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Abode's entry-level Smart Home Security Kit only costs $160 but drops HomeKit support
Abode's new Smart Home Security Kit comes in at a lower $160, but drops support for Apple's HomeKit technology.
Amazon’s Create With Alexa generates unique animated children’s stories on Echo Show
Amazon's entry into generative AI makes animated children's stories based on kid-friendly prompts.
Alexa can tell you when your security camera detects a person or package
Amazon says even Google products like Nest Cam and Nest Doorbell will be supported.
Alexa devices now support TuneIn Premium radio streaming
You'll be able to listen to live sports and ad-free music stations if you're a subscriber.
Amazon starts rolling out Alexa’s Conversation Mode on Echo Show 10
You can chat back and forth with the voice assistant without reusing the wake word.
OnStar emergency services will be available through Alexa starting in October
The company will roll out the OnStar Guardian skill to all members in 2022.
Samsung reveals pricing for its latest Q-series and A-series soundbars
The HW-Q800A, which offers built-in Alexa voice control and Dolby Atmos support, costs $900.
The 2022 Jeep Wagoneer will have Amazon Fire TV built in
A privacy filter will stop drivers from viewing the front passenger screen while they're on the road.
Amazon Fire TV adds more live channels, including IMDb TV and Plex
You can now ask Alexa to play live programs.
Alexa Routines now work with Amazon Fire TV
You can turn on your TV, coffee machine and smart lights with a single command.
Amazon makes it easier to link smart home devices to Alexa
Device Discovery will soon be available for all US users.
Alexa users can share their Routines with others
Have you crafted a useful Alexa Routine that helps you get out of bed, remember to finish certain tasks or have a more effective workout? Amazon has made both sharing and discovering Routines easier with shareable URL links for customers in the US, the company announced today. You can share a Routine you’ve created by accessing the Alexa app, selecting the Routine you want to share, then choosing whether you want the routine sent via text, email or social media.
Alexa can print your recipes, sudoku games or your grocery list
Find out more at the printing with Alexa page here.
Alexa can now pay for gas at Exxon and Mobil pumps
The option's available at more than 11,500 stations across the US.
Lenovo's Yoga 7 models have smaller bezels and bigger batteries
Lenovo’s last 6- and 7-series Yoga 2-in-1s have arrived with new names and a lot of new features. Formerly the Yoga C740, the Yoga 7i 14- and 15.6-inch notebooks offer Intel’s “latest” next-gen CPUs (presumably Tiger Lake with Xe graphics) with support for the higher real-world speeds of Thunderbolt 4.
Now all your home’s Alexa devices work like an intercom
Amazon Alexa users can now use the “Drop In” feature to talk with all of their Echo devices at once, Amazon announced on its blog. Now, you can use a device to send a message to all Echo devices in the house at once. To start a group Drop In conversation, you can ask Alexa to “Drop In everywhere.”
Alexa can now provide traffic updates and severe weather alerts
Depending on where you live, traffic can be unpredictable, making it yet another thing to check while getting ready for work. Alexa should make planning your commute a bit easier with a new voice control skill. Just ask Alexa about your commute, traffic conditions or directions. You can also have that information sent to your phone. A notification will appear on your device -- tap that and your preferred map app will open with the route guidance. Google Assistant has done this for a while, but Amazon customers will likely enjoy the added convenience.
Samsung unveils an extra-large 8K TV for 2020
Samsung revealed its new QLED 8K TV last night in Korea, and now the US unveiling is under way. We already heard about interesting features like its "digital butler" that will control other devices, including older stuff that can't connect to networks using an IR blaster, multitasking with picture-in-picture and the AI ScaleNet tech that streams "8K quality" video by downconverting it to 4K with the TV upscaling it again on the receiving end. To start with, it's working with Amazon Prime to upscale standard-def video to 4K. Naturally, support for AI assistants like Samsung's Bixby is built-in, and starting this year you can choose to use Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa too. An Adaptive Picture feature recognizes the changing lighting in your room and automatically adjusts the display's settings to match. The Tizen OS also supports multitasking, with some 14 different ways to split up the screen, using side-by-side or various picture-in-picture layouts.
Samsung's zero-bezel 8K TV is real
Samsung Korea has announced the premium 8K TV it's bringing to CES 2020, confirming that the recently-leaked image is real. The Q950 is not only a super-high resolution TV, it also "sets a new standard" for TV screens with its Infinity Design -- according to the company at least. Other than a small edge along the bottom, there's really no frame to speak of, and Samsung says it measures only 15mm thick. Inside, its AI "quantum processor" powers a revamped UI that's good for upscaling any source to 8K as well as accessing TV over an antenna, or streaming services, with a universal guide that can combine recommendations from several apps at once.
Amazon has another Echo sale with up to $60 off
To get November (and the holiday shopping season) off to a flying start, Amazon has put many of its Echo devices on sale, including some of its more recent Alexa-powered gizmos. For instance, you can snag yourself or a loved one an Echo Show 5, which Amazon revealed in May, for $60 (down from $90).
