Using Alexa is tricky if you have a speech disability. Voiceitt could fix that
Voiceitt, experts in speech recognition tools for people with atypical speech, has developed an app for Amazon Alexa.
Amazon adds two-way video calling to the Fire TV Cube
Starting today, owners of the 2nd gen Fire TV Cube can hook up a USB webcam and do free two-way video calling with any other Alexa device that has a screen.
Ecobee announces Black Friday deals on smart thermostats and smart switches
Ecobee's 2018 Black Friday deals are live. The smart home device maker announced three deals, all effective immediately. Ecobee's smart thermostats and smart wall switch are compatible with smart home voice assistant systems including Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomeKit, and Samsung SmartThings.
Can digital home assistants top smartphones for control of the smart home?
A new GfK study of 1,000 participants shows that that when it comes to smart home tech, U.S. consumers prefer to use their smartphones to control their smart home technology, with a much smaller number preferring to employ digital assistants such as Amazon Alexa and Google Home as their smart home hub.
HomePod problems Apple should fix
Considering purchasing Apple's HomePod? Though it has several perks, there are still some major problems that make Apple's HomePod smart speaker undesirable.
The Marshall Stanmore II is the best-sounding Alexa speaker, and it’s on sale
Marshall amplifiers have been the go-to standard for decades, but you don’t need to own a guitar to have one of these iconic speakers in your home: The retro-styled Marshall Stanmore II could just be the best-sounding Alexa speaker on the market today, and it’s on sale right now for $100 off.
Let Alexa help you out on National Coffee Day with these tips and tricks
National Coffee Day is coming. Alexa can help you improve your coffee game with tips and tricks, and by remotely controlling compatible coffee makers.
What’s that sound? Problems continue to plague Google Pixel 2 phones
Strange sounds reported coming from new Google Pixel 2 phones, Apple iPhone X release details, watch TV with Amazon's Alexa and new Fire TV.
Ecobee4 Smart Thermostat hands-on review
With an excellent whole-home sensor system, an easy-to-use interface, and a simple app, the Ecobee4 is a solid choice for a smart thermostat. The fact that it's an Amazon Alexa speaker just sweetens the deal.
Amazon’s $35 Fire TV Blaster extends Alexa to all of your home theater gadgets
If you love the idea of what Amazon's Fire TV Cube can do, but don't want to replace your perfectly good Fire TV device, the $35 Fire TV Blaster might be just the ticket: It can extend Alexa's voice commands to TVs, receivers, and cable TV boxes, for a fully voice-controlled home theater experience.
Polk Command Bar Review
Amazon’s incredibly popular voice assistant, Alexa, is everywhere these days, but how well does it work when controlling your TV? We put Polk’s new Alexa-enabled Command Bar to the test to find out if it can stand up to the Sonos Beam.
Amazon releasing interactive game Starfinder via Alexa-enabled devices
The popular tabletop RPG is being turned into a 13-hour interactive experience starring the voice talents of vocal veterans Nathan Fillion and Laura Bailey.
What the lights on your Amazon Echo device mean
Did you know that your Echo device uses a coded language of colored lights to communicate with you? Here's a guide on what each pulsing or solid light means.
6 ways Alexa can help kids with their homework
Alexa can help with homework by teaching your kids valuable skills, prepare for quizzes, and gain interested in subjects they may be struggling in.
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K review
Amazon’s streaming stick game is strong, and the Fire TV Streaming Stick 4K is no exception. A few minor issues aside, this fully loaded streaming device offers virtually everything you could want, including Dolby Vision HDR, Amazon Alexa, basic TV controls, and much more.
Amazon Echo Spot review
The Amazon Echo Spot, the newest member of Amazon’s smart speaker family, is cute, fun, sleek, and the perfect little alarm clock. With this little device, you'll be snoozing the alarm just for fun.
Alzheimer’s stole her ability to read. An Alexa-powered chair gave it back
A design firm built this customized Alexa-powered chair for 69-year-old Alzheimer’s patient, Jacinta Dixon. Here's how it works, and what makes it special.
In St. Noire, Alexa plays a detective helping you solve a Clue-like mystery
Amazon's Alexa can play tons of games, but it doesn't play too many board games. St. Noire is one of the first that uses the voice assistant to great effect. Voice actors play suspects, and you're the detective trying to solve a murder. It's a light, cooperative board game with great sound effects.
How millennials can learn to #adult with Amazon Alexa
Baby boomers and Gen X might remember how they had to learn to #adult -- by asking someone or simply figuring it out as you went along. However, millennials have a new option for #adulting - using an Amazon Alexa device.
Turn your entire home into a sound system via Amazon Alexa
Thanks to Alexa's new music feature, you'll be able to "control and synchronize music across multiple Amazon Echo devices in your home."
Ring Peephole Cam review
Easy to install with no physical damage, Ring Peephole Cam is the perfect smart doorbell for renters and apartment owners limited by strict lease agreements or homeowner association rules.
Amazon Echo Dot Kids Edition review
Alexa, how many planets are there? Alexa, tell me a story. The Echo Dot Kids Edition promises to be great tool for helping children learn, while also giving parents the tools to control and monitor their daily media intake. We kid- and parent-tested the device to see if it lives up to its promise.
How to clean your Amazon Echo Buds
The Echo Buds offer outstanding value for the price, but keeping them spotless can be difficult. Thankfully, Amazon's first set of earbuds are easy to clean if you forgo shampoo and harsh chemicals that might otherwise damage the casing. Here's what you need to know.
Amazon introduces a portable, battery-powered Echo smart speaker in India
Amazon has introduced the first portable, Echo-branded smart speaker in India. Called the Echo Input Portable Smart Speaker Edition, it functions like any other Echo device, with the exception of a 4,800mAh battery, which means it doesn’t have to be constantly plugged in.
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.
Spotify’s free tier now works with Alexa and Bose speakers
In the wake of Amazon's announcement that its free tier of Amazon Music is now available on more devices, Spotify has enabled the use of its free subscription on all Alexa products, including Echo speakers and Fire TV devices. You can also use it with Bose smart speakers via Spotify Connect.
Your Alexa speaker can be hacked with malicious audio tracks. And lasers.
Smart speakers are awesome. But they're also subject to some pretty terrifying vulnerabilities, as two recent proof-of-concept demonstrations show. Whether it's adversarial sound attacks or laser hacks, here are two ways researchers have found to exploit smart speaker weaknesses.
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.
Alexa can now set sleep timers to simulate a sunrise using your smart lights
If you have Alexa-compatible smart lights and live in the U.S., you just got some new features that will be rolling out this week. You can set up wake-up lights or sleep timers and create new Alexa Routines to dim or brighten over a certain stretch of time, just like sunsets and sunrises.
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.
Hey Alexa, inspire me — Adobe launches new skill aimed at sparking creativity
Are you in a creative rut? The new Adobe Inspiration Engine allows Alexa to be your muse. The Alexa skill allows the virtual assistant to offer inspirational quotes or images, or to walk you through a creative exercise. The free Alexa skill is available beginning October 21.
Habla Español? Yes! Amazon Alexa can now speak in Spanish
Those who speak Spanish can now talk to Alexa in their native language, or two languages at once through multilingual mode, on supported Alexa devices like the Echo. The assistant is getting a new voice and Amazon has also beefed up Alexa's knowledge base with hundreds of new skills for Spanish speakers.
Don’t be surprised that Amazon workers are watching footage from the Cloud Cam
After the public outcry against the practice of using human reviewers on voice and video recordings, Amazon gave users the ability to opt out of human review, but it's important to understand what the review is for. Human reviewers improve an A.I.'s ability to understand and respond to users.
Amazon gets kid-friendly and encourages tykes to say “please”
Amazon is helping this youngest generation experience the wonders of innovation in a kid-friendly manner. Today, the smart home giant debuted a Kids Edition of the Amazon Echo Dot, as well as Amazon FreeTime on Alexa, heralded as an all-new Alexa experience built specifically with children in mind.
Show, don’t tell, with Amazon’s new Show Mode Charging Dock
Amazon is continuing to beef up its smart home offerings with the addition of the Echo Show-like Show Mode and the wireless charging Show Mode Charging Dock for the Fire HD 8 and HD 10. It's also introducing a kids edition for the huge Fire HD 10, making child-friendly entertainment even easier.
Alexa will avoid tough questions with new, kid-friendly responses
Amazon has added a number of new, kid-friendly responses to its voice assistant tool Alexa. The A.I. tool used in the company's smart speakers will now avoid any unsavory questions, play songs with censored lyrics, and doesn't ruin the existence of Santa Claus.
Amazon slashes prices on Ring Alarm Systems and throws in a Free Echo Dot
Amazon is getting a fast start with smart home device deals this fall. Amazon and Walmart know they can't save all the best bargains till the end of the season. Continuing to cut prices on smart home security devices, Amazon just slashed prices on Ring Alarm Systems bundled with free Echo Dots.