Amazon has launched a new AI-powered feature for Fire TV that lets you jump to specific moments of a movie by describing the scene to Alexa Plus. The feature, which was previously announced during Amazon’s hardware event in September, works with Prime Video and builds on the X-Ray feature that provides information about the content […]
The last thing I need is a new Amazon Echo smart speaker. As The Verge’s smart home reviewer, I currently have a dozen scattered around my home for testing. But when Amazon’s Echo Frames smart glasses went on sale for $115 for Cyber Monday, down from $300, it was an offer my husband couldn’t refuse. […]
It’s finally happening. Three years after Matter launched, the interoperability standard now includes the most popular smart home devices: cameras. The Matter 1.5 spec, announced today, adds support for all types of video cameras – from indoor and outdoor, wired and battery-powered cameras, to video doorbells, baby monitors, pet cams, and more. Matter support should […]
Amazon’s newest Echo Show smart displays launch this week. They’re purpose-built for the new AI-powered Alexa Plus, which comes preloaded in the US. I’ve had a couple of days to play with them, and I have some early thoughts to share. Overall, the devices are a significant upgrade from the last-gen Show 8 and aging […]
Amazon is using Alexa Plus to bring new AI capabilities to its Music streaming service. Starting today, customers in the Alexa Plus Early Access beta will be able to access the generative AI assistant within the Amazon Music app on iOS and Android, allowing users across all subscription tiers to request obscure information or complex […]
I love the Echo Dot Max. It’s an excellent speaker, a good listener, and comes in purple – which is just fun. It’s got new, easier-to-use controls and more smart home sensors and radios than earlier models. It’s also one of the first devices designed for Alexa Plus. And while the AI-powered assistant isn’t mandatory […]
The majority of Amazon smart speakers lean more into the “smart” than the “speaker,” except for the Echo Studio. That device, which arrived in November 2019, was an imposing, sound-quality-first speaker that delivered Alexa functionality alongside impressive sound for a $200 device. But that was nearly six years ago – an eternity in tech product […]
Last week, Amazon launched a major update of its line of Alexa-enabled Echo smart speakers and displays. The redesign – led by former Microsoft design chief Ralf Groene, whom Amazon Devices & Services head Panos Panay coaxed out of retirement – included two new Echo Show smart displays. According to Panay, these new models are […]
Last week, Amazon and Google kick-started what could be the next chapter of the smart home. Their new voice assistants, Alexa Plus and Gemini for Home, have been rebuilt from the ground up on generative AI and large language models to be more conversational, understand context, and take actions. This marks the biggest shift in […]
Amazon announced a bunch of new hardware earlier in the week, but the Echo Show 21 wasn’t updated and remains its biggest smart display. You can get a bundle that includes the Echo Show 21 and its Premium Adjustable Stand for $439.99 ($84.99 off) at Amazon. If you don’t have a stand, the Echo Show […]