Bose’s $349 portable smart speaker with Bluetooth aims to steal Sonos’ thunder
In advance of Sonos' much-leaked launch of its first Bluetooth speaker, Bose has dropped its own portable smart speaker -- the $349 Bose Portable Home Speaker -- which looks like a virtual carbon copy of the expected Sonos product. It supports Alexa and Google Assistant and goes on sale in September.
Is it still coming? The Samsung Galaxy Home has an uphill battle
The absence of the Samsung Galaxy Home during Samsung's Unpacked event for the Note 10 makes you wonder more about the future of this Bixby powered smart speaker. There's stiff competition around, but Samsung says they're continuing to refine and enhance the Galaxy Home prior to launch.
Huawei planned a Google-powered smart speaker for IFA. Then U.S. trade sanctions hit
According to a report from The Information, the Chinese tech giant Huawei worked with Google to create a smart assistant. The plans were scrapped after the United States imposed cybersecurity-based trade sanctions against Huawei, which prevented the company from purchasing from tech suppliers.
Google Nest gives 100,000 Home Minis to people living with paralysis
Google Nest is giving away 100,000 free Home Minis to people who are living with paralysis. The company announced a partnership with the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation Friday to provide the devices to paralyzed individuals to help them gain some additional independence.
Kenzie wants to hide smart assistants inside its cute, crocheted animals
Kenzie is a company that just launched on Kickstarter with the intention of hiding smart speakers beneath adorable, crocheted stuffed animals. Their intention is to disrupt the tech industry with cuteness. Buyers can pick from six different hand-crafted designs, but more are on the way.
Amazon is reportedly planning a bigger, better Echo smart speaker
There's a lot of competition in the smart speaker space, which may be why reports now say that Amazon is planning a new, better-sounding version of its Echo smart speaker for 2020. The new model would likely compete with the Sonos One, Google Home Max, and Apple's HomePod, for the higher-end of the market.
Facebook says new Portal video-chat devices are coming in the fall
A Facebook executive has revealed the company is gearing up to refresh its Portal smart speaker and video chat devices later this year. The Portal and Portal+ launched to lukewarm reviews toward the end of last year, so the pressure is on Facebook to come up with the goodies for a much-improved second iteration.
Walmart Deal: Nest Learning Thermostat and Google Home Mini bundle discount
Smart thermostats help weather the heat in an energy-efficient way, and smart speakers are just plain fun. Kickstart your summer by bundling both together at a bargain. Now at Walmart, you can score the Nest Learning Thermostat and Google Home Mini together for just $249, saving you up to 10%.
Samsung’s Bixby-powered Galaxy Home speaker now slated for a fall release
Samsung has announced the Galaxy Home smart speaker to rival Amazon's Echo, Google Home, and Apple's HomePod. However, while it has shown off the design and given a hint at its features, it is not quite ready to provide a concrete release and price details. Here's what we know about the Galaxy Home so far.
Dell slashes price on this JBL Harman Kardon Allure smart speaker
Dell has knocked $135 off the Harman Kardon Allure, sending the price plummeting down to a more enticing (and affordable) $65. But there's a catch: There's a limited amount of stock available, so those wanting to scoop up an Allure on the cheap will need to act fast, or risk losing out.
Oh, hey, Google! Bose brings Google Assistant to smart speakers and soundbars
Bose announced a new partnership with Google Assistant that will see the digital helper being added to all of its current smart speakers and soundbars, bringing listeners a ton of added functionality at no extra cost, and giving smart home lovers another reason to consider its various products.
Best Buy drops a massive $150 discount on this Sony smart speaker
There's never been a better time to treat yourself to a smart speaker. That's because Best Buy has knocked $150 off the Google Assistant-driven Sony LF-S50G — sending the price plummeting down to a more affordable $50.
First-generation Sonos One smart speaker prices drop to just $150
We found a pretty great deal: The original Sonos One smart speaker is now $150, which is the lowest price we've seen since it launched. Though no longer the newest version, the first-gen model sounds identical to the second-gen, and will still get Google Assistant support when it launches later this year.
How to use a voice assistant speaker as a smart home hub
Your voice assistant speaker - whether Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri - has the ability to control smart devices around your home. Here's how to use a voice assistant speaker as a smart home hub and how to set them up properly with each voice assistant for full smart home control.
Smart speakers now help the U.K. to calculate the cost of living
Smart speakers have become so popular in the U.K. that the device has now been added to the nation’s ”inflation basket.” The basket contains commonly bought items and is used to calculate the cost of living. Reflecting current shopping habits, the electric toothbrush has also been added, while the humble hi-fi is out.
Sonos revamps its Sonos One smart speaker with Bluetooth LE
Sonos is releasing a second generation of its Sonos One smart speaker, which will feature embedded Bluetooth Low Energy. The company says it's to make setup procedures easier, but it could be used for several other purposes. We take a look at what the new wireless option could mean for future updates.
Words are so 2018. The Peeqo robot speaks exclusively in GIFs and video clips
Move over, Amazon Echo and Google Home! Peeqo is a cute robot that will answer your spoken word questions by displaying a specially selected short video or GIF. Because, you know, it’s 2019 and nobody feels comfortable talking to one another the old-fashioned way anymore.
With new blueprints, Amazon empowers anyone to create Alexa skills in minutes
Amazon launched its Skills Blueprints initiative last year to help users create and publish new and custom Alexa skills in minutes using easy-to-use templates and now the technology giant is handing out a new and improved model that includes more customization, bells and whistles.
Samsung may already be working on a second Galaxy Home smart speaker
Samsung hasn't even released its first smart speaker yet and there's already talk of it prepping a second, more affordable one. Its Galaxy Home speaker seems like an Apple HomePod competitor, but reports suggest the second device will offer fewer features.
‘Alexa, are you OK?’ Amazon’s smart assistant crashes on Christmas
It seems that it all got a bit too much for Alexa on Christmas Day. Amazon's digital assistant temporarily stopped working for a number of users across Europe on December 25, possibly overwhelmed by the sudden uptick in new users playing with their Alexa-powered Echo speaker.
Google Assistant gets the Marshall treatment with two new smart speakers
Marshall's Voice-series were already some of the most stylish smart speakers on the market, but now they're available as Google Assistant-compatible editions. This makes Marshall one of the few companies to support both Alexa and Google, albeit in separate models.
The Apple HomePod gets a whole lot cheaper today at Target
The Apple HomePod is an outstanding speaker and right now it's on sale at Target for a whopping $100 off its regular retail price of nearly $350 so if you're someone who's committed to Apple's "Walled Garden" ecosystem, it's a great time to grab this smart speaker.
What was Amazon’s biggest-selling item on Cyber Monday? Take a guess
Across the five days from Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday, Amazon said customers ordered a staggering 180 million items via its U.S. site alone, while globally Monday was its busiest shopping day ever in terms of the number of items sold. But can you guess which product sold more than any other?
These Alexa-stuffed retro phones don’t listen until you take them off the hook
Looking for an Amazon Echo with a cool vintage touch? Los Angeles-based Grain Design is taking old, non-working antique phones and transforming them into Alexa smart speakers. Here's what makes them special, and how you can get your hands on one before the holiday season.
Control your smart home from the shower with this splash-proof speaker
The splash-proof Aqua Dew smart shower speaker works with Alexa so you don't have to sing alone. The wake-word activated Aqua Dew can read the news, manage your smart home, call or message people, and make announcements in other rooms. The battery-operated wireless smart speaker runs for up to eight hours per charge.
Huawei’s new A.I. speaker looks an awful lot like the Apple HomePod
When Huawei introduced its first smart speaker, the company clearly took a lot of inspiration from the Google Home. In China this week, the company revealed its newest smart speaker, the Huawei A.I. Speaker. This one also bears a striking resemblance to another smart speaker, this time the Apple HomePod.
Sony’s latest portable speaker brings Google Assistant to the party
If you’re looking for a smart speaker but can’t get enough bass, Sony’s new SRS-XB501G might be for you, with impressive battery life, Google Assistant built-in, and the ability to take the speaker just about anywhere thanks to weatherproofing and Bluetooth connectivity.
Riva Audio’s Concert and Stadium are smart speakers with an emphasis on sound
When we've gotten our hands on speakers from Riva Audio in the past, we've been impressed, so we expect that to remain the case with the company's new smart speakers, the Concert and Stadium, both of which are the first third-party speakers to feature the complete Alexa communications suite.
Google may release a digital display smart speaker in time for the holidays
When it comes time to do your holiday shopping later this year, you might end up throwing a brand new Google speaker into your shopping cart. According to the Nikkei Asian Review, Google is planning to release a new smart speaker that comes equipped with a digital display, just in time for the holidays.
Apple’s HomePod only makes up 4 percent of the smart speaker market
Canalys recently published new data about the burgeoning smart speaker market, and revealed that Apple's HomePod, once a highly anticipated competitor to the Google Home and Amazon Echo lines, isn't catching on quite the way the Apple hoped. The HomePod only makes up about 4% of market share.
Alexa makes for a good shopping buddy but Google Assistant may ‘get you’ better
The struggle over the smart speaker rages on, as CNBC surveyed five digital advertising agencies who say that Amazon's Alexa is the better shopping assistant, but Google's deep roots in machine learning and voice recognition makes Google Assistant more understanding.
Warning: The way your neighbors use Alexa will bore the snot out of you
The technology that powers smart speakers like Amazon's Alexa and Google Home may be wildly sophisticated and continually evolving but users in the U.K. report using the smart speakers for remarkably basic functions, according to a new survey.
Google Home will stamp its passport in at least seven new countries this year
Google is slated to double the number of national markets in which the Google Home and Google Home Mini can be found this year. With the addition of Spain, Austria, and Ireland, the Google Assistant-enabled smart speakers are now available in 11 countries around the world.
Apple HomePod to arrive in Canada, France, and Germany in June
Apple has announced that its HomePod will be launching in Germany, France, and Canada on June 18. The smart speaker marks a major market expansion for the tech giant, and the announcement could be an effort to boost dwindling sales of the HomePod, which will now be available in six countries.