such conditions, the gadget is able to function up to 5 hours when using Wi-Fi and "Alice" and up to 8 hours when connected in Bluetooth format.

In accordance with user reviews, Elari SmartBeat is characterized by a fairly high-quality sound (5 W). In addition, we will pay attention to the following important characteristics of this "smart" speaker:

• dimensions - 84x84x150 mm;
• weight - 415 g;
• the presence of a connector for connecting other digital devices.

Among other things, you need to consider the competitive cost of the speaker. And also when buying a device, a three-month Yandex. Music.

LG XBOOM AI ThinQ WK7Y

This gadget is the result of the work of the specialists of the Meridian company . It is made in a vertical form factor. At the same time, the control panel of the music player is located on the top of the device. Pairing with mobile devices is carried out via Bluetooth, and connection to the Network - using the Wi-Fi module.

The column received a 30-watt speaker from the developers and boasts support for popular codecs. The dimensions and weight of the device are 211X135 mm and 1.9 kg, respectively. It should be borne in mind that columns of extremely dark shades go on sale. The highlight of the model is the original design that attracts the attention of potential buyers.

When choosing a column, it is worth considering that everyone purchasing this model can count on a gift in the form of a three-month Yandex. A plus.

The main disadvantage of the column is its cost. In the United States of America, its price is about 200 USD.

Criterias of choice

At the moment, "smart" speakers for many are outlandish gadgets, and the mass consumer is just beginning to fully assess their capabilities. It is important to remember that such an interactive speaker is needed not only for playing music, like its usual wireless counterparts.

Taking into account the main characteristics and functionality of "smart" speakers, when choosing them, first of all, one should take into account the operating conditions of the gadget. However, even with rather modest model lines, many potential buyers have certain difficulties. Based on this, it is worth highlighting the most important selection criteria.

Taking into account the price category of the described devices, it is worth starting with their cost. Today, even taking into account the so-called gray sellers, the cheapest smart speaker model is unlikely to cost less than 3-4 thousand rubles. In this range, simplified versions of gadgets are available, which are called smart speakers.

Within 10 thousand Russian rubles, you can already choose a more advanced option, and the prices of flagships start at 15 thousand.

The next important point is integrated voice assistant … More recently, only columns were available to users. with three popular assistants, namely:

• Siri from Apple;
• Alexa from Amazon;
• Google Assistant.

Moreover, only the last option was with the support of the Russian language. In such conditions, the appearance of Yandex. Station ", described above, which" made friends "with the voice assistant" Alice ". Unfortunately, at this stage of its development, this device is significantly inferior in terms of functionality to its competitors.

At the same time, "Alice" in the columns has already learned how to search for music and films, play various games with children, and also quickly search for the necessary information at the user's request.

It should not be forgotten that the main characteristic of any speaker is, of course, sound quality … And it is with this parameter that some of the models of "smart" speakers available today have problems. Naturally, expensive modifications are equipped with low and tweeters, as well as subwoofers, due to which some of the latest models of technology can boast of sound power exceeding 50 watts. By the way, some devices can be paired into so-called stereo pairs to obtain the appropriate sound effect. But budget speakers, as a rule, give out a rather dull sound.

Another important parameter when choosing will be the gadget interface. Good, high quality models are equipped with Wi-Fi modules to connect to the Internet . In addition, Bluetooth is used to interact with other digital devices and transmit sound in this way.

Older and budget models may have a 3.5mm Jack connector, and on some you can even see HDMI.

When deciding before buying which "smart" speaker will be the best, it is recommended to pay attention to such a moment as the power supply of the device . In this case, two options are possible, and the choice will depend primarily on the operating conditions. In other words, a device that is powered through a wire from the mains can only be used permanently. More mobile will be models equipped with USB connectors that can be charged from a smartphone or tablet charger, as well as a Power Bank . Unfortunately, at the moment, developers do not pay enough attention to speakers with a built-in battery.

However, if you wish, you can find such models on sale.

Recommendations for configuration and operation

When purchasing a "smart" speaker, you should remember that it is a modern gadget equipped with a speaker, microphone and voice assistant capable of performing different commands. A similar device based on artificial intelligence works. In order to configure and control the column, use the following buttons:

• power on and off - to activate the device, you need to press the button and hold it in this position for a few seconds;
• challenge "Alice";
• sound volume control;
• deactivation of the microphone.

In addition to the listed controls, on the case of the smart speaker there are connectors for connecting other digital devices and charging.

Most often we are talking about microUSB and AUX 3.5 mm.

When operating the described samples of modern technology, appropriate attention should be paid to all stages. One of them is correct charging integrated battery. The points of the corresponding instruction are as follows:

1. connect the speaker to the mains via a USB cable and the corresponding adapter, which are included in the delivery set of the device - at this moment the LED indicator should light up;
2. wait for a full charge, which will be indicated by an extinguished indicator;
3. Turning off the column will speed up the charging process as much as possible.

Usually, smart speakers with Alice are not supplied with power supplies (adapters), and they have to be purchased separately.

Experienced users and experts recommend using devices with 5 V and no more than 1.5 A.

You should focus on the first activation of the gadget and its settings. In this case, we are talking about a number of manipulations:

1. pre-charge the battery for at least 30 minutes;
2. press and hold the power button for a few seconds;
3. install the Yandex application on any mobile device;
4. launch the installed application, log into your Yandex account;
5. in the "Devices" section, select the used smart speaker with a voice assistant inside;
6. connect the device to the Internet following the instructions and prompts of the application.

Now the popularity of such an option as voice control , which is becoming an integral part of many modern devices. Naturally, this trend could not be ignored by the developers of smart speakers. To interact with these "smart" devices, it is enough to simply call "Alice" and contact her, for example, with one of the following questions or requests:

• What is the weather expected in the coming days?
• How many calories are in a particular food?
• How to get around the traffic jam?
• What games can you play with your child?
• Turn on the music.
• Wake me up tomorrow at 6 in the morning.
• Remind me to turn off the water after 15 minutes.
• Tell me a story.

Among other things, the owner of the "smart" speaker has the ability to initiate the launch of "Alice" dialogs created by other users . To do this, it is enough to turn to the voice assistant with a request "Call a skill".

The list of available dialogs can be found on specialized sites.

Special attention should be paid to the operation of the speaker in Bluetooth mode. In this case, it is worth focusing on the following important points:

1. first of all, you will need to turn on the device in the above way;
2. in order to activate the considered option, it is enough to ask "Alice" to turn on Bluetooth;
3. the next step is to activate Bluetooth on the second device and initiate a search;
4. all that remains is to select a mating smart column from the list.

After all the above manipulations are completed, you can listen to music from external media. To use the smart speaker in AUX mode, you will need to connect an external device using the appropriate cable. Regardless of the functionality of the column, it is strongly recommended to carefully study the manufacturer's instructions before using it.