Page 61 - iPhone Life Magazine - Spring 2020

unauthorized person from standing in shouting distance from ble to hackers. Apple HomeKit does not allow this; all smart
my HomePod and making changes to my private data. But, by devices have to connect through the home hub, and the hub
the time I had my iPhone out and unlocked, I could have used controls internet signals. Amazon’s vast array of third-party
my iPhone to get the task done and didn’t need an expensive skills and devices means that bad actors or people cutting
HomePod. corners can compromise the security of your network. Apple
Sometimes the Echo Show’s versatility is a weakness. sets high standards for the collection of HomeKit devices. If
There are more than a dozen devices in the Echo family, with you think that this sounds suspiciously like a verse from the
a variety of capabilities. Add in the complexity of installing Mac vs. PC song, then you’re right, it’s an old refrain: The
third-party skills, and you can end up with a lot of knobs to diversity of an open market versus the security of a curated
twist, which means a lot of places something can go wrong. one. When you’re telling your smart speaker all your daily
to-do lists, travel plans, contacts, and media preferences, it’s
hard not to ask: who do you trust more, Apple or Amazon?

“When you’re

The Verdict:
telling your smart

speaker all your

daily to-do lists,

travel plans,

contacts, and

media preferences,

it’s hard not to

ask: who do you

trust more, Apple

or Amazon?”

The Difference: I will be keeping the Echo Show and saying goodbye to the

HomePod. Even in a house deeply invested in the Apple eco-
Neither of these devices stands on its own. They each have system, the Alexa speaker adds value, new devices, new fea-
a three-fold purpose as a speaker, a voice assistant, and a tures, and new services. Is convenience trumping security?
smart home hub. The voice assistant functionality is only a For me, yes. For you, you’ll have to decide for yourself. Ѷ
stylish interface for the services provided by the platform and
parent company—services like turning on or off your smart
Cullen Thomas is a Writer and Producer at iPhone Life, creating tips and guides to
home lights, ordering goods, aggregating news, and commu-
help users unlock the full potential of their iOS and iPhone. Cullen spent nine years
nicating with your loved ones. These smart speakers can’t be as an instructor in media and communications at Maharishi University, lecturing on
separated from the companies they represent. a wide range of technical and artistic subjects,. Cullen is a fi lm-maker, a game de-
When you buy a smart speaker, especially one meant to signer, a sci-fi author, a coff ee connoisseur, and an obsessive nerd for all things tech.
bridge a smart home, you’re buying into the corporate plat-
form, ethos, and business strategy of the parent company.
The differences between Amazon and Apple are not just
cosmetic. They could prove to be the most important deciding
factor in your choice.
Nothing is more emblematic of this than how the two com-
panies handle the security of your network and personal data.
Amazon’s Alexa allows any smart device on your network to
connect to the internet. That makes those devices vulnera-

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