Tag: smart speaker
Apple announces second generation $299 Home Pod – but is it too expensive?
Apple has announced its latest, second-generation HomePod smart speaker. Due to go on sale from $299 in February, the futuristic-looking smart speaker not only makes major advancements in acoustics but is also packed with innovations, ranging from advanced Siri capabilities and computational audio to smart home management and automation. Thanks to onboard Siri, the HomePod…
Smart speaker shipments slow down as market matures
The US smart speaker market continued to contract during 2Q22, posting a decline of 14% year-over-year (YoY) according to Omdia’s latest quarterly smart speaker tracker. Although Amazon-branded smart speakers grew 33% during the quarter relative to last year, other brands like Google and Apple were down 31% and 57%, respectively. Given the rapid growth in…
Smart speaker sales plateau in US, claims research
The smart speaker revolution is coming to an end in North America as sales numbers plateau. However, growth elsewhere in the world suggests that the revolution lives on elsewhere, says new research from Omdia. According to the latest smart speaker report from Omdia, the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for smart speaker annual shipments in North…
Charity develops smart speaker tool for product recalls
A new development for smart speakers could help to prevent fires in UK homes. The add on, compatible with Google Home and Alexa, will inform users, when prompted, if a manufacturer has issued a product recall. The response rate to electrical product recalls in the UK is typically low mainly due to products not being…
1 in 5 US adults now own Amazon Echo
Smart home technology industry has grown incredibly in the last decade with homes becoming more and more interconnected than ever before. The most popular smart home device by far is the smart speaker, with the Amazon Echo dominating its competitors. According to data presented by Trading Platforms, 20% of Americans surveyed now own an Amazon…
BBC launches interactive voice news for Alexa
The BBC is launching an interactive voice news service for Alexa, allowing people to skip stories or ask for more details about the items they are interested in. From Wednesday, Alexa-enabled devices can ask “Give me BBC News” and take control of their news agenda, unlike the existing radio-like flash briefing bulletin offered by the…
Parents ditch Alexa as a baby name!
It has become a near-ubiquitous virtual assistant, responding to the voice commands of householders around the globe. But the emergence of Alexa-enabled gadgets in UK homes in the last two years has also coincided with a decrease in the name’s popularity. After all who wants their baby's name to be associated with that of a…
Amazon brings Alexa Announcements to Fire TV
Amazon has confirmed the introduction of Alexa Announcements to its Fire TV streaming devices in the UK. The Announcements feature enables users to turn all the Alexa-enabled smart speakers in their home into a one-way intercom system and make announcements such as “dinner is ready”. Amazon said the feature would be automatically enabled, but users…
Amazon Echo Wall Clock on sale in UK for £29.99
Amazon’s smart Echo wall clock, which can be used to track multiple alarms and timers when connected to a smart speaker, has been launched in the UK. First released in the US last year, the Echo Wall Clock connects to an Amazon Echo smart speaker and uses built-in LED lights which run around the edge…
Apple Music is coming to Alexa – in US from December 17
(Yui Mok/PA) Amazon’s Alexa voice-powered assistant is preparing to gain another high profile music service in the form of Apple Music. Support for Apple’s own music streaming service will be available to Amazon Echo devices across the US from December 17 with “additional countries coming next year”, the company said.…