Who better to read ‘A Christmas Carol’ than Scrooge himself, Tim Curry?

By Lulu Chang December 24, 2016

A Christmas Carol - Part 1 of 6

Who better to read you A Christmas Carol than old Scrooge himself? If your answer (as it ought to be) is indeed Scrooge, you just happen to be in luck. This holiday season, Amazon Alexa is getting into the Christmas spirit by offering a rendition of Charles Dickens’ classic book with a very special narrator — none other than Tim Curry. The veteran actor played the famous character in the 1997 animated adaptation, and narrated a Sesame Street version in 2006 with Oscar the Grouch as Scrooge.

From now until Jan. 3, 2017, Alexa customers can listen to a holiday classic for free. #JustAsk "Alexa, read A Christmas Carol from Audible" pic.twitter.com/fSIu6V1Xsv

— Amazon Echo (@amazonecho) December 23, 2016

If you have an Alexa-enabled device in your household (which is to say, an Amazon Echo, Dot, or something of the like), you need only say, “Alexa, read A Christmas Carol from Audible,” and you’ll be greeted by an audiobook of the holiday mainstay. And best of all, you’ll be able to hear it not in a parent’s voice but in the knowing tones of Tim Curry himself.

Amazon is actually extending the Christmas season a bit longer, so even if you don’t get to hear the tale of Ebenezer Scrooge and the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future this evening, you’ll have until January 3 to get your fill. Moreover, the Audible version has been made available on YouTube, so even if you don’t have an Echo or other access to Alexa, you won’t miss out. That said, we’re not sure how long the YouTube version will remain available.

Make sure you’ve cleared your schedule before settling in with Curry and Dickens, however. This audiobook has a run time of no fewer than three and a half hours, so figure in bathroom and snack breaks on top of that. Otherwise, Scrooge won’t be the only way exclaiming “Bah, humbug!” this holiday season.

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Fascinated by the effects of technology on human interaction, Lulu believes that if her parents can use your new app…

Smart Home

Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra vs. Ecovacs Deebot X2 Combo: Which premium robot vacuum is best?

The Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra placed in its dock.

Roborock and Ecovacs are two of the biggest names in the world of robot vacuums. The companies have been producing some of the best robot vacuum and mop combos for years, and that trend has continued into 2024 with the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra and Ecovacs Deebot X2 Combo. Both are ultra-premium devices that clock in at over $1,000, and we awarded both of them impressive scores in our reviews. In short, it's hard to go wrong with either robot vacuum.

However, there are some key differences between the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra and the Ecovacs Deebot X2 Combo. From suction power and mopping skills to pricing and additional features, here's a comprehensive look at the two robot vacuums to help you decide which is best for your home.
Pricing and availability

Smart Home

Samsung Spring Sale: Get up to $915 off smart ranges today

A Samsung smart range with the Smart Oven camera.

Samsung's Spring Black Friday sale has slashed the prices of all kinds of home appliances, including gas and electric ranges. There are discounts available for Samsung's smart ranges too, which will allow you to enjoy savings of up to $915. Feel free to check out all the ranges that are cheaper than usual in the ongoing sale, but if you want to focus on getting a smart range for your kitchen, read on to learn all about them and how much you'll have to pay.

What to buy in Samsung's Spring Black Friday sale for smart ranges
Samsung's smart ranges are equipped with the Smart Oven Camera, which will allow you to check on the food that you're cooking through a livestream on your phone. You can even make time-lapse videos and share them on social media. You'll enjoy this feature on the Samsung Bespoke 6.3. cu. ft. smart slide-in electric range, which is from $2,536 for a $737 discount, and the Samsung Bespoke 6.0. cu. ft. smart slide-in gas range, which is from $2,659 for savings of $760. Both smart ranges have illuminated precision knobs that light up to let you know that the home appliance is on, and they work with the Samsung SmartThings app for pre-heating the oven, planning meals, downloading cooking modes, and much more.

Smart Home

How to reset the Nanoleaf Skylight

The Nanoleaf Skylight lighting up a room various shades of purple.

The Nanoleaf Skylight is a unique piece of hardware. Unlike most Nanoleaf products that are quick to install or easy to move and replace, the Skylight is designed as a permanent fixture in your home. Instead of simply plugging it into an electrical outlet, you'll need to hardwire it onto your ceiling – and once it's in place, you'll want it to stay there for years.

However, like all electronics, it's possible for your Nanoleaf Skylight to start acting up. And since there's no easy way to get the entire unit down from your ceiling, you might be wondering how you can quickly solve the problem. Thankfully, Nanoleaf designed a simple way for you to reset the Nanoleaf Skylight without the need to disassemble the entire setup.