Thanks to Elly for a couple of links related to voice assistants. On an unrelated topic, I was lamenting that as long as Windows 10 is as buggy (or buggier!) than 10 Roach Motels, the lure of Cortana was less & less. She provided a Wired article on voice assistants:
https://www.wired.com/story/voice-assistants-arent-so-easy-to-fire/, and a link to this: https://mycroft.ai/.
Mycroft is a Linux-based personal voice assistant that is customizable. The Mycroft Mark I is wide & flat with a robot-looking face & a British accent. It was funded on Kickstarter & retails at the website for $179.99. The Mycroft Mark II is currently on Kickstarter, fully funded & has 15 days left in the campaign. The Mark II is similar to Amazon Echo, Google Home, Harman Kardon INVOKE, & Apple HomePod. What makes it different, IMO, is a small screen that can display basic information as well as voice it. For Mark II, besides other funding levels, $99 gets you a DIY version with everything but a housing, & $129 gets you a built, ready-to-use unit. Both estimated to deliver in December this year.
BTW; why the name ‘Mycroft’? After Mycroft Holmes, Sherlock’s older & smarter, but lazier brother. Makes sense to me; all voice assistants sit around, give you advice, & send your requests to others to actually get them done!
Bought a refurbished Windows 10 64-bit, currently updated to 22H2. Have broke the AC adapter cord going to the 8.1 machine, but before that, coaxed it into charging. Need to buy new adapter if wish to continue using it.
Wild Bill Rides Again...
