Internet-enabled device maker Yandex is collaborating with Xiaomi on what it claims is the first smart display powered by Alice, Xiaomi’s virtual smart home assistant.
It is the first collaboration between Yandex and Chinese electronic device vendor Xiaomi. The smart display combines Xiaomi’s hardware components with Yandex’s software.
It is not often that the smart home market gets a new competitor to the giants in the market, Amazon, Google and Apple. But this collaboration is probably going to target markets not controlled by these vendors such as China, Eastern Europe and other emerging markets.
Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri are staples of virtual assistants in the world and Yandex and Xiaomi are looking to add Alice to the fray in order to offer another competitor to the smart home market.
What it can do
The Yandex smart display allows users to hear Alice’s responses and see them on the screen. The device can be used to stream videos and music, manage smart home devices, make calls and more.
The device can be controlled with voice commands or via the 10-inch touchscreen display. Some of the commands can be to turn on a TV show, play a music album, set a timer, find information online, check the weather or news.
The hub can also control smart home devices via voice such as asking Alice to turn on the light or start a robot vacuum, close the blinds, lock doors and more.
