Facebook Portal vs Google Nest Hub Max
When it comes to the best smart displays, the new Facebook Portal and the Google Nest Hub Max are two great choices. This can make choosing the right one for you difficult. To help, we've pitted the two against each other in a head-to-head battle to find out which one is the better pick.
More than 800,000 Apple Podcasts are now available on Echo devices
Got an Alexa device and love podcasts? The two have come together and now you can stream over 800,000 Apple Podcast shows through Alexa devices like Echo Dot, Echo Plus and Echo Spot . Access includes popular shows like Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend, The Daily, Business Wars podcasts, and more.
Get a free Echo Dot and $25 off Blink XT2 security camera for Cyber Monday
Cyber Monday is showing up this year with some fantastic sales so far, including great deals on security cameras. One particularly awesome deal can be found on Amazon for the Blink Home Security camera, the Blink XT2 Camera. You save $25 and it's bundled with a free third-generation Echo Dot.
Google Nest Mini vs. Amazon Echo Dot: Which Cyber Monday deal is better?
Choosing between a Google Nest Mini and the Amazon Echo Dot can be difficult, especially when there's such great deals on both this Cyber Monday 2019. While they're both small, puck-like smart speakers with built-in assistants, there are some differences that can help you choose the best deal.
Alexa can now show more emotion when your sports team loses
Alexa, Amazon's voice-activated digital assistant, can now express more emotion during interactions. The update also includes new speaking styles designed to create "a more natural and intuitive voice experience” for people that use the digital assistant, the company said this week.
Amazon Alexa can now remind you to take your medication
If you struggle with remembering to take your pills every day, Amazon Alexa can now remind you to take them. Amazon announced that it has partnered with Giant Eagle Pharmacy locations to provide its customers the option to create medication reminders or even request prescription refills.
Snag free ice cream in select cities to celebrate Alexa’s 5th birthday
Amazon's virtual assistant wants you to know that it’s her special day because for a limited time today, you can snag a free scoop of ice cream at participating locations . Just know that the selection is only limited Alexa’s favorite flavor, which happens to be Mint Microchip.
Let Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant spook you on Halloween
Need help with a last-minute costume idea? Want to listen to spooky music or a scary book? Recruit Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant for help. Here are the best Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant Halloween tips and tricks for your Halloween party, decorations, games, family activities, and more.
You may be able to ask Amazon Alexa about your bills soon
Amazon announced that they will be partnering with the payment network Paymentus to make keeping track of bills easier with a new Alexa feature. While you won't be able to pay your bills with Alexa, you can use the new skill to ask about the status of your bills, such as whether they are past due.
Amazon’s new Echo Frames smartglasses have Alexa, but that’s about it
Amazon announced new Alexa-enabled smart glasses during Wednesday’s Amazon Devices Event. The Echo Frames look like normal glasses and can be tailored to your individual prescription, but unlike other smart frames, they don’t have a camera or display within the frames -- just Alexa capabilities.
Amazon wants your kids to use Alexa and its new Echo Glow night-light
Amazon announced a slew of new Alexa features geared towards kids during the Amazon Devices Event, including the new Echo Glow, a a multicolor smart lamp that pairs with Alexa, the Alexa Education Skill API pairs up with programs like Canvas, Kickboard, and Coursera, and a new FreeTime feature.
Amazon announces celebrity voices for Alexa, starting with Samuel L. Jackson
Would you rather talk with Alexa or Samuel L. Jackson? At the Amazon Devices Event in Seattle on Wednesday, Amazon announced celebrity voices for Alexa. Jackson is the first. According to Dave Limp, senior VP of Devices, Amazon uses neural text-to-speech to make engagement more realistic.
Amazon makes Alexa more transparent with ‘Tell me what you heard’ feature
Amazon announced privacy improvements for its Alexa assistant during the Amazon Devices Event on Wednesday, September 25. Updates include the addition of “Alexa, tell me what you heard,” which rolls out today, and “Alexa, why did you do that?” which comes later this year.
Simplehuman’s Sensor Mirror Hi-Fi now responds to Amazon Alexa commands
Smart mirrors are all the rage these days, and now Simplehuman is upping its game by adding voice control via Amazon's Alexa voice assistant. The Simplehuman Sensor Mirror Hi-Fi also serves as a super-cool night-light, a smart speaker, and, well, you know, a mirror. It also has Google Assistant support.
Amazon and Walmart match lower prices on Echo Dot and Google Home Mini
Amazon and Walmart just resumed their price competition on the entry-level smart speakers for the Amazon Echo and Google Nest Home smart home ecosystems. The price cuts have started again, with 40% discounts on the third-generation Echo Dot and the Google Home Mini.
Amazon will give you $5K in free smart home tech and more when you buy a house
You can now get up to $5,000 in Amazon credit if you buy a house through Amazon’s new TurnKey program. The $5,000 incentive was announced Tuesday and includes smart home and home theater equipment along with services like unpacking and cleaning.
A new survey by Adobe shows an evolving market for voice applications
It's not breaking news that consumers are becoming increasingly comfortable with conversing with their smartphones, digital gizmos, smart home devices, and smart speakers but a new survey from Adobe Analytics is showing a desire for more diversity in where voice technology is applied and used.
Amazon slashes prices on a Echo smart home and Fire TV devices
Amazon slashed the prices on Echo smart home and Fire TV devices in time for spring home improvements.
UN finds voice assistants aren’t helping combat sexist gender stereotypes
Most voice assistants have a female-sounding voice. While you may not think much of it, the United Nations believes it is reinforcing negative gender stereotypes that place women in antiquated roles. The study also argues that companies haven't done enough to have A.I. rebuff hostile language.
Amazon Alexa now works with more than 60,000 smart home devices
Does it feel like Alexa is everywhere? There's a good reason for that. Amazon recently announced that its wildly popular voice assistant is now compatible with more than 60,000 products from more than 7,400 brands. That level of compatibility dwarfs many of Alexa's biggest competitors.
Amazon’s Alexa adds email updates, plus a bunch of cool new routines
Amazon's Alexa digital assistant is constantly evolving and this month is no exception as the app gains the ability to automate more tasks automatically, as well as to generate updates for users from both Gmail and Outlook. That's not to mention updates from smart home cameras and new translation abilities.
Hola, Alexa. Voice assistant will soon add support for Spanish speakers
Amazon's voice assistant is getting support for Spanish. The company announcedthat its Amazon Skills Kit development program will allow apps and skills creators to build support for Spanish into their services. Alexa devices will have Spanish support enabled later this year.
Amazon’s Alexa reviewers reportedly have access to customer home addresses
We already learned earlier this year that when you talk to Alexa, Amazon employees may also be listening. As it turns out, they may have even more of your information. According to a new report, some Amazon employees who review Alexa recordings also have access to user addresses and locations.
Amazon cuts prices on Echo Dot, Ring security, Fire Tablets, and more for Easter
Amazon slashed prices with deals on Echo Dot, Ring video doorbell and security systems, and Fire Tablets. Some of the best deals are for multiple-unit purchases. Most Ring deals include a free Amazon Echo Dot in addition to healthy price cuts. There's no announced end date, but Easter isn't until next Sunday.
Amazon workers listening to Alexa recordings isn’t a big deal. Here’s why
Thousands of Amazon workers are reportedly listening to recorded conversations between Alexa and voice assistant speaker owners. The idea that humans are listening to our conversations is an outrage and unacceptable. Or is it? This author doesn’t think it’s such a big deal.
Leaked pics suggest Ecobee is adding a smart home security camera to its lineup
Leaked pictures of a sleek black-and-silver, conical Ecobee-branded camera turned up on Zatz Not Funny this week. Okay, it’s not exactly a surprise, but more like an inevitable addition to Ecobee’s lineup that nearly everyone in the smart home technology market has expected for some time.
Alexa’s chief scientist wants to give the voice assistant a robot body
Voice assistants live in our tabletop devices, but they might not for long. Rohit Prasad, the chief scientist behind Amazon's Alexa, recently said that he believes the voice assistant needs a robot body to explore and experience the world. That experience could help it better answer human questions.
Alexa is more popular, but Google Home users are more satisfied, survey finds
Amazon Alexa may be the most popular smart speaker on the market, but Google Home owners are more satisfied. That's according to a recent study that examined the use of the leading smart speakers. According to the study, Google Home was better at answering questions and controlling other devices.
Think Alexa’s voice is too binary? Meet Q, a gender-neutral voice assistant
Voice assistants have alternative voices, but they are typically female by default. That can reinforce sexist stereotypes. Most voice assistants also don't have a gender-neutral option. Q aims to change that. The gender-neutral voice was developed to urge tech companies to rethink their A.I. voices.
Alexa may be everywhere, but it’s Google’s Assistant I want in my home. Here’s why
The Amazon Alexa may have the Google Home beat in numbers of skills and compatibility with other products, but does that really matter when her voice falls flat for day-to-day conversation? Google Home sounds more natural, is easy to speak to, and its responses don't quite hint at a hostile robot uprising.
Alexa can now give you a heads-up on what song is next in the queue
Wondering what song is playing and who the artist is? Alexa has you covered. Amazon rolled out a new feature for Alexa called Song ID. When enabled, it will tell you the name of the artist and song on upcoming music while you're listening to playlists and streaming radio stations.
Google Home and Amazon Alexa are asking smart home device makers for user info
Google and Amazon want to establish a "continuous flow" of information between their servers and your smart home devices, but hardware makers like Logitech have begun to speak out for user privacy. Though the tech giants claim the data is not used or sold, many people are skeptical.
How Alexa or Google Home can help you pull off a memorable Valentine’s Day
If you have an Amazon Echo or Google Home device, you can sweep your sweetheart off his or her feet this Valentine's Day with these romantic, mood-setting tips. Whether you're going out to dinner, cooking dinner, or sending gifts, Alexa and Google Assistant have you covered.
Amazon wants you to push its buttons, but are these Echo add-ons worth buying?
Amazon is bringing a bit of that old school gaming feel back with its Echo Buttons -- buttons you actually press, so you can sit down in the same room with someone and play a game together. They can also control your routines. Are Echo Buttons worth it? Here's my hands-on review of Amazon's Echo Buttons.