Amazon plugs in with $700 million investment in electric pickup company Rivian
Amazon invested $700 million for a minority stake in U.S. all-electric truck maker Rivian, according to a joint release. The announcement follows a Reuters report that GM and Amazon might invest from $1 billion to $2 billion in the company. Rivian introduced the R1T pickup, at the 2018 LA Auto show.
Ring adds color night vision to wired security devices and HDR to wireless ones
Ring rolled out color night vision to its wired security products featuring cameras such as the Video Doorbell Pro and Spotlight Cam Wired. Ring also added HDR control to its battery-powered security devices including the Video Doorbell 2 and the Spotlight Cam Battery. The features are software updates.
Rock out in the carpool lane with Singing Machine’s Carpool Karaoke microphone
Carpool Karaoke fans can count down the days till summer to buy Singing Machine's Carpool Karaoke, the Mic, which debuted at the New York Toy Fair 2019. Connect the Carpool Karaoke Mic to your car radio to make your next road trip a mobile karaoke party. The Carpool Karaoke Mic is for passenger use, not drivers.
Samsung washing machine recall results in $6.55M class-action settlement
Samsung settled a class action lawsuit involving more than 30 top-loading washing machine models for $6.55 million. The class action alleged the washing machine tops could detach and explode in wash cycles. Samsung recalled the washers, but consumers sued. Original owners may qualify for refunds and a cash settlement.
Amazon’s Whole Foods raises hundreds of prices, from ice cream to soap
Whole Foods Market raised prices on hundreds of items. When Amazon bought Whole Foods, the promise of lower prices attracted customers, but now the glow may diminish with recent price bumps. The company cites inflation and rising costs of ingredients, packaging, and transportation as factors.
Review board says Dyson should cease unsubstantiated vacuum claims
The National Advertising Review Board recommended Dyson make three changes to claims about suction power, running time, and battery technology for its V8 cordless vacuums. Dyson agreed to the recommendations, following an appeal to more rigorous change recommendations by the National Advertising Division.
Amazon to add home mesh router maker Eero to its smart home ecosystem
Amazon will acquire the Eero mesh Wi-Fi router system brand. The financial details are not public and the acquisition must make it through regulatory hurdles. With this deal, Amazon will own another piece of the complete smart home package. Eero's Wi-Fi infrastructure covers the whole house with fast internet.
Find the perfect Valentine’s Day recipe with Food Network’s Date Your Dessert
Valentine's Day is soon upon us. For those who plan ahead, Food Network enlisted Amazon Alexa to help you find exactly the right dessert recipe to prepare and share with someone special. Food Network's Date Your Dessert interactive game is quick, easy, and pays off every time in the form of a dessert recipe.
Zero DS police edition electric motorcycle stops a Telsa Model S
A powerful and quiet Zero DS electric motorcycle police edition pulled over an also silent and fast Telsa Model 3 the Bay Area recently. Zero's electric motorcycles require no drivetrain maintenance and fuel costs are a fraction of gas-powered motorcycles, both big pluses for police department budgets.
Talk to people in other languages with Google Assistant’s Interpreter Mode
Google announced Interpreter Mode for Google Assistant at CES 2019. Earlier this week, Google introduced Interpreter Mode on a Google Home Help support page. You can now use Interpreter Mode on Google Home smart speakers, some third-party speakers that integrate Google Assistant devices, and all Smart Displays.
Amazon has sweet Valentine’s Week deals on Echo, Ring, Fire, Fire TV, and Kindle
Heading into Valentine's Week, Amazon served up a menu of deals on Amazon Echo devices, Ring security and lighting, Fire tablets, Fire TVs, and Kindle e-readers. Savings range from $10 to $140 and discounts to 50 percent, This is an opportunity to snap up a special gift for your Valentine or yourself.
AAA report: Freezing temps slash electric vehicle range almost in half
Extremely cold temperatures can decrease electric vehicle operating range by 41 percent, according to a new report by the American Automobile Association. The excess battery drain results primarily from using the vehicle's HVAC to warm the vehicle interior. High temperatures with more AC also shorten driving range.
Consumer Reports pulls its Dyson stick vacuum recommendation
Consumer Reports has removed all Dyson stick vacuum cleaners from its Recommended products list due to reliability problems. In a recent consumer survey, the consumer product testing group found nearly half of Dyson stick vacs break within five years. Consumer Reports changed the ratings from Recommended to Very Good.
Apple HomePod falls far short of Amazon Echo and Google Home smart speakers
Apple's HomePod has superior audio and protects conversations, but it's barely in the game, trailing Amazon Echo and Google Home, says a new report. Computer Intelligence Research Partners measured Amazon Echo with 70 percent of the market, Google Home with 24 percent, and the HomePod with just 6 percent.
Resideo smart home thermostats lost remote function during winter cold
Honeywell's Resideo smart home thermostats may have connectivity issues through February. According to the company, customers can control the thermostats locally and homeowner-created schedules still work, but strong sales leading to overloaded cloud infrastructure have contributed to the outages,
Now you can talk to Google Assistant with Nest Secure to keep your home safe
Google recently announced a feature that is new for the Nest Secure home security system. Nest Secure customers will soon be able to talk to Google Assistant on the Nest Guard central control unit. Google Assistant won't be turned on by default, but users can opt-in to enable voice command capability.
Amazon Alexa and Audible are ready to take you on an interactive adventure
If your kids are ready for an interactive adventure, Amazon's Audible partnered with Chooseco, the owners of the Choose Your Own Adventure (CYOA) series for a new Alexa Skill. The initial adventures search for the Abominable Snowman or the lost city of Atlantis, with listener decisions leading to one of many endings.
Redesigned Jeda Wireless Pad charger for Tesla Model 3 piles on new features
Redefined and redesigned, the second generation Jeda Wireless Pad charger for the Tesla Model 3 adds new functionality and user convenience features. Users can position smartphones in portrait mode on the Wireless Pad in the Model 3 console for everyday use, but switch to landscape mode for Google Maps or Waze.
Make the perfect meatball with celebrity chef Daniel Holzman on Yummly Pro app
Whirlpool and Yummly announced Yummly Pro for people who want to improve their cooking skills. Yummly Pro is an app-driven platform with personalized recipe selections and step-by-step video cooking instructions from celebrity chefs. Users will find shopping lists with on-demand ordering, timers, and more in the app.
Orro’s smart switch lighting adjusts to your rhythms to help you sleep better
Lighting control startup Orro today introduced the Orro Switch, which the company promises is "the world’s most advanced responsive and adaptive home lighting system." The end result, according to the company, is home lighting that supports the way you live and also helps you sleep better at night.
Harrison Ford, other stars show the limits of Alexa in hilarious Super Bowl ads
Amazon is using four 11-second celebrity video teasers to entice viewers to watch its Super Bowl television commercials on February 3. Harrison Ford, Abbi Jacobsen, Ilana Glazer, Forest Whitaker, and Mark and Scott Kelly each react to something offscreen, which may be an Amazon Beta Testing Program.
Walgreens’ smart fridges scan your face and remember your behavior
Walgreens smart fridges will scan your face and remember your behavior in select stores piloting a retail technology called Cooler Screens. The first smart coolers were installed in a Walgreens in Chicago on January 14. The next two cities in the pilot program are New York and San Francisco.
Lowe’s is shutting down its Iris smart home platform, offering customers refunds
Lowe's sent an email to Iris Smart Home Platform customers announcing it will shut down the platform and related services effective March 31, 2019. Iris customers can redeem Iris products for prepaid Visa cards but only via an online Redemption link included in the email.
Tesla’s profitable fourth quarter sets the pace for the EV sector
Palo Alto, Califrnia-based Tesla released its fourth-quarter 2018 earnings statement, reporting that the EV company turned a profit for the second consecutive quarter. Tesla's long-sought profitability is a bellwether for the electric vehicle industry as it maintains pressure on other brands.
Today’s hottest Amazon Echo and Google Home smart plug deals on Amazon
We found the best discounts today for smart plugs from Amazon and put them in one place. To be included smart plugs had to be compatible with Amazon Echo or Google Home, or both. We only included smart plugs with four-star or higher average customer reviews that are on sale and available for shipping.
Shadecraft unfurls Bloom, an Amazon Echo-compatible smart outdoor umbrella
Following up on its earlier robotic umbrellas, ShadeCraft introduced the Amazon Echo-compatible Bloom smart outdoor Parasol Automation Device with a built-in speaker. The Bloom mechanism works with mass-market patio umbrellas, transforming them into smart home outdoor living hubs.
Find big price cuts on Dyson upright, stick, and handheld vacuums on Amazon
Six of Dyson's most popular vacuum cleaners, including upright, stick, and handheld models have deep price cuts on Amazon. The across-the-board discounts on Dyson's vacuum cleaners are easily the best deals of the year for anyone wanting to buy one of the innovative company's consumer cleaning machines.
Casper’s Glow smart light is designed to help you sleep more soundly
Casper, the Wave mattress innovator, introduced the Casper Glow, a smart light designed to help you establish healthy sleep patterns. According to Casper, the Glow's warm lighting impacts mood and our ability to relax. The Glow uses a rechargeable battery and can be used on the charger base or carried around the house.
Walmart drops the price of the already discounted, guilt-free Ninja Air Fryer
Walmart slashed its price on the guilt-free Ninja Air Fryer. The countertop appliance helps home cooks prepare meals quickly with little or no oil. The 4-quart Ninja Air Fryer AF100 has a one-touch control panel to choose from four programmable cooking functions: Air Fry, Roast, Reheat, and Dehydrate.
Despite $125 million in funding, Munchery ceases operations in San Francisco
After eight years of shape-shifting in the home meal delivery business, Munchery ceased operations in San Francisco, its final market. Founded in 2010, Munchery tried to establish and hold a viable business model. In May 2018, Munchery retreated from all markets except San Francisco, but now that's also closed.
AAA pushes for standardized names and definitions for driver assistance tech
Consumers are confused by the variety of marketing names for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, says a recent AAA report. When automobile manufacturers use different names for assistance features, consumers also tend to be over-reliant on the technology -- a dangerous trend that could result in accidents and deaths.
Ford’s Transit Custom Nugget lines up against the Volkswagen California
Ford announced a camper van outfitted by Westfalia for the European market. Buyers can order the Transit Custom Nugget directly through Ford dealers with one of two wheelbases and a fixed or folding roof. Already sold in Germany, the Custom Nugget is now available in Austria, Belgium, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland.