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Opinion: HomePod one month later, and why the future looks so bright [Video]
One popular saying in basketball is that you can’t teach height. Short players can work on fundamentals, but once they’ve finished growing, they can never grow taller.
However, basketball fundamentals can be improved and enhanced over time. Unlike height, fundamentals can be acquired through hard work.
The HomePod is similar in that a strong hardware foundation has been laid at the outset. You can’t go back and retrofit it with better internals, so Apple made sure that the HomePod had the hardware to sound superb out of the gate.
Likewise, Apple is betting on the fact that over time the hard work of its engineering team can help shore up the device’s most glaring deficiency — Siri… more…
YouTube Giveaway: Spring cleaning 2018 edition — featuring LaMetric Time, Akitio Thunder 3 Quad Mini, Samsung Gear 360, more [Video]
Each month on our YouTube channel we give away Apple-related products, usually items that we’ve covered in the past on 9to5Mac. For example, in January we gave away the CalDigit AV Pro 2, and in February we gave away the Akitio Thunder3 Quad X. For March, we’ve upped the ante a bit and are giving away a massive box of Apple-related kit with spring cleaning in mind. Items include the Akitio Thunder 3 Quad Mini, LaMetric Time, Samsung Gear 360 (2017 version), Mantiz Venus eGPU enclosure, and much more. more…
Review: HomePod today, tomorrow, and beyond may not be the same smart speaker
We are now one month out since HomePod was released, and I’ve been using Apple’s smart speaker every day since it launched. First on the road while traveling, then at home with a variety of other smart speakers.
My thoughts on HomePod have shifted over that period, but my key takeaway is this: HomePod is the best smart speaker for Apple Music subscribers in the Apple ecosystem, but the experience needs to evolve before it’s ready for the masses.
The bottom line for me is that I really enjoy using HomePod myself — for hours at a time every day — but I wouldn’t gift HomePod (or any other smart speaker) to a family member just yet. HomePod just isn’t that straightforward yet. Apple Watch crossed the family friendly threshold for me with version two, and AirPods were gift-worthy from day one for comparison.
HomePod instead feels more like the fourth generation Apple TV. That product debuted with new capabilities like Siri control and an app platform, but took a few software updates over several months to feel closer to complete with a proper remote app and basic features like dictating text in search boxes and app folders.
HomePod has a lot of that low hanging fruit just waiting to be picked — not to mention major feature additions that could dramatically improve the experience for mainstream customers — all without requiring new hardware.
Amazon’s Alexa gaining new ‘Follow-up Mode’, no longer requires trigger word after every request
The most annoying thing about digital assistants is that you have to say a trigger word after every request, with few exceptions. Whether it be “Hey Siri”, “Ok Google”, or “Alexa”, it can become increasingly tiresome, especially if you’re trying to have a fluid conversation.
Scaffolding rises at Apple’s Fifth Avenue construction site, signaling return of iconic glass cube
As seen in new photos taken outside the work site, familiar cube-sized scaffolding has risen above the construction barriers at Apple’s flagship Fifth Avenue store in New York City.
9to5Rewards: Win a HomePod + $500 gift cards & get 30% off Caseco products [Giveaway]
In case you missed our announcement, we’ll be selecting a winner to receive one space gray Apple HomePod and a $500 gift card courtesy of our sponsor Caseco. On top of our grand prize for the HomePod and $500 gift card, Caseco will be giving away a second $500 gift card to a runner-up. Head below for your chance to win, and get 30% off Caseco accessories with promo code “9to5Mac30off“ for a limited time..
Barclays analyst report suggests ‘AirPods 2’ with better noise cancelling coming in early 2019
Barclays has released its latest analyst report. The analysts, who have a mixed track record of accuracy, indicate continued iPhone 8 and iPhone X ‘weakness’ is being partly offset by continued sales of iPhone 7. Most interestingly, the report says to expect new AirPods in early 2019 with noise cancelling features.
Due to the small form factor of AirPod earbuds, noise cancelling is very unlikely to rival bigger cans with active noise cancellation like the Beats Studio 3. However, Barclays suggests that there will be design changes and improvements over the current AirPods.
Apple first tech company set up for ‘multigenerational success’, book argues, but that may hinge on Siri
A new article today from L2 takes a look at an excerpt from the NYT bestseller, The Four: The Hidden DNA of Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google. Among the takeaways from the chapter, the author shares some interesting ideas on Apple’s success as it has moved from the dominating tech world to becoming an icon in the fashion industry. However, even though Apple could be the first tech company to have a good shot at multigenerational success, it has some serious competition to overcome from Amazon and its Alexa platform.
Hands-on w/ the iPhone-size ‘Crave Plus’ 10,000 mAh Portable Charger + 40% off deal [Video]
The Crave Plus is a portable charger with an iPhone-like design that packs in an impressive 10,000 mAh battery to charge your iPhone and other devices up to 3 times. Thanks to our sponsor Crave, 9to5 readers can get an exclusive 40% off for a limited time.
Get Crave Plus for 40% off with promo code 9to5Mac $47.99 (Reg. $79.99)
But it’s not just the size of an iPhone. The designed-in-America Crave Plus also takes a lot of design cues from Apple’s phones with its aluminum finish and rounded corners. That makes it a perfect companion to slide in your pocket next to your iPhone 7, 8, or X. With our 40% off discount, you can get the Crave Plus for its lowest price ever, $47.99.
Warner Music Group latest to team up with Facebook to add music to memories and moments
9to5Toys Lunch Break: Apple HomePod $272, 13″ Touch Bar MacBook Pro $1,440, urBeats3 from $69, more
Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications. more…
Google teases March 10th ‘Mario Day’ event on Maps as it starts popping up for some users
Google Maps often ties in with pop culture for special events or easter eggs, and apparently, there’s another one on the way.
After Face ID to unlock your iPhone, face-recognition could be the new airline boarding pass
Apple is not the only company betting on face-recognition as the best form of identification – both airports and airlines are trialling systems for departing and arriving passengers …
Amazon’s stock price trajectory could see it beat AAPL to become first trillion dollar company
10 Things I Wish I Knew Before Building My First Facebook Messenger Bot
They say you learn more through failure than success. After building bots for a few years, I’d say I definitely agree.
While I’ve had a head start, I know many businesses are thinking about bots for the first time. That’s why I want to share ten things I wish I knew before I started. Learn from my mistakes and build better Facebook Messenger bots, sooner.
1. Do Fewer Things Better
Spend more time planning than building. Figure out the single most impactful function you can expose or create through Messenger.
When I first started building bots, I got carried away with all the exciting things that I could do. I didn’t spend enough time focusing on the one thing that I should do. Remember, bots are a tool. You need an business application and strategy to put them to use.
2. Conversational Copywriting is Different
Talking to our friends is natural because we do it every day. It’s much harder to zoom out and break down the art of how we message our friends.
We use more than words to express ourselves. Messenger supports a variety of expressive mediums, like emojis, stickers, and gifs. In 2017, users shared over 1.7 billion emojis every day on the platform. My friends say about 5% of them came from me. Figure out what’s the most appropriate and delightful way to engage with your users.
3. Realize Who’s on Messenger (and Who Isn’t)
In my early days, I didn’t realize the sheer number of people that user Messenger on a regular basis. With over 1.3 billion monthly active users, it doesn’t feel that far off.
It’s a global behemoth, but every country has their preferred messaging app — and it’s not always Facebook Messenger. For example, WhatsApp (technically another Facebook-owned platform) dominates usage in Latin American countries. Before you commit to a platform, take the time to understand your audience and where they spend their time. You want to meet them where they already are — not force engagement on an app they don’t even use.
4. Your Bot Doesn’t Need to Be a Genius Right Now
Most companies and journalists in this space have let you down. They’ve set an expectation that all-knowing AI is here — and that your bot needs to be powered by state-of-the-art artificial intelligence in order to be valuable.
That’s bullsh*t. When I first started building bots, I didn’t realize that plain old IF/THEN logic trees are actually a great way to build a Messenger bot your users will enjoy engaging with. If you can read a “pick-your-path” adventure book, you can build a bot.
5. Don’t Deceive Users
Most people don’t care who — or what — solves their problem. There’s a misguided stigma that bots will always be a bad experience for users. That’s not true.
It’s the bots that pretend to be human that frustrate us. It only takes consumers a few questions to figure out what’s going on. Make sure your users know they’re talking to a bot from the very start of their interaction, and be clear about what users can and can’t expect from your Messenger bot.
6. Solve for Utility, Then Delight
Your bot can — and should — have personality without trying to be a person. Conversational copywriting lets you weave in enjoyable experiences at every turn. But delight shouldn’t be your bot’s primary purpose.
I’ve built plenty of bots that were fun but provided no value. Those experiences taught me to focus on utility early on, not delight. Solve a real problem first and iterate on the rest over time.
7. You Can’t Just Replace Your Humans With Bots
Automating everything would be a bad experience. And handling everything yourself would not be scalable. That’s why humans and bots need to work together.
I learned that it starts with thinking about what you’re asking the user to do. Bots are great for repeatable and predictable conversations. But when it’s a delicate situation, like sales or customer care, opt for people if you can. Bots empower humans to focus more on important conversations.
8. Plan for Growth
In “Field of Dreams”, Kevin Costner said “if you build it, they will come.”
Great advice for building a movie baseball field, but horrible advice for marketing. The biggest problem with Messenger bots is people finding them in the first place. But it’s easy to get more messages to your bot. Start with small wins, like a CTA on your website or Facebook page.
9. Everyone Expects Certain Things
No matter what purpose your bot serves, users always want the ability to unsubscribe, restart the conversation, or talk to a human. There are certain implied things that consumers expect all Messenger bots to be able to handle.
The best way to plan for these is to crack open a thesaurus and make a list of all the ways users might request these core functions. Then make sure your bot can handle them. There’s nothing more frustrating for a user than not being able to unsubscribe.
10. It Will Break. A Lot.
Bots are still very new, and there’s a good chance that many of your users have never talked to one before. New users might not fully understand the limitations of a bot right away, and they will it’s likely that their conversation will start to stray away from how you want it to go.
Error messages are an overlooked part to building great Messenger bots. Spend time on them. Make sure they’re a seamless part of the experience.
Swift the fastest-growing programming language, as it breaks into top 10
Millennials feel closer emotional bond to Apple than any other brand, says large-scale brand survey
An annual Brand Intimacy survey – designed to determine which brands generate the strongest emotional bonds with consumers – has once again given top billing to Apple …
Personal Branding: How to Create and Market Yourself
Want to reach more subscribers, fans, or prospects? Wondering how building a personal brand can help? To explore how to build and use a personal brand, I interview Chris Ducker. More About This Show The Social Media Marketing podcast is an on-demand talk radio show from Social Media Examiner. It’s designed to help busy marketers, […]
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