How I Use My R1 Rabbit: A Daily Overview
Morning Routine:
- Weather Report: First thing in the morning, I ask my R1 for the weather update of the day. It’s quick and helps me plan my day accordingly.
- News Updates: I also check the top headlines to stay informed on what’s happening around the world.
Throughout the Day:
- Word and Expression Meanings: Whenever I come across unfamiliar words or expressions, I ask the Rabbit for definitions or explanations. It’s like having a personal dictionary and translator at hand.
- Recording and Transcriptions: I often play a podcast in the background and let the R1 record it. Later, I review the transcript to catch anything I might have missed. However, long recordings can be hit or miss, with about a 50% success rate. It’s frustrating to lose valuable content, and I’d suggest R1 logs errors to help identify and fix these bugs.
- Recipe Management: Whenever I discover new recipes, I ask the Rabbit to make a note of the ingredients. This makes it easy to revisit later. It’s also handy for getting precise cooking times for various dishes.
- Magic Cam & Freestyle Photography: Coming from a photojournalism background, I appreciate the creative results from the Magic Cam & Freestyle modes. Still, it could be a game-changer if R1 could do face recognition, creating consistent character representations of the user and their close friends/family. Improving genre and ethnicity accuracy would also enhance the experience.
- Translations: Living in a tourist hub like Amsterdam, I frequently interact with non-English speakers. The R1’s translation capabilities are a lifesaver in these situations.
- Quick Math: R1’s ability to quickly calculate things, like figuring out 37% of 956, is super useful for on-the-spot questions.
- Directions & Public Transport: The R1 provides reliable directions and public transport info. A notable feature is that even if the screen goes into standby mode, it doesn’t lose the directions, which is a big plus. Though, there’s room for improvement in its location accuracy, as it sometimes takes a while to pinpoint where you are, which can be a bit frustrating.
Evening Usage:
- Entertainment: I rarely ask the R1 to create SUNO tracks or play Spotify, but on the occasions that I do, it’s been a nice feature. However, I think it would be fantastic if R1 could assist with writing lyrics based on user input. These lyrics could then be used in the custom mode of SUNO to create tracks that truly reflect what you want to express.
- Games: In the evenings, I also enjoy playing riddle or quiz games with the Rabbit. It’s a fun and engaging way to unwind while keeping my mind sharp.
Notes:
- Note 1: Regarding long recordings, it would be helpful if errors were logged to troubleshoot why some recordings fail to save.
- Note 2: Enhancing face recognition in Magic Cam & Freestyle, along with better genre and ethnicity accuracy, could significantly improve the experience.
- Note 3: The potential to create custom tracks in SUNO by having R1 help with lyric writing could be a great feature.
- Note 4: Improving location accuracy is crucial, especially in unfamiliar areas where street names aren’t immediately visible.
How I Should and Would Like to Use My R1
When I first got my R1 Rabbit, I was excited by the promise of having a truly smart assistant—one that could handle my day-to-day tasks, anticipate my needs, and make my life smoother and more efficient. However, while the R1 has been helpful in many ways, there are several key features that were promised but haven’t fully materialized. Here’s what I expected my R1 to do, and how I wish I could be using it today:
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Texting Friends: One of the most anticipated features was the ability to send and receive texts via voice commands. Imagine simply telling R1 to send a quick message to a friend while you’re busy with something else. Unfortunately, this feature isn’t functioning as expected.
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Reading and Answering Emails: The convenience of having R1 read and respond to emails hands-free would be a game-changer for productivity. Instead of managing my inbox manually, I envisioned R1 sorting through my emails, prioritizing them, and even drafting quick replies. Sadly, this capability is still missing.
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Calling a Ride: Whether it’s hailing a taxi or ordering an Uber, I was excited about the idea of R1 arranging transportation with just a voice command. This feature would be incredibly useful, especially in situations where my hands are full or I’m in a hurry. Yet, this is another promise that hasn’t been delivered.
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Ordering Favorite Meals: Having R1 remember my favorite meals and quickly place an order would be a fantastic convenience. Instead of browsing through apps or repeating orders, I imagined R1 handling it all effortlessly. Unfortunately, this functionality isn’t yet available.
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Recalling Personal Preferences: One of the biggest selling points was R1’s ability to remember my preferences—like music choices, temperature settings, unit preferences, and even the names of my close friends and family. The idea was for R1 to get better over time, understanding my habits and making personalized suggestions. However, this feature still feels underdeveloped.
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Starting Routines: I was looking forward to R1 being able to initiate routines automatically. Whether it’s starting my morning routine, setting the mood in the evening, or preparing for bed, the R1 was supposed to take the lead. Unfortunately, this feature isn’t fully operational.
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Managing My Calendar: Efficient calendar management, including setting appointments, sending reminders, and even rescheduling meetings, was something I hoped R1 would excel at. This level of organization would have been a huge help, but it’s another area where the R1 falls short.
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Setting Reminders and Notifications: Setting reminders and receiving timely notifications should be a basic function, yet it’s not as seamless as I expected. The ability to rely on R1 for these small but essential tasks would make it a true everyday assistant.
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Teach Mode: Perhaps the most anticipated feature was the Teach Mode, where R1 could learn how I use my apps and start managing them for me via voice commands. The idea of a truly adaptive assistant that learns and grows with you was incredibly appealing. Unfortunately, this capability is still more of a promise than a reality.
The R1 Rabbit has the potential to be an incredible tool—an assistant that could truly simplify our lives. However, many of the features that were supposed to make this device revolutionary are still lacking. I’m hopeful that future updates will bring these promised functionalities to life, transforming the R1 into the assistant we all hoped it would be. Until then, it’s a reminder that sometimes, the reality of new tech doesn’t always live up to the hype?
