Your Xbox One May Soon Double as a Google Home

Soon, it looks like you will be able to control your Xbox using Google Assistant.

Microsoft is opening the door to more digital assistants you can chat with on your Xbox One. That means the day may come when you can swap Cortana for Google Assistant to get your pad ready for game night through your console.

Since the death of Kinect, Microsoft hasn't really provided users with a decent alternative for controlling your console via voice commands. Sure, you can use a headset to speak with Cortana, but who is wearing a headset while watching a movie, when all you want to do is control the volume on your TV?

The support rendered to Google Assistant means that Xbox users can control their console with much ease. It is now clear that the Xbox One owners will not need to have a Kinect or a headset to provide voice commands to the digital assistant. The full set of features that will be available to Xbox One owners is unknown, but this looks like an easy way to bring back the best elements of the Kinect without reviving the actual hardware

While every Windows 10 device has Cortana built-in, that’s one of the few places you’ll find Microsoft’s assistant. Google has its own line of Google Home devices comparatively the number of Cortana-enabled speakers is a resounding one. Playing catch up by releasing more Cortana-equipped devices might be one way to counter the tide, but offering the choice of digital assistants to users in a major console definitely beats being locked-in with a voice assistant you might never use.

An upcoming Xbox One software update will add support for Google Assistant to Microsoft’s gaming console. Based on an image leaked to the publication, the update will add a new “Digital assistants” section to the “Kinect & devices” menu where users will have the option to enable Assistant by simply checking a box. It then directs you to install the Xbox Actions/skills to get connected. The full range of features for those assistants remains unknown, but it could bring back many of the voice-assisted features abandoned Kinect users are yearning for.

E3 2018 is right around the corner, so it's possible that Microsoft might make some sort of official announcement then.

#googlehome #xboxone #googleassistant #voicetech #digitalassistant #E32018

All your reservations and purchases in one place, under Google Assistant

“Reservations” lets you “Check your upcoming and past reservations for flight, hotels, and events.”

This chronological list appears to be derived from Gmail and in the case of flights includes the airline, flight number, destination, and dates. Users can tap to get more details, like how it was generated, and open the email it originates from. Gmail already parses through your incoming email to find reservations for flights, hotels, car rentals, and more. It then adds them to your calendar, the Google Trips app, and notifies you about them through the Google app. Now it seems that these reservations are, rightfully, showing in Assistant's settings.

"Purchases" shows you purchases recognized by Google from your Gmail account.

These both are also accessible from web here:
Reservations - https://myaccount.google.com/reservations

Purchases - https://myaccount.google.com/purchases

With more and more things showing up in settings, Google Assistant is consolidating all the information that's relevant to you.

#googleassistant #smarthome #reservations #voicetech #purchases #digitalassistant

27% of the users worldwide are interested in AI-Based tools. https://bit.ly/2sZmhCt #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #Technology #DigitalAssistant #askamzur

Google and Volvo are working on integrating the Google Assistant into Volvo's next-gen Sensus infotainment system, and Android Automotive will get Google Assistant too.

Android developers have been building and growing great apps for cars for last few years. Drivers are benefiting from thoughtfully designed apps that provide safe and seamless connected experiences, whether they drive one of many Android Auto compatible cars or use the Android Auto app on their phones.

Today, thousands of apps for Android Auto are available through the Google Play Store for millions of drivers in over 30 countries around the world. And because the Google Assistant is available on Android Auto, developers are able to build voice-powered experiences on their apps that let drivers get things done while keeping their eyes on the road.

As we saw at I/O last year, Google is working with specific car brands to integrate the best of Android Auto into the native interface for some cars, meaning those cars essentially run on Android, but without needing your phone to work. But it doesn't end there -- great driving apps will soon reach beyond Android Auto users. Last year, carmakers Volvo Cars and Audi announced the development of new connected cars powered by Android. As an important next step, Google is now working with Volvo Cars to bring the Play Store and the Google Assistant directly into their next-generation cars, along with Google Maps.

Group messaging and RCS
Google now supports group messaging and RCS. Using the Google Assistant, you'll be easily communicate with a group of friends while keeping your hands on the wheel.

#googleassistant #androidautomotive #voicetech #androidauto #digitalassistant

"How to cut down in order to clip up"
Michael Balk our co-founder and professional trader of 7 years, shares his experience to help you size up


http://primeia.com/how-to-cut-down-in-order-to-clip-up/ …
#PRIMEIA #software #technology #digitalassistant #ai #trading @42trading

Chatbots May Ease Consumers' Customer Service Concerns https://hubs.ly/H0cw8mh0 #chat #bots #AI #customerservice #experience #ecommerce #marketing #retention #retail #communication #technology #digitalassistant #voice @eMarketer

For voice shopping, Google Assistant edges ahead of Amazon Alexa https://hubs.ly/H0cw84b0 #voiceassistant #AI #shopping #amazon #google #homeskillset #ecommerce #sales #marketing #advertising #adspend #voiceenabled #digitalassistant #payment @RetailDive

launches $160 #smartspeaker for #digitalassistant 'Alice' #Internet #Moscow http://russia.trendolizer.com/2018/05/yandex-launches-160-smart-speaker-for-digital-assistant-alice.html …----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It looks like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant are coming to Xbox One

We've been hearing for months that Microsoft was working on Alexa support for Xbox One, complete with voice control support via compatible Amazon Echo speakers. Today, we've seen hard evidence that not only shows Alexa support is coming, but also support for Google Assistant.

Since the death of Kinect, Microsoft hasn't really provided users with a decent alternative for controlling your console via voice commands. Sure, you can use a headset to speak with Cortana, but who is wearing a headset while watching a movie, when all you want to do is control the volume on your TV?

This picture comes to us from a reliable source who is familiar with Amazon and Microsoft's efforts to link Alexa and Cortana. In upcoming Xbox One builds, the Kinect & Devices menu should have a new "Digital Assistants" section, which lets you enable Alexa, Google Assistant, and Cortana, for use on your Xbox One. It then directs you to install the Xbox skills app for those respective platforms to get connected. The full range of features for those assistants remains unknown, but it could bring back many of the voice-assisted features abandoned Kinect users are yearning for.

Microsoft dropped the ball on Cortana's potential, pivoting her away from consumer capabilities and more into the productivity arena. As such, Cortana will soon be an "app" for Amazon Echo and probably other connected speakers, although she is available in a dedicated US-only speaker built by Harman/Kardon, called the Invoke. It looks like Microsoft is allowing Amazon and Google to step up to give us back some of those voice-assisted dedicated microphone features too.

As always, plans can change at any time before launch, but I expect we'll see an official announcement about this one sooner rather than later. Former Xbox console marketing lead Albert Penello recently joined Amazon specifically to grow the Echo's presence in gaming. With Kinect out of the picture, integrating other connected speakers with Xbox is a total no-brainer.

You can grab an Amazon Echo Dot speaker for as little as $39.99. If you want a higher-quality speaker, you can grab a regular Echo (in a range of colors) for $99, or a smart-home hub version for $149.

#XboxOne #AmazonAlexa #GoogleAssistant #Kinect #digitalassistant #voicecommand

#googlechrome #digitalassistant #chromefeatures  
How To Enable And Use Digital Assistant in Google Chrome