Miscellaneous

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Article "Why are some social robots selling well, whilst others are stalled or failing?"

by Frank Tobe
November 18, 2016

 

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Alexa, can anyone dethrone the Echo?

Published on May 8, 2017

Voice-enabled speakers are on the rise this year, according to a new report from eMarketer. And Amazon is projected to snag 70 percent of the market share.

 

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8 people test their accents on Siri, Echo and Google Home

Published on May 16, 2017

Andy Wood and Matt Kirshen test the limits of everyday AI against a variety of accents in linguistics tests designed to determine which AI is the best at understanding the most people. Featuring Google Home, Amazon Echo, and Siri.

 

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Top 5 reasons not to buy a smart speaker

Published on Jun 8, 2017

Thinking about getting a smart speaker like the Amazon Echo or upcoming Apple HomePod? You might want to think again.

 

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Get fit with Google, Amazon smart speakers

Published on Jun 22, 2017

No time for the gym? No sweat! Google and Amazon smart speakers can help.

 

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"Hurricane Artificial Intelligence DJ" on Kickstarter

"This AI speaker wants to be your personal DJ"
The Hurricane speaker from SoundHound and Boombotix combines AI with music

by Matt Burgers
October 18, 2016

 

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Best Smart Speakers 2018: Our favourite Amazon Echo rivals

Published on Jan 18, 2018

What are the best smart speakers for your home in 2018? We round up our favourite voice controlled speakers with AI smarts and iPhone/Android support, including the Amazon Echo family and Google Home, plus rivals from Harmon Kardon and Sonos. We also discuss some of the best upcoming smart speakers from Panasonic, Apple and others.

From Amazon Alexa to Google Assistant, AI smarts are appearing in all kinds of speakers these days. You can ask them anything with complete hands-free control, and even activate your connected smart home goodies.

So, when it comes to Amazon Echo vs Google Home vs Sonos and other smart speakers, which is best for you? Here's our favourites right now.

 

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TWB 166: Amazon Echo v. Google Home v. Apple HomePod, Outdoor Retailer, Galaxy X

Streamed live 17 hours ago

Amazon Echo v. Google Home. v. Apple HomePod: Home Assistant and smart speaker sales are expected to increase substantially in 2018, as more consumers adopt them in some way. On today's episode we are joined by Home Editor Kim Wetzel, to help us break down the advantages and disadvantages of each one of the big names. Many people jumped on the Amazon Alexa bandwagon early and they are attempting to keep that name in everyone's minds, with a big budget Super Bowl ad. However, it's hard to deny that Google has a lot of inherent placement in the marketplace, with claims that over 400 million devices are enabled to use it's assistant. Apple is the latecomer to the party, with the $350 HomePod. Even with potentially superior sound on the Apple device, is it worth the $350 investment?

Outdoor Retailer: Rick Stella is freshly back from Denver, where he was at Outdoor Retailer. Being at the largest outdoor sport and gear trade show, means you get to see a lot of amazing ways that technology is fusing with previously untouched industries. Digital Trends teamed up with The Manual to dispense awards for the best of show. The winner of best innovation was the Oakley Spy Ace EC Electronic ski goggles, which are able to change the tint at the touch of a button, using electrochromic technology. We'll also take a look at an inventive way to stay hydrated on the slopes, with the Hydrastash jacket. We also can't help but think that other liquids could be discretely stored in the jacket, should one be attending a concert, perhaps.....

Samsung Galaxy X: The rumors of a 'foldable' OLED phone have circulated or years and it's no secret that Samsung has it's sites set on debuting just such a device. Now multiple outlets are reporting that the Galaxy X, as it is being dubbed, may be slated for release in late 2018, or early 2019. There is even speculation that we may see something at Mobile World Congress, in Barcelona. While it's a lot of conjecture, a flexible-screened phone does seem like science fiction coming to life.

 

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Comparing Siri, Alexa and Google Assistant

Published on Feb 6, 2018

We ask Siri, Alexa and Google Assistant questions to find out how they differ.

 

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Battle of the Smart Displays - Amazon Echo Show vs Google Home Hub

Published on Nov 15, 2018

The Google Home Hub vs. Amazon Echo Show: which is better? Both are smart displays that control your smart home, but that's where the similarities end. This comparison design, features, price and more to find out which is right for you.

 

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Smart displays year in review: Google and Amazon face off, yet again

Published on Dec 26, 2018

Smart speakers are so 2017. This year saw the rise of the smart display, with Google opening up its Home platform to third-party manufacturers like JBL and Lenovo, and Amazon putting out a much-improved version of its Echo Show. Smart displays add a lot of functionality to virtual assistants, facilitating video calls, step-by-step recipes, weather updates, and entertainment. Filling your house with microphones and cameras can also be a little creepy, something device makers seem to have realized as they've also added privacy functions, or in the case of the Google Home Hub, done away with the camera altogether.

 

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Article "The best smart displays you can buy"

by Christian de Looper
March 6, 2019

 

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Google Home Hub vs. Amazon Echo Show: Which one is better?

Published on Apr 26, 2019

We pit the Google Home Hub and the Amazon Echo Show against each other to see which one sounds better when playing music, which offers more help in the kitchen, which one makes controlling your smart home easier and more

 

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Article "Google Home vs. Amazon Echo Show: Should you buy a smart speaker or a smart display?"
Ahead of Google I/O next week, it's worth asking which of these two smart assistant devices fits better at the center of your home.

by Andrew Gebhart
May 1, 2019

 

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Article "Echo Dot, Google Home Mini and more: Best smart speakers of 2019"
With smart speakers from Amazon, Google and Apple as well as third-party products from the likes of Sonos, we can help you choose from all the exciting options.

by Andrew Gebhart
July 8, 2019

 

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Article "The best smart speakers for 2019"
With smart speakers from Amazon, Google and Apple as well as third-party products from the likes of Sonos, we can help you choose from all the exciting options.

by Andrew Gebhart
August 4, 2019

 

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Google's smart speaker biz losing ground

Published on Aug 28, 2019

Amazon is still the king of the hill thanks to its Echo line of smart speakers, a new report says. Google has managed to drop to No. 3! How did this happen? Here's the breakdown.

 

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Article "The state of the smart speaker market in 2020"

by Kayla Matthews
March 27, 2020

 

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Words you shouldn't say around your smart speaker

Apr 7, 2020

If you are worried about privacy, beware of using these words around your voice assistants. The device might mistake them for a wake word.

Smart speakers have been the focus of controversy and concern for some time, particularly with regard to privacy rights. Many people worry their smart devices are listening in on conversations even when the activation word has not been spoken -- and to some extent, those fears are reasonably founded. After news surfaced last summer that Google sent its audio recordings to a third party to be transcribed, many people feared their private lives had been compromised.

This news had some re-evaluating the privacy settings on smart devices, and in some instances, changing the activation phrase to something that might not be so easily triggered. It also called into question the accuracy of smart assistant listening; if you speak a word that's almost but not quite the activation phrase, will it work?

Digital Trends wanted to find out, so we tested Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Siri to find out which phrases -- if any -- triggered the devices. This is what we found.

"Avoid saying these words near your smart speaker, if you don’t want it to listen"

by Patrick Hearn
March 21, 2020

 

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Comparing all the best smart speakers

May 2, 2020

We brought in CNET smart home expert Andrew Gebhart to find out which smart speaker reigns supreme against the others. The Google Nest Mini, the Amazon Echo Dot, the Apple HomePod and the Sonos One compete for the crown.