[jaggs]

"During our research, Android Authority was also able to obtain a copy of the Rabbit R1’s firmware. Our analysis reveals that Rabbit did not make significant modifications to the BSP (Board Support Package) provided by MediaTek. The R1, in fact, still ships with all the standard apps included in AOSP, as well as the many apps provided by MediaTek."

[throwaway11460]

That doesn't mean you can achieve the same result on an unmodified MIUI, Samsung OneUI or Google Pixel phone.

Even if the system app doesn't utilize much of it's permissions, it still at least won't be killed or denied from using microphone just because it's in the background or because the phone display is turned off.

And again - how do you achieve Google Assistant-like direct voice activation without system permissions? How do you get rid of Google Assistant without having a ROM that doesn't include it?

Yes perhaps building a standard AOSP and adding their app is enough, so you could flash your phone with a simple custom ROM to achieve what they did. But that is still significantly different from just installing the app on a standard Android phone.

BTW stuff like Google Assistant, Play store etc is not part of BSP or AOSP. The standard apps they refer to are things like the basic browser (not Chrome), dialer, launcher, settings and so on.

Also, it's possible their app wouldn't get through Play store review due to privacy/security concerns.

[MishaalRahman]

"Even if the system app doesn't utilize much of it's permissions, it still at least won't be killed or denied from using microphone just because it's in the background or because the phone display is turned off. And again - how do you achieve Google Assistant-like direct voice activation without system permissions? How do you get rid of Google Assistant without having a ROM that doesn't include it?"

Are you aware that the Rabbit R1 doesn't listen for voice input in the background? If it did you'd have a point and I would've brought that up, but it doesn't hence it CAN be replicated as a regular app.

All interactions on the R1 begin with a push of the PTT (push to talk button)

https://www.rabbit.tech/support/article/use-rabbit-r1

On Android, third-party apps can be set as the default assistant service, which allows them to be launched with a LPP gesture (long press power), diagonal swipe up from the sides when gesture navigation is enabled, or long press of the home button when 3-button navigation is enabled.

You are correct that enabling hotword wakeup support requires system-level access, but since that isn't a function offered by the R1 anyways, your point is moot.

[throwaway11460]

You're right, my bad. I must have mixed it up with the Humane product.

[jaggs]

Look, I'm sorry the Rabbit is dying on the vine. It's just one of those things. This is a hardware solution trying to find a problem - like the Humane Pin - and it's just not good enough to replace the phone in everyone's pocket. It sucks for the devs, but the initial call was bad. Have a good day!

[throwaway11460]

Sure, I'm not saying it's a good product. But this "criticism" reeks of amateur-level understanding of Android and doesn't seem valid. Criticize that it's overpriced and useless - but the way they built the software makes sense.

[MishaalRahman]

I am well aware of how Android works, but you seem to have a misunderstanding about how the R1 works. Your point is invalid because of that.

[jaggs]

Of all the things I think we could accuse Android Authority of, amateurism doesn't really come top of the list I think. :)

[throwaway11460]

Apparently it does. This is just bullshit. They didn't explain how they achieved feature parity - because they didn't. They just wanted to ride on the hate wave. "Weeee it's just an Android app on AOSP, just make an app loool" - sure, so show us it actually does the same thing.

You can't because the standard Android phone operating systems and Play store restrictions don't allow it. You need to build (slightly) customized AOSP and flash it to do the same thing. Or root the phone, but that's still very distant from "it could be just an app".

BTW I would love if there was a way to do it. I have my own humble voice assistant system and just installing it as an app on my phone to fully replace Google Assistant would be perfect. But you can't do that (and of course it's a total nonstarter on iOS), so it runs on a Raspberry Pi with standard Raspbian and the app package - practically the same solution.