Inspired by Star Trek, Amazon wants us to talk to everything, everywhere
Amazon keynoter Daniel Rausch told IFA 2018 attendees how Alexa voice-control has grown an enthusiastic customer base while partnering with manufacturers and developers. Alexa-enabled associations have been massively profitable for device companies but conversion to voice control platforms has only begun.
Anker debuts robot vacuum and Alexa-friendly smart speaker at IFA 2018
Building on the success of its sub-brand products, Anker introduced the Soundcore Flare S+ smart speaker and Eufy Robovac 30C at IFA 2018 in Berlin this week. The Flare S+ speaker adds battery power and Alexa compatibility. The Robovac 30C, now Alexa and Google Assistant compatible, also gains suction power.
Tesla wants help, will hire customer experience specialists at 98 locations
Tesla is on a tear, ramping up hiring for Tesla showrooms in 98 locations across the country. In the largest reported jump in job openings since at least 2016, there are now more than 2,000 open positions. The hiring may be a result of increased Model 3 production or the decision to remain a public company.
Elon Musk says a $25K Tesla is possible in ‘maybe 3 years’
Tesla CEO Elon Musk told YouTuber Marques Brownlee the company is focused on more affordable cars. Musk called a $25,000 Tesla a 'maybe' in three years, depending on high volume and scale. Musk says Tesla relies on word-of-mouth sales based on recommendations from customers who love to talk about their cars.
NHTSA investigating Ford F-150 seat belt fires, may recall 1.4 million trucks
The NHTSA is investigating reports of fires in five Ford F-150 pickup trucks. According to the truck owners, the fires started in the vehicles' B pillars during crashes. The NHTSA's Office of Defect Investigation is exploring whether seatbelt pretensioners caused the fires and if a recall is required.
Alexa’s smart speaker market lead slips as Google Assistant and others gain
Amazon Alexa remains the global leader in smart speaker sales by a significant margin, but Google Assistant is steadily gaining market share. Smart speakers from other companies are carving their own pieces of the business. Internationally, Alexa's leadership is not as significant, particularly in China.
Have a pool for the day with the Airbnb of swimming pools
Ready to host a pool party but you don't own a pool? Check out Swimply, an online marketplace where pool owners rent out pools by the hour. Operating with a model similar to Airbnb, Swimply lets renters search by city and available dates, and view pictures, details, pricing, and rules for a great pool party.
Shape-shifting Electrolux Pure F9 cordless vacuum cleaner adjusts to the job
Electrolux introduced the Pure F9 cordless vacuum cleaner with an easy-to-shift body unit that accommodates any cleaning task. Claiming the battery lasts long enough to do a full house, Electrolux said the Pure F9 automatically adjusts vacuum force based on surfaces. Consumer input inspired the Pure F9.
LG doubles its Instaview Door-in-Door fridge lineup for Labor Day
Doubling down on its line of LG Instaview Door-in-Door Wi-Fi-enabled smart refrigerators, LG Electronics increased the selection to 23 choices including capacity, door design, depth, and three fingerprint-resistant finishes. The expanded lineup was timed to coincide with an annual Labor Day sales event and promotion.
AutoX will soon test its autonomous grocery delivery program in California
AutoX self-driving car company partnered with GrubMarket's fresh produce ecommerce venture to introduce autonomous grocery delivery and mobile store service. The locally sourced organic and healthy food self-driving car delivery program pilots in San Jose with a second phase planned for Mountain View and Palo Alto.
Samsung Air Dresser closet airs, steams, dries, and purifies garments
Entering a market dominated by LG Electronics, Samsung announced the Air Dresser. The smart closet dries, steams, airs, and purifies garments in 25 minutes. The internet-connected closet works with Samsung's SmartThings app and can send notifications when clothing is ready and when the air filter needs replacing.
Withstand an attack in style with the Mercedes AMG G63-based armored limo
Upgraded to sniper-level protection, the 2018 Inkas G63 AMG armored limousine withstands high-velocity armor-piercing bullets. The new ultra-security G-Wagen also comes with a motorized bar, infrared and thermal perimeter cameras, a daylight headliner, and proprietary leather stitching, all starting at $1.2 million.
Here’s why dropping appliances from a tower is not an Olympic sport
Western Australian YouTubers held a competition involving a 150-foot tower, gravity, a target, and household appliances. All in fun, the resultant video joins other efforts with darts, tree stumps, jelly beans, and trampolines. The gravity test tower is open for public water balloon tosses.
Yale Assure smart locks can now keep your home secure with Xfinity
Yale Assure smart locks with a Yale Zigbee Network Module can now work with Comcast's Xfinity Home service. With an Xfinity Home subscription, owners can lock, unlock, or monitor locks via a website or mobile app. In addition to other Xfinity Home security features, owners can also configure alert notification rules.
Schlage’s custom hardware collection expands upgrades to exterior doors
Schlag's expanded Custom Door Hardware collection now includes exterior handle sets. Schlage's upgrades let homeowners switch from doorknobs to levers and from non-locking to locking doors quickly and easily without replacing inner lock cores. Schlage's hardware simplifies both functional and style upgrades.
Nvidia ‘more than happy to help’ if Tesla’s self-driving chip doesn’t pan out
After Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced the intention to use an in-house Autopilot chip, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang responded to an analyst's question about losing Tesla's chip business. Huang spoke about Nvidia's new high-powered Xavier GPU and said if the Tesla chip doesn't work out, he'd be more than happy to help.
Alexa can play smart home camera video recaps on Echo, Fire devices
Now you ask Alexa to show the last recorded video from smart home security cameras on Echo Show, Echo Spot, Fire TV, and Fire Tablets. Amazon Alexa's Skill development group just added the Cameras Recap API to the Smart Home Skill API. Video replay is enabled for Ring, August, Arlo, Cloud Cam, and Logitech cameras.
A school district subsidizes a tiny home community for teachers
The lack of affordable housing in Arizona's Vail school district prompted the plan for a community of tiny homes reserved for school teachers and staff. Other communities and cities in the U.S. use the tiny abodes for homeless and economically disadvantaged people, but Vail's program for teachers is a first.
Cortana and Alexa can now call each other as new relationship begins
Microsoft and Amazon announced a public preview of Cortana and Alexa integration. U.S. customers can now open Cortana with Alexa and vice versa. Basic functions such as checking calendars, email, and shopping lists are available with the preview, and in time the digital assistants will add more.
Samsung SmartThings adds A.I.-based Wi-Fi for faster, smarter home networking
Samsung introduced the SmartThings Wifi, an A.I.-based multifunction mesh networking router with an integrated smart home hub. Positioned to simplify home networking and smart home connections, the SmartThings Wifi is designed to intelligently allocate network speed and bandwidth based on device and application needs.
Ecobee’s smart thermostat and light switch speakers support Alexa Announcements
Ecobee added Alexa Announcement compatibility to its Alexa-enabled smart home devices. The ecobee4 Smart Thermostat and Switch+ smart light switch can now remind your kids to start their homework or tell everyone dinner is ready. The Alexa one-way intercom feature broadcasts announcements with your voice.
iDevices Thermostat now compatible with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri
The iDevices Thermostat now responds to voice command requests from Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant. After enabling Google Assistant, you can check or set your iDevices Thermostat by asking questions such as, "Hey Google, what's the thermostat set to?" or "OK Google, set the temperature to 75 degrees."
AT&T WatchTV is free streaming TV for wireless customers, fueled by Time Warner purchase
On the heels of purchasing Time Warner for $85.4 billion, AT&T announced the launch of WatchTV. Described as a "very, very skinny bundle" of TV programming with no sports, the service will be free for AT&T unlimited data customers or $15 for everyone else, regardless of wireless carrier.
Second-generation A.I.-powered June Oven cooks faster, smarter, and easier
The second-generation June Oven replaces a multitude of countertop cooking appliances. With its arsenal of cooking modes, HD camera, and over 100 chef-programmed recipes, the A.I.-powered oven can recognize food and cook it to your preference. Over-the-air updates and added recipes add value and keep it current.
Dual-purpose pot and booze breathalyzer can tell how stoned or drunk you are
Experts don't agree on whether marijuana impairs driving performance, but Hound Lab's breathalyzer, which measures THC in parts per trillion molecules, can at least indicate its presence. The Hound device, which also detects alcohol, reports whether a subject consumed marijuana during the previous two hours.
Tesla warns owners to protect against car thieves using key fobs
Tesla emailed its owners about steps to lower the chances thieves will exploit the brand's passive entry system, which allows owners to enter their vehicles without removing digital key fobs from their pockets or bags. Thieves with relay attack devices access vehicles by boosting the fob signal from a distance.
Google may reverse course and launch a restricted Google Search in China
Reversing a 2010 decision to stop censoring Google Search, the company has submitted a new, filtered search app to China, The Intercept reports. The censored version would cut access to websites blacklisted by the Chinese government and show no results for queries with restricted terms.
3 billion data points reveal streaming TV’s surge
Conviva's Q2 2018 streaming TV census found viewing hours more than doubled since 2017 with significant jumps in simultaneous viewers, especially during the World Cup and the NBA playoffs. The survey also noted shifts in the devices used to stream TV and marked improvements in five video quality measures.
Kroger’s Ship leaves the dock with curated products and special deals
The Kroger retail food and grocery store chain launched Kroger Ship, a direct-to-customer delivery service in four U.S. cities this week. Customer orders placed on the internet will be delivered to customer homes from Kroger warehouses, bypassing its local grocery stores. Kroger Ship gives shoppers a fourth way to buy.
Google Assistant grows hookup list to over 5K smart home devices, appliances
Google's Assistant smart home speaker and voice control unit now connects to a wide range of more than 5,000 smart home devices and appliances. Focusing primarily on entertainment, home security, and home control device and service compatibility, Google also announced a growing list of major appliance categories.
Forget stainless steel: GE’s Café appliances offer a brand-new vision for the kitchen
Featuring premium finishes and an array of replaceable metal knobs and handle color choices, GE Appliances introduced the new Café Brand of customizable appliances. The new brand's first line is The Matte Collection, with matte white and matte black finishes. Customers can choose from a range of hardware colors.
Self-driving freighter out of the picture as Uber dumps truck to focus on cars
Uber is halting development on self-driving trucks to devote resources to self-driving cars. Employees of the San Francisco-based self-driving truck group will be reassigned to related jobs. The self-driving car group is located in Pittsburgh. Employees who don't want to relocate will be offered separation packages.