Tag: Amazon Alexa

Amazon Is Developing A Louder Echo Speaker, Also Working On Robots

Following the sensational success of Amazon Echo smart speaker with built in Alexa VA (virtual assitant), Apple launched its own iteration of a smart speaker which is called the HomePod. The latter runs Apple’s virtual assistant Siri which is also found on iPhones and Mac computers. While the Amazon Echo was originally intended as a companion device for asking quick questions, the HomePod was designed as device that could fill up large living spaces with powerful audio.

With both companies also competing in the music streaming service category, the compact Echo speakers have fallen short in front of the stout HomePod which packs a punch sound output. In order to maintain a lead in the music streaming service, that Amazon currently has over Apple, the former plans to launch a beefier smart speaker claims a Bloomberg report.

According to the report the new Amazon Echo smart speaker is set to release by next year. In addition, the prototype that the company is currently testing features four or more number of internal tweeters. In comparison, Apple’s incorporates 7 tweeters which sort of form a beam of sound. In addition to the chunkier Echo speaker, the existing lineup is also set to receive minor updates this fall states the report.

Besides smart speakers, Amazon is also working on a ‘Alexa home robot’ that will follow the device owner around a house or a work space. Noteworthy, the Amazon branded robot stands about waist height and sports numerous cameras which will help it to easily navigate through different spaces.

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Conclusively, it seems that Amazon is bidding big on the rapidly booming smart home and appliance industry. Also the existence of personal robot suggests that company is not holding back on any technological firepower. Although it is a bit exaggerating, Amazon branded robots could very well be cooking food for you except for just reading recipes aloud via Alexa.

What are your thoughts on Amazon’s leap into the future? do let us know in the comments below!

July 12, 2019
Fake Alexa App Tops Apple App Store Before Being Removed

Apple has been very strict with their App store and regularly checks on security of Apps that they enlist. A fake Amazon Alexa setup tool for iOS has become the sixth most downloaded app in the Apple Store’s Utilities category. However, this is not an Amazon madeApp but a third party App. Amazon Alexa based devices have been a smash hit since their launch. During Christmas this year Amazon Alexa servers failed in Europe due to an overload of users. This is a clear indication that a lot of users are calling out to the virtual assistant on their phones and their echo devices. This fake App seems to be taking advantage of the high popularity of Alexa.

The App itself is very basic and looks nothing like the actual Alexa App. The App asks for the user’s IP Address, the serial number of the device and a name. The App has successfully fooled a lot of people and made it to the top charts on the Apple App Store. The app reportedly can access a large amount of the user’s data such as IP addresses, browser information, referring/exit pages and URLs, clickstream data, domain names and so on. The App may also be able to track the user’s location which could lead to larger privacy concerns.

Apple has a very strict privacy policy for all Apps on the App Store. However, malicious apps have been known to pass the stress test and show up on the App Store. In September an App called Adware Doctor was reportedly sending user’s browsing data to China. But Apple promptly deleted the App after the knowledge of its malpractice.

Update

While the Alexa Setup app has now been removed from the App Store. It is only time before something like this happens again. That of-course, if Apple doesn’t strengthen its already strong barrier of entry for Apps.

December 28, 2018
Amazon Alexa Servers Crash Due To Heavy Traffic

Amazon’s smart voice assistant Alexa is one of the fastest growing, if not the fastest personal assistant out there. Amazon has included Alexa in multiple smart speakers made by the company itself and it is now expanding the reach of the assistant to home appliances and even cars. Alexa’s portfolio and scope are ever-growing. In fact, Amazon reported that Alexa enabled devices were among the best-selling products on Amazon, this holiday season. What’s more, Christmas day turned out to be even more surprising for Alexa enabled devices throughout Europe. With a sea of new Alexa devices being bought and set up, the servers just couldn’t hold it anymore.

The servers went down as they couldn’t handle all the thousands of new Alexa devices being setup at the same time. The apparent Alexa outrage began around 10 AM GMT. With users complaining that they were not able to use their devices. Even for regular tasks such as paying music or using smart home controls. The shortage lasted for a few hours. Amazon was quick to get the servers back online and the devices working again. Another interesting bit of information is the fact that the number of voice activated orders placed this year was far greater, almost 3 times more than the number of orders placed last year.

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The Future

Other than this, Alexa was also summoned ‘hundreds of thousands of times’ to help with cocktail recipes and many other such holiday essentials. But what does all of this mean? The number of Alexa products reflects more about the dependance on smart home assistants, rather than just the sales figures. With growing features, the assistant is no longer restricted to a few devices. And has spread to almost every part of our homes. With the advancement of AI, some of them especially to aid smart assistants, what waits for us is an interesting and exciting future. Where the possibilities of using smart assistants will be endless.

December 27, 2018
Amazon & Qualcomm Partner To Bring Alexa To More Headphones

Alexa is Amazon’s virtual assistant which was first seen in 2016 on the Amazon Echo & Amazon Echo Dot smart speakers. Alexa can interact with humans via voice commands making searches easy and natural.

Widespread Alexa

Amazon is partnering with Qualcomm to bring Alexa voice assistant to more wireless earphones. Qualcomm will develop and manufacture new embeddable chips for other manufacturers who can incorporate them into their earphones. The chip will provide these earphones with Amazon’s voice assistant.

One similar concept is Apple’s AirPods with voice assistant capabilities. Apple AirPods allow users to interact with their virtual assistant Siri by a simple tap. Even Google allows other companies to integrate their Google Now virtual assistant into their wireless earphones. The latest example of it is the Nokia True wireless Earbuds & Pro Wireless Earphones.

Earlier this year, Sony announced that a lot of their earphone models will support Alexa assistant after a software update. Companies like Bose and Jabra also have a few Alexa supporting earphone models in their portfolio. Qualcomm has already showcased a chip that can be integrated by 3rd party manufacturers to attain Alexa support. Qualcomm also said that the partnership with other manufacturers will help them drive down the costs and adoption of their chips. These chips will open up a whole new market for Qualcomm. Hence, they can diverge into other markets and decrease their revenue dependence on mobile phone processors.

This is a bankable future option for Qualcomm. Although, it requires patent licensing and regulatory fees from companies like Apple. At a recent conference held in Hong-Kong, Qualcomm announced they are also working with action camera makers like GoPro to incorporate Qualcomm chips in their devices. Qualcomm expects to achieve $ 5 billion in revenue from non-mobile sources in 2018. This expected revenue will make up for 20% of their sales revenue which according to analysts will be $ 22 billion.

October 24, 2018
Amazon Echo Plus (2nd Gen) And Echo Dot (3rd Gen) Now Available In India

Amazon had revealed a lineup of new Alexa-enabled devices last month. Finally, they have launched some of the devices in India. The Amazon Echo Plus 2nd Gen and Echo Dot 3rd Gen are now available in India. The Echo Dot will be in stock starting October 25 and is available in its white variant. The Grey and Black Variant will be available from October 25. Apart from being on sale, the devices are also already available at a discounted price on Amazon.

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Echo Plus 2nd Gen

The Echo Plus is a hands free smart speaker and this is the second generation of the device. Connected to the Amazon assistant Alexa, it performs a variety of task which make your day to day functioning easier. The Echo Plus sports a new look over the previous generation and looks more premium. Weighing in at around 780 grams, the device is pretty compact and will fit in any corner of your house. The Echo Plus can connect to not only your smartphone but also all the other smart devices present in your home. This gives you the ability to control the lights, ACs, microwaves and any other device which is compatible with Alexa.

Essentially being a speaker, the Echo Plus has premium speakers powered by Dolby, which play ‘360 degree’ audio and claims to offer crisp vocals and a dynamic bass response. The device is integrated with 7 far-field microphones so that it can hear you with clarity even if you are on the other side of the room.

With Alexa integration, the device can play music, answer your questions, sort your calendar, make and sneer calls and send messages. It also performs advanced activities such as ordering a cab, ordering food and tell you jokes.

Echo Dot 3rd Gen

The Echo Dot on the other hand, can perform all the functions the Echo Plus can. The only difference is the fact that it is as the same suggest, really compact. The devices weighs in at around 300 grams. The Echo Dot has 4 far-field microphones to hear you through a noisy environment.

Both the devices have physical buttons for controlling them. The devices also feature a 3.5 mm audio jack to be used as a conventional speaker.

October 13, 2018