• Siri Can Now Search Through Best Buy's Entire Product Database

    by
    Phillip Swanson
    Published on 2011-12-17 01:46 AM
    17 Comments Comments



    Siri can now find users the best deal on anything sold in Best Buy. Wait, people still shop at Best Buy?

    No this isn’t some marketing ploy by Best Buy to delay their inevitable demise. Rather, it is a result of Wolfram Alpha’s clever use of Best Buy’s public APIs. Siri uses Wolfram to search for answers to certain questions users ask the digital assistant. Wolfram is using the previously mentioned Best Buy APIs to give users access to more than 35,000 appliances and consumer electronics sold at Best Buy.

    Currently the search results are in a simple graph format listing product brand names, models, and prices. While the layout is the same as other Siri-Wolfram search results, the ability for Apple to utilize Best Buy’s public APIs could lead to more involved search results, complete with product images, categories, and other data according to 9to5Mac.

    While I like to believe there is a special place in hell reserved for Best Buy, the ability for Apple to utilize company’s custom APIs to enrich the search result experience is intriguing. Imagine searching for “cheapest earbuds” and having the search results display earbuds by category, brand, and price via an interactive flow chart that would cull data from Newegg, Amazon, and whatever other online retailers the user frequently shops.

    I wouldn’t mind completely hands-free shopping. Would you?

    Source: 9to5Mac
    This article was originally published in forum thread: Siri Can Now Search Through Best Buy's Entire Product Database started by Phillip Swanson View original post
    1. Categories:
    2. iPhone,
    3. iOS,
    4. Apple,
    5. Mac,
    6. iPad
    Comments 17 Comments
    1. R.Mortera's Avatar
      R.Mortera - 2011-12-17, 01:54 AM
      Nice, I'll give this a try.
    1. sziklassy's Avatar
      sziklassy - 2011-12-17, 02:11 AM
      I don't get it. Was this a failed attempt at ripping on Best Buy? Inevitable demise? WTF?
    1. Phillip Swanson's Avatar
      Phillip Swanson - 2011-12-17, 02:16 AM
      Quote Originally Posted by sziklassy View Post
      I don't get it. Was this a failed attempt at ripping on Best Buy? Inevitable demise? WTF?
      Their business model is unsustainable. My brother almost accepted a position in their Supply Chain department. He declined the offer because everyone of his business mentors told him BBs retirement aka "stock options" were going to be worthless within the next 10-15 years. Big Box retailers, unless they transition successfully to an online marketplace, won't last.

      Too much inventory, not enough sales, razor thin margins, the only money they make is on Rocket Fish cables which employees can buy for $3 a pop (hmdi) with their discount.
    1. Taimani's Avatar
      Taimani - 2011-12-17, 02:26 AM
      It's like best buy slept with you gave you syphilis changed their number and on top of it....your pregnant. Hahaha best buy is bloody awesome and I buy all my electronics from there....nobody(brick and mortar) gives discounts on apple products except them and their coverage compared to apples? Come on now. Anyways great article besides that.
    1. Cer0's Avatar
      Cer0 - 2011-12-17, 02:38 AM
      I avoid Best Buy as much as I can. The mark up on some of their items is way to much.
    1. Nintendo Tim's Avatar
      Nintendo Tim - 2011-12-17, 02:52 AM
      Quote Originally Posted by Phillip Swanson View Post
      Too much inventory, not enough sales, razor thin margins, the only money they make is on Rocket Fish cables which employees can buy for $3 a pop (hmdi) with their discount.
      Our discount has been capped at 50% off. We still pay "5% above cost", but they made the change about a few months ago. It's helped me move to monoprice for all of my cable purchases, rather than pay the extra $2 for convenience.

      If I say anymore - or what's going thru my head as someone "from the inside" - I feel some ninja dressed in blue and khaki is going to reign terror upon me in the form of a pink slip.
    1. iLoveWindows&iPhone's Avatar
      iLoveWindows&iPhone - 2011-12-17, 03:09 AM
      One of the oddest posts I've seen. Why all the hate for Best Buy? What part of the country do you live in? I live in San Diego, CA, and here Best Buy is VERY popular. Perhaps you live in a different country or world then I.

      Most people I know (and dont know) go to Best Buy for anything tech related. It is by far the most popular electronics store, and one of the more popular stores in general. It has a great reputation, with both customers and employees.

      I had a friend who loved it when they worked there before leaving for school. Higher pay then most employers, lots of room to advance, and regular raises. I've only heard good things.

      The few people that I have encountered that dislike Best Buy are "Tech Snobs", and don't want to go to a store where they feel "superior" to the staff working there.

      Personally I like best buy simply because they have some great deals (Xbox 360 slim 250gb, fable 3, halo reach, 3 months Xbox live, $200!! So happy bout that one!)

      I haven't crunched the numbers, and don't know there future business outlook, stocks, etc....but they have a great reputation, and most people love shopping there, and it is the average persons "go to" spot for any electronics. That will take you pretty far.
    1. Cer0's Avatar
      Cer0 - 2011-12-17, 03:15 AM
      Quote Originally Posted by iLoveWindows&iPhone View Post
      One of the oddest posts I've seen. Why all the hate for Best Buy? What part of the country do you live in? I live in San Diego, CA, and here Best Buy is VERY popular. Perhaps you live in a different country or world then I.

      Most people I know (and dont know) go to Best Buy for anything tech related. It is by far the most popular electronics store, and one of the more popular stores in general. It has a great reputation, with both customers and employees.

      I had a friend who loved it when they worked there before leaving for school. Higher pay then most employers, lots of room to advance, and regular raises. I've only heard good things.

      The few people that I have encountered that dislike Best Buy are "Tech Snobs", and don't want to go to a store where they feel "superior" to the staff working there.

      Personally I like best buy simply because they have some great deals (Xbox 360 slim 250gb, fable 3, halo reach, 3 months Xbox live, $200!! So happy bout that one!)

      I haven't crunched the numbers, and don't know there future business outlook, stocks, etc....but they have a great reputation, and most people love shopping there, and it is the average persons "go to" spot for any electronics. That will take you pretty far.
      I live where there headquarters is, MN. They get mixed feelings about them here.
    1. hogcia's Avatar
      hogcia - 2011-12-17, 03:49 AM
      Well I love shopping online. No tax! Been shopping electronics @ newegg for years.😄😄
    1. sziklassy's Avatar
      sziklassy - 2011-12-17, 03:58 AM
      Quote Originally Posted by Phillip Swanson View Post
      Their business model is unsustainable. My brother almost accepted a position in their Supply Chain department. He declined the offer because everyone of his business mentors told him BBs retirement aka "stock options" were going to be worthless within the next 10-15 years. Big Box retailers, unless they transition successfully to an online marketplace, won't last.

      Too much inventory, not enough sales, razor thin margins, the only money they make is on Rocket Fish cables which employees can buy for $3 a pop (hmdi) with their discount.
      You have said enough here for me to know that you have no idea what you're talking about. I thank you for this.

      Quote Originally Posted by hogcia View Post
      Well I love shopping online. No tax! Been shopping electronics @ newegg for years.
      This is going to change here in the coming year (referring to no tax).
    1. metaserph's Avatar
      metaserph - 2011-12-17, 04:02 AM
      Best Buy is a 13 billion dollar a year business and their stock dropping percentage points is not a forecast of their demise. Anyways and more importantly, their API's being available to Siri might turn out to be the precursor of "the next best thing" for retailers, voice-activated shopping. (Of course picking up your phone and calling notwithstanding).
      Siri is the hottest thing and competition looms in the horizon. Siri-searches, finds your product options, shows you the pricing matrix and allows you to complete a sale, think about it. Just a thought...
    1. Joseph_Prophet's Avatar
      Joseph_Prophet - 2011-12-17, 04:30 AM
      Quote Originally Posted by Cer0 View Post
      I live where there headquarters is, MN. They get mixed feelings about them here.
      Same. I've lived all over the west coast, and no matter where I go Best Buy is always THE place to go for your electronics. I was there last week getting a new pair of headphones and the place was packed.
    1. ayeyobro's Avatar
      ayeyobro - 2011-12-17, 07:28 AM
      I think Best Buy as cool as it is is probably doomed to fail. But uh cool about the siri thing to? Lol
    1. trevorrawson's Avatar
      trevorrawson - 2011-12-17, 10:08 AM
      Went into Best Buy a few months back to get a micro usb cable so I could jailbreak my Apple TV. The salesman told me that there was no such thing. Went in not long after (fool me once) looking for a Mini Display to HDMI adapter which I had seen on their website. Was once again told by the salesman that there was no such thing.

      Thank you Best Buy...
    1. justibackwardsn's Avatar
      justibackwardsn - 2011-12-17, 10:34 AM
      Quote Originally Posted by trevorrawson View Post
      Went into Best Buy a few months back to get a micro usb cable so I could jailbreak my Apple TV. The salesman told me that there was no such thing. Went in not long after (fool me once) looking for a Mini Display to HDMI adapter which I had seen on their website. Was once again told by the salesman that there was no such thing.

      Thank you Best Buy...
      There's no such thing as Best Buy.
    1. xclusiveiphone's Avatar
      xclusiveiphone - 2011-12-17, 12:26 PM
      Feature is useless considering how inaccurate the database is. I would never shop at best buy anyways bunch of rip off items.
    1. trevorrawson's Avatar
      trevorrawson - 2011-12-17, 07:32 PM
      Quote Originally Posted by justibackwardsn View Post
      There's no such thing as Best Buy.
      Agreed

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