Continuous wave Doppler lidar instantly detects the speed of other vehicles
After more than a decade of testing with the U.S. military and now backed by BMW i Ventures and Toyota AI Ventures, Blackmore's frequency-modulated continuous wave Doppler lidar detection and real-time velocity sensing system may make autonomous cars much safer than radar or pulsed lidar systems.
BMW revs up its own ‘Intelligent Personal Assistant’ voice tech
BMW is readying a digital voice assistant that is familiar with your car's operations and can learn your preferences. Slated to be compatible with existing major voice assistants, BMW's Intelligent Personal Assistant will be available for cars using the manufacturer's new OS, BMW Operating System 7.0.
ADT’s new cybersecurity suite adds four levels of digital protection
Augmenting its traditional home alarm system business, ADT introduced Digital Security by ADT. The new suite of cybersecurity services includes identity protection, dark web defense, secure connectivity via a virtual private network, and home network protection, including identify theft-related expense reimbursement.
The Amazon Echo Show is a no-show in some stores. Is a new version coming?
Reports of the disappearance of the Amazon Echo Show from the U.K. suggest more than shipping delays. There's no word from Amazon, but a long-running deep discount on the device and competitive forces suggest a new Echo Show may be on the way.
Netgear’s Alexa-enabled Orbi Voice Mesh Wi-Fi speaker blankets your home in Wi-Fi and sound
Netgear announced the Orbi Voice Smart Speaker and Wi-Fi Mesh Satellite, a multifunction device for smart homes that extends Wi-Fi networks, adds an Alexa-enabled voice assistant speaker, and uses Harman Kardon audio for higher-quality music streaming. Netgear packaged the three functions based on consumer interest.
New TCL TVs can hear your every word — even in noisy rooms
Synaptics' Audiosmart far-field voice (FFV) tech takes voice control to new levels with TCL's new line of televisions, which have Alexa built-in and were introduced at IFA 2018 in Berlin. With the new FFV tech, TCL TVs will detect and respond to your natural-volume voice, even in a noisy room.
Inspired by Star Trek, Amazon wants us to talk to everything, everywhere
Amazon keynoter Daniel Rausch told IFA 2018 attendees how Alexa voice-control has grown an enthusiastic customer base while partnering with manufacturers and developers. Alexa-enabled associations have been massively profitable for device companies but conversion to voice control platforms has only begun.
Philips adds a six-pack of new partners to Friends of Hue smart lighting system
Philips Hue smart lighting and smart switches gained six new members of the Friends of Hue program. Signify, the new name for Philips Lighting, announced the six new global partners at IFA 2018 in Berlin. In addition to two new switch companies added to the gang, four of the companies will add new lighting designs.
Tesla wants help, will hire customer experience specialists at 98 locations
Tesla is on a tear, ramping up hiring for Tesla showrooms in 98 locations across the country. In the largest reported jump in job openings since at least 2016, there are now more than 2,000 open positions. The hiring may be a result of increased Model 3 production or the decision to remain a public company.
Anker debuts robot vacuum and Alexa-friendly smart speaker at IFA 2018
Building on the success of its sub-brand products, Anker introduced the Soundcore Flare S+ smart speaker and Eufy Robovac 30C at IFA 2018 in Berlin this week. The Flare S+ speaker adds battery power and Alexa compatibility. The Robovac 30C, now Alexa and Google Assistant compatible, also gains suction power.
Alexa’s smart speaker market lead slips as Google Assistant and others gain
Amazon Alexa remains the global leader in smart speaker sales by a significant margin, but Google Assistant is steadily gaining market share. Smart speakers from other companies are carving their own pieces of the business. Internationally, Alexa's leadership is not as significant, particularly in China.
AutoX will soon test its autonomous grocery delivery program in California
AutoX self-driving car company partnered with GrubMarket's fresh produce ecommerce venture to introduce autonomous grocery delivery and mobile store service. The locally sourced organic and healthy food self-driving car delivery program pilots in San Jose with a second phase planned for Mountain View and Palo Alto.
Have a pool for the day with the Airbnb of swimming pools
Ready to host a pool party but you don't own a pool? Check out Swimply, an online marketplace where pool owners rent out pools by the hour. Operating with a model similar to Airbnb, Swimply lets renters search by city and available dates, and view pictures, details, pricing, and rules for a great pool party.
LG doubles its Instaview Door-in-Door fridge lineup for Labor Day
Doubling down on its line of LG Instaview Door-in-Door Wi-Fi-enabled smart refrigerators, LG Electronics increased the selection to 23 choices including capacity, door design, depth, and three fingerprint-resistant finishes. The expanded lineup was timed to coincide with an annual Labor Day sales event and promotion.
Samsung Air Dresser closet airs, steams, dries, and purifies garments
Entering a market dominated by LG Electronics, Samsung announced the Air Dresser. The smart closet dries, steams, airs, and purifies garments in 25 minutes. The internet-connected closet works with Samsung's SmartThings app and can send notifications when clothing is ready and when the air filter needs replacing.
Shape-shifting Electrolux Pure F9 cordless vacuum cleaner adjusts to the job
Electrolux introduced the Pure F9 cordless vacuum cleaner with an easy-to-shift body unit that accommodates any cleaning task. Claiming the battery lasts long enough to do a full house, Electrolux said the Pure F9 automatically adjusts vacuum force based on surfaces. Consumer input inspired the Pure F9.
WaveSense ground-penetrating radar aids navigation with road data
Originally developed for military applications where vehicles travel unmarked roads and trails, WaveSense localizing ground-penetrating radar adds a fourth dimension to autonomous driving systems. When you're driving with poor visibility and the lane markers are covered, subterranean mapping can keep the car on track.
Mercedes-Benz Digital Light LED headlights display messages on the road
Mercedes-Benz introduced a new Digital Light feature with HD headlights, each with one million micromirrors controlled by onboard computers. Available during the 2018 model year in small quantities on the Mercedes-Maybach S 560 4Matic sedan, the headlights display graphic warnings and project messages on the road.
‘Hey Google, tell me something good’ filters out bad news on Home devices
Is continuously negative news bumming you out? Are you beginning to wonder if anything good is happening in the world? Just say 'Hey Google, tell me something good,' with any Google Assistant-enabled device for a curated summary of stories of people doing something positive and solving problems in the world.
Elon Musk says a $25K Tesla is possible in ‘maybe 3 years’
Tesla CEO Elon Musk told YouTuber Marques Brownlee the company is focused on more affordable cars. Musk called a $25,000 Tesla a 'maybe' in three years, depending on high volume and scale. Musk says Tesla relies on word-of-mouth sales based on recommendations from customers who love to talk about their cars.
Yale Assure smart locks can now keep your home secure with Xfinity
Yale Assure smart locks with a Yale Zigbee Network Module can now work with Comcast's Xfinity Home service. With an Xfinity Home subscription, owners can lock, unlock, or monitor locks via a website or mobile app. In addition to other Xfinity Home security features, owners can also configure alert notification rules.
Here’s why dropping appliances from a tower is not an Olympic sport
Western Australian YouTubers held a competition involving a 150-foot tower, gravity, a target, and household appliances. All in fun, the resultant video joins other efforts with darts, tree stumps, jelly beans, and trampolines. The gravity test tower is open for public water balloon tosses.
Schlage’s custom hardware collection expands upgrades to exterior doors
Schlag's expanded Custom Door Hardware collection now includes exterior handle sets. Schlage's upgrades let homeowners switch from doorknobs to levers and from non-locking to locking doors quickly and easily without replacing inner lock cores. Schlage's hardware simplifies both functional and style upgrades.
Nvidia ‘more than happy to help’ if Tesla’s self-driving chip doesn’t pan out
After Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced the intention to use an in-house Autopilot chip, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang responded to an analyst's question about losing Tesla's chip business. Huang spoke about Nvidia's new high-powered Xavier GPU and said if the Tesla chip doesn't work out, he'd be more than happy to help.
Alexa can play smart home camera video recaps on Echo, Fire devices
Now you ask Alexa to show the last recorded video from smart home security cameras on Echo Show, Echo Spot, Fire TV, and Fire Tablets. Amazon Alexa's Skill development group just added the Cameras Recap API to the Smart Home Skill API. Video replay is enabled for Ring, August, Arlo, Cloud Cam, and Logitech cameras.
Kroger supermarket chain tests driverless grocery deliveries in Arizona
Kroger and autonomous delivery innovator Nuro started a pilot program in Scottdale, Arizona for grocery home deliveries using self-driving Prius cars to test the delivery concept. The all-electric, autonomous Nuro delivery vehicle for the full program combines artificial intelligence, computer vision, and robotics.
A school district subsidizes a tiny home community for teachers
The lack of affordable housing in Arizona's Vail school district prompted the plan for a community of tiny homes reserved for school teachers and staff. Other communities and cities in the U.S. use the tiny abodes for homeless and economically disadvantaged people, but Vail's program for teachers is a first.
Cortana and Alexa can now call each other as new relationship begins
Microsoft and Amazon announced a public preview of Cortana and Alexa integration. U.S. customers can now open Cortana with Alexa and vice versa. Basic functions such as checking calendars, email, and shopping lists are available with the preview, and in time the digital assistants will add more.
Samsung SmartThings adds A.I.-based Wi-Fi for faster, smarter home networking
Samsung introduced the SmartThings Wifi, an A.I.-based multifunction mesh networking router with an integrated smart home hub. Positioned to simplify home networking and smart home connections, the SmartThings Wifi is designed to intelligently allocate network speed and bandwidth based on device and application needs.
NHTSA investigating Ford F-150 seat belt fires, may recall 1.4 million trucks
The NHTSA is investigating reports of fires in five Ford F-150 pickup trucks. According to the truck owners, the fires started in the vehicles' B pillars during crashes. The NHTSA's Office of Defect Investigation is exploring whether seatbelt pretensioners caused the fires and if a recall is required.
Ecobee’s smart thermostat and light switch speakers support Alexa Announcements
Ecobee added Alexa Announcement compatibility to its Alexa-enabled smart home devices. The ecobee4 Smart Thermostat and Switch+ smart light switch can now remind your kids to start their homework or tell everyone dinner is ready. The Alexa one-way intercom feature broadcasts announcements with your voice.
iDevices Thermostat now compatible with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri
The iDevices Thermostat now responds to voice command requests from Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant. After enabling Google Assistant, you can check or set your iDevices Thermostat by asking questions such as, "Hey Google, what's the thermostat set to?" or "OK Google, set the temperature to 75 degrees."
Robotic exoskeletons help Ford employees build cars worldwide
Ford Motor Company announced the worldwide rollout of wearable exoskeleton vests to assist assembly line workers, after first testing in two Michigan plants. Esko Bionics developed the EskoVest for Ford. By reducing the physical toll on the bodies of workers, the robotic vests lessen fatigue, injury, and discomfort.
