Bose one-ups Apple, Amazon with a $400 smart speaker, two new soundbars
Bose has launched three new smart speakers, adding an Alexa-enabled speaker and two soundbars to its current lineup, chasing Sonos into the world of assistant-integrated whole-home audio. Though it will only have Alexa at launch, the company says Airplay 2 and other assitants will follow.
Petco is fighting the competition with voice-activated content on smart speakers
Petco's new strategy to compete with retailers like PetSmart, Bark, and Amazon's new Wag is to develop content to position the company as the best source of pet information and the ability to source pet products intelligently by partnering with Alpine.AI to help users interact via digital assistants.
Riva Audio’s Concert and Stadium are smart speakers with an emphasis on sound
When we've gotten our hands on speakers from Riva Audio in the past, we've been impressed, so we expect that to remain the case with the company's new smart speakers, the Concert and Stadium, both of which are the first third-party speakers to feature the complete Alexa communications suite.
The smart-deadbolt Nest x Yale Lock now works with Google Assistant
Nest, owned by Google parent company Google, is adding Google Assistant support to its smart deadbolt Nest x Yale Lock. Starting August 29, the security tool will be compatible with the AI assistant so you can lock your door on the go with just a simple voice command.
Swann is arming its 4K Ultra HD security cams with Google Assistant
Today the DIY security cam manufacturer Swann became the first in its market to roll out Google Assistant voice commands for its wired 4K Ultra HD video surveillance system, giving customers the ability to control, record, and receive alerts from their 1080p resolution security cameras.
IFA 2018: 8K TV, AI everything, and more trends we expect to see
Europe's biggest technology show is starting, and this is a year you will not want to miss. We've rounded up the trends and secrets you need to know ahead of IFA's official launch later this week. From 8K TVs to robot wearables, we've got it all right here.
These are the 10 dirtiest places in your home, according to one expert
It's easy for dirt and grime to settle in unexpected places. According to home expert Bob Vila, there are 10 places in your house that are dirtier than the rest, and some might surprise you. According to the list, a number of your favorite pieces of tech are likely dirtier than you think.
Alexa’s smart speaker market lead slips as Google Assistant and others gain
Amazon Alexa remains the global leader in smart speaker sales by a significant margin, but Google Assistant is steadily gaining market share. Smart speakers from other companies are carving their own pieces of the business. Internationally, Alexa's leadership is not as significant, particularly in China.
Paint your wall using light with new Philips light bar, Hue Signe lamps
If you've never gotten around to repainting the living room, even though that task has been on your to-do list for years, you may want to try a different approach that doesn't require any paintbrushes or color swatches. Two new Philips Hue lights can project colors directly onto your walls.
Amazon’s Whole Foods is stealing customers from Trader Joe’s, analysts say
New reports from two separate data analysis firms indicate that a year after Amazon bought Whole Foods for nearly $14 billion, the boutique grocery chain is starting to attract customers from Trader Joe's and other grocers with discounts on popular foodstuffs and new delivery methods.
LG wants to keep your vino cool with new Signature series wine cellar
At IFA 2018, LG introduced a new wine cellar capable of storing 65 bottles of your favorite wine. The appliance comes equipped with a smart sensor that opens the door with the swipe of a foot. It's expected to become available for consumers in the coming months at a yet unknown price.
Gjemeni’s transformer furniture lets you power up or down with a click
A new Bay Area startup named Gjemeni is hitting the furniture-in-a-box market with a transforming new line of furniture that includes a couch that folds down to a bed, a chair, and an ottoman, with features like USB and traditional socket power, memory foam, and temperature-controlling technology.
Have a pool for the day with the Airbnb of swimming pools
Ready to host a pool party but you don't own a pool? Check out Swimply, an online marketplace where pool owners rent out pools by the hour. Operating with a model similar to Airbnb, Swimply lets renters search by city and available dates, and view pictures, details, pricing, and rules for a great pool party.
You won’t feel like a tool hanging out in these over-the-top sheds
Voting is open in the U.K.'s latest Shed of the Year contest, with this year's entries featuring some of the wackiest and most wonderful creations to date. Check out what must be one of the smallest pubs in the world, the circus-inspired "Big Top Den," and an extraordinary “floating shed.”
How LG built its Signature appliances to solve problems you didn’t know you had
Ever look at your appliance and marvel over how manufacturers thought of including a certain feature or look? We got a behind-the-scenes look at LG Appliances in South Korea, where we learned about how LG’s Signature line was created. The ideas didn’t come from engineers, but from people like you.
Alexa will avoid tough questions with new, kid-friendly responses
Amazon has added a number of new, kid-friendly responses to its voice assistant tool Alexa. The A.I. tool used in the company's smart speakers will now avoid any unsavory questions, play songs with censored lyrics, and doesn't ruin the existence of Santa Claus.
LG doubles its Instaview Door-in-Door fridge lineup for Labor Day
Doubling down on its line of LG Instaview Door-in-Door Wi-Fi-enabled smart refrigerators, LG Electronics increased the selection to 23 choices including capacity, door design, depth, and three fingerprint-resistant finishes. The expanded lineup was timed to coincide with an annual Labor Day sales event and promotion.
These 10 amazing bus conversions put a new spin on mobile living
Tiny homes are all the rage, but have you ever thought about living inside of a bus? These bus-to-mobile-home conversions have everything you'd ever need while on the road, including wood stoves, flat-screen TVs, and the kind of upholstery you'd expect to find in a luxury apartment.
Amazon is paying employees to tweet nice things about its warehouses
Amazon is paying employees to say nice things on Twitter about working in the company's fulfillment centers following reports of poor working conditions. The "FC Ambassador" accounts all share a standardized format and make similar, positive comments about working for Amazon.
Lensless cameras could turn windows into sensors, even pointed the ‘wrong’ way
A research group at the University of Utah is rethinking cameras for machines and not humans. The result? A lensless camera pointed at the edge of a piece of glass, instead of looking through the glass. While there are limitations, the team suggests future use in self-driving cars, security systems, and VR goggles.
Purchasing a used smart speaker? A hacker could be listening to you
If you're purchasing smart speakers on the secondary market, security experts warn that you could run into added privacy risks, such as hackers bugging the devices to listen in on your conversations. And because the attack isn't software based, simply undergoing a factory reset won't protect against it.
Samsung Air Dresser closet airs, steams, dries, and purifies garments
Entering a market dominated by LG Electronics, Samsung announced the Air Dresser. The smart closet dries, steams, airs, and purifies garments in 25 minutes. The internet-connected closet works with Samsung's SmartThings app and can send notifications when clothing is ready and when the air filter needs replacing.
Sony’s new Aibo robot dog is absolutely adorable — and crazy expensive
Sony has unveiled the limited First Litter Edition Aibo, which goes on sale in time for the holidays for a mere $2,899. The pup is a tech tour de force, with 22 axes of movement, bright OLED screens for eyes, And a cloud-connected A.I. system to help it learn who you are and grow and adapt.
Shape-shifting Electrolux Pure F9 cordless vacuum cleaner adjusts to the job
Electrolux introduced the Pure F9 cordless vacuum cleaner with an easy-to-shift body unit that accommodates any cleaning task. Claiming the battery lasts long enough to do a full house, Electrolux said the Pure F9 automatically adjusts vacuum force based on surfaces. Consumer input inspired the Pure F9.
Zap! A new portable sterilizer called Klistem uses UV light to kill bacteria
A new portable, USB-charged sterilizer called Klistem uses 253.7nm wavelength UV-C light, the most potent germicidal wavelength on the spectrum, to kill 99.9% of germs that are harmful to the human body within 90 seconds.
GE JES1097SMSS microwave review
The GE Smart Countertop Microwave can be controlled by Amazon’s Alexa, but it also uses scan-to-cook technology via its app for packaged and frozen food. The list of items is robust, but we’d like to see the app incorporate more fresh food options to really make this connected microwave smart.
Despite privacy concerns, music lovers are still grooving to smart speakers
Consumer research firm MusicWatch has been digging into the habits of 5,000 smart speaker owners to see how they're using devices like the Amazon Echo and Google Home and the research indicates that users still have concerns about privacy while streaming music.
‘Hey Google, tell me something good’ filters out bad news on Home devices
Is continuously negative news bumming you out? Are you beginning to wonder if anything good is happening in the world? Just say 'Hey Google, tell me something good,' with any Google Assistant-enabled device for a curated summary of stories of people doing something positive and solving problems in the world.
VAVA expands into home security with a new wireless home cam
VAVA, based in Fargo, North Dakota, makes a wide variety of electronics, accessories and other gizmos but it's following up on one of its most successful products, the VAVA Dash Cam for automobiles, with a new weather-resistant, wireless security camera designed for homeowners.
Yale Assure smart locks can now keep your home secure with Xfinity
Yale Assure smart locks with a Yale Zigbee Network Module can now work with Comcast's Xfinity Home service. With an Xfinity Home subscription, owners can lock, unlock, or monitor locks via a website or mobile app. In addition to other Xfinity Home security features, owners can also configure alert notification rules.
Smart mirrors prove to be more beauty than brains
Smart mirrors all have a variety of features and level of intelligence, whether they are connected via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. We tested out three: out the Viio Vezzo smart mirror, SimpleHuman Sensor Mirror Trio, and the HiMirror Plus+. Some are meant for makeup, while others try to keep you entertained during your morning routine.
This is exactly how much soda you need to drink for a SodaStream to be worth it
With Pepsi buying SodaStream, you might be rethinking where and how you get your soda. Thinking about buying a SodaStream, but aren't sure if it's worth the investment? Don't worry - we crunched the numbers for you. You'll be surprised to hear the results.
Here’s why dropping appliances from a tower is not an Olympic sport
Western Australian YouTubers held a competition involving a 150-foot tower, gravity, a target, and household appliances. All in fun, the resultant video joins other efforts with darts, tree stumps, jelly beans, and trampolines. The gravity test tower is open for public water balloon tosses.
Hilton doubles down on construction trends with a San Francisco hotel
Modular construction is a booming trends in the hotel industry and Hilton is embracing with construction strategy, recently breaking ground on a new Home2 Suites by Hilton build in South San Francisco that will use modular construction to cut costs and retain quality.