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Vuzix is launching the first Alexa-enabled AR glasses at CES
Vuzix has been making smartglasses for years, but one upcoming model will apparently be extra special. According to Bloomberg, the New York-based company is debuting the first Alexa-enabled augmented reality glasses at CES 2018. You'll be able to ask Alexa questions the way you usually do, and the glasses will show the results on the display à la Google Glass. If you ask Alexa for directions, for instance, the glasses can show a map on the AR screen, as long as you have an Amazon account. The company told the publication that it's excited about the device's "ability to bring Alexa to customers in a new way."
Hisense's latest 4K TVs will include Amazon Alexa
We've found the running theme for TVs at this year's CES: built-in voice assistants. Hisense has revealed that some of its 2018 4K TVs will include Amazon Alexa, letting you control both the set itself and your smart home. You can change inputs, stream online radio or turn on your lights without budging from the couch. Hisense isn't saying much about the TVs themselves, but it does note that a 100-inch laser TV will be one of those receiving the Alexa treatment.
This DIY Furby Echo speaker will probably give you nightmares
Furby is already a tad creepy by itself, but a new DIY mod just stepped up the spookiness: Howchoo has converted a Furby toy into a makeshift Amazon Echo. The project works its dark magic by shoehorning a Raspberry Pi Zero W mini-PC into the critter's frame, giving it the power to run Amazon's open source Alexa Voice Service. Add a USB mic, a speaker and a stepper motor and you get a Furby that can read the news or turn up the thermostat.
'Destiny 2' gets a Ghost Alexa skill and replica speaker
Whether you're a Destiny 2 newbie sampling its free trial or a hardened vet griping about player progress, one thing we can all agree on is the general awesomeness of the game's Ghost AI. The floating intelligence is a tipster, guide, and mechanic all rolled in to one. Activision is so enamoured with the virtual assistant that it's pairing it up with Amazon's Echo speakers. Yes, a Ghost Alexa skill is now available for players that want to bark voice orders at a real-life version of the virtual assistant. With it, you'll be able to ask Alexa to ask Ghost to equip load-outs, scout levels, and join a clan.
UE's Blast and Megablast join the Alexa smart speaker family
These days, the launch of yet more speakers with Alexa onboard isn't the most exciting announcement. However, these aren't stout smart home speakers or a mere software update, but an entirely new line for Ultimate Ears -- a long-standing favorite for its speakers' audio output and resilience. Today, the company introduces the Blast and Megablast, the network-capable and Alexa-enabled siblings of UE's Boom 2 and Megaboom. This new line was built explicitly for the Amazon Alexa ecosystem of apps and features, and along with the Power Up charging base, offers always-on functionality to cater to your verbal demands. Unlike many other options though, this one also includes an on-board battery for portability.
Garmin Speak puts Amazon Alexa in your car
Gamin's GPS devices already feature voice control, but if you'd prefer to have Alexa onboard, its latest product is more your jam. The GPS device maker has just released Garmin Speak, which it says is the first in-vehicle device with hands-free access to Alexa. It's a tiny little thing, measuring just around an inch-a-half with a LED light ring and an OLED display that shows turn-by-turn directions. You can talk to the voice assistant through it the same way you'd talk to Alexa through an Echo: just say "Alexa" and follow it up with a voice command.
Sanbot's Alexa-integrated robot can livestream, order takeout
Sanbot is lurking around IFA again. The little robot helper won us over last year, but something seems different this time round. That's because we're now dealing with the Sanbot Nano, a brand-spanking new model. And, this one wants to hang out with you -- yes, you.
The CoWatch brings Amazon's Alexa to your wrist starting today
Amazon hasn't dared to make a smartwatch of its own yet, but it might not have to when companies like iMCO have shoehorned Alexa into a wearable themselves. See, iMCO and the ex-Googlers working on the Cronologics OS have successfully turned what could've been another bit of crowdfunded vaporware into an actual product -- the CoWatch -- complete with blessings from Amazon. At last, you'll be able to order multiple pairs of shoes straight from your wrist. Isn't the future grand? The CoWatch goes on sale on Amazon today with prices starting at $279, but I got to put a near-final model through its paces ahead of the company's big day. Spoiler alert: Having Alexa with you everywhere you go can be very cool, but the CoWatch definitely isn't for everyone.
