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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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.

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 [...]