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Google Set to Announce Amazon Echo Rival, Codenamed 'Chirp'

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Google is working on a standalone hardware device that will integrate the company's search and voice assistant technology, reports Recode.

According to sources, the product is said to be similar to Google's smart home enabled OnHub wireless router and is set to compete against the likes of Amazon's Echo.

20150818-google-onhub-router.0

OnHub wireless router (Image: Google)

Google declined to comment on the rumor, but the project, said to be known internally as 'Chirp', is expected to be officially announced at next week's Google I/O developer conference, where voice search and intelligent personal assistance are to take center stage alongside the company's latest forays into virtual reality.

In 2014, Google acquired connected device company Nest, which reportedly had its own designs for an Echo competitor running Google's search technology, but scrapped the plans because of concerns over consumer privacy.

After launching the Echo over a year ago, Amazon announced in March two new additions to its lineup of voice-controlled smart hubs that house the company's personal assistant, Alexa.

Top Rated Comments

69Mustang Avatar
131 months ago
Doesn't like FUD to me.

Btw, I'm a moderator who volunteers my time, I'm not getting paid by MAcRumors and I have a right to my opinions ;)


Couple of things. I knew you to be a Mod, but you've changed your title to Staff Member. Yes, you do have a right to your opinions. I stated you know your original post to be both untrue and FUD. Your follow up post leads me to believe I was wrong in assuming you knew it was untrue. Apparently you don't. You said this:
Really, their whole business model is setup to sell user information to advertisers.
It's 100% untrue. The chart you provided? Yeah, it doesn't support what you said either. That chart shows Google's revenue is primarily ad generated. We all knew that. It does not show, nor is it an indicator of Google selling user information to advertisers. That's not me being pedantic. It just isn't true. Google does datamine. So does everyone else, including Apple. Google sells ad space to advertisers based on anonymized user data. Advertisers have no idea who you are or why their ad is placed on your screen.

If Google sold user information, they would be out of business. Why would Google sell their most valuable commodity? If advertisers have your information, they don't need Google.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
fitshaced Avatar
131 months ago
You: Hey Chirp, please provide all my personal details to every retail company on the planet.

Chirp: I'm sorry I didn't quite catch that.

You: I said plea-

Chirp: Just kidding. Spam imminent.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Madmic23 Avatar
131 months ago
I didn't change my title, xenforo did.


that's why Google scans emails - to sell adds - that doesn't seem like FUD and 100% untrue to me.
Yes, Google has a program that auto scans your emails looking for keywords. But they don't have some guy in a room reading it, calling up advertisers saying "Hey, guess what maflynn ('https://forums.macrumors.com/members/maflynn.311274/') just wrote in an email? I'll tell you for $20!"

It's data mining to put relevant ads in front of you. No one sees your information except for you.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
131 months ago
Doesn't like FUD to me.

Btw, I'm a moderator who volunteers my time, I'm not getting paid by MAcRumors and I have a right to my opinions ;)


I don't know why you posted that chart. It doesn't give any proof to your claim that " their whole business model is setup to sell user information to advertisers"

I don't think anyone is arguing that Google's main business model is advertising.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
69Mustang Avatar
131 months ago
I have an Amazon Echo, and trust Amazon far more than I ever will Google and Google related device. Google does not deny they complete data it's in there Terms and Policy.
You obviously haven't read Amazon's Privacy Policy. It reads very similarly to Google's and Apples. Here it is:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html/ref=footer_privacy?ie=UTF8&nodeId=468496&ascsubtag=2769456|google.com|||36,29,12|1|#GUID-A2C397AB-68FE-4592-B4A2-7550D73EEFD2__SECTION_87C837F9CCD84769B4AE2BEB14AF4F01

To be clear, there's nothing wrong with the privacy policy from any of those companies. It's quite interesting to me that so many people think they are completely different. It's almost as if they were all written from the same boiler plate document and just changed slightly to suit each company.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
131 months ago
I didn't change my title, xenforo did.


that's why Google scans emails - to sell adds - that doesn't seem like FUD and 100% untrue to me.
Not just to sell ads (note ADS not personal information) - but also to speed searches up on your email. I know that when I search within my gmail for something - it pops up instantly. I can't say the same for Apple Mail.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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