Apple popped out a new pair of AirPods this week. The design looks exactly like the old pair of AirPods. Which means I’m never going to use them because Apple’s bulbous earbuds don’t fit my ears. Think square peg, round hole. The only way I could rock AirPods would be to walk around with hands […]
View More The damage of defaultsCategory: voice assistant
Amazon expands program that pays developers for top voice apps to France, Italy & Spain
Amazon is expanding its program that directly pays Alexa developers in cash for building valuable, quality voice apps to new markets in Europe: France, Italy, and Spain. Originally launched in the U.S. in 2017 for those developers building game skills, the Alexa Developer Rewards program has since expanded to include a broader selection of Alexa […]
View More Amazon expands program that pays developers for top voice apps to France, Italy & SpainOver a quarter of U.S. adults now own a smart speaker, typically an Amazon Echo
U.S. smart speaker owners grew 40 percent over 2018 to now reach 66.4 million – or 26.2 percent of the U.S. adult population – according to a new report from Voicebot.ai and Voicify released this week, which detailed adoption patterns and device market share. The report also reconfirmed Amazon Echo’s lead, noting the Alexa-powered smart […]
View More Over a quarter of U.S. adults now own a smart speaker, typically an Amazon EchoYou can now ask Alexa to control your Roku devices
Roku this morning announced its devices will now be compatible with Amazon’s Alexa. Through a new Roku skill for Alexa, Roku owners will be able to control their devices in order to do things like launch a channel, play or pause a show, search for entertainment options, and more. Roku TV owners will additionally be […]
View More You can now ask Alexa to control your Roku devicesAmazon stops selling stick-on Dash buttons
Amazon has confirmed it’s retired physical stick-on Dash buttons from sale — in favor of virtual alternatives that let Prime Members tap a digital button to reorder a staple product. It also points to its Dash Replenishment service — which offers an API for device makers wanting to build Internet connected appliances that can automatically […]
View More Amazon stops selling stick-on Dash buttonsCedars-Sinai puts Amazon Alexa in patient rooms as part of a pilot program
Los Angeles medical center Cedars-Sinai is currently piloting a program that places Amazon Echos in more than 100 patient rooms. The smart speakers use Aiva, a voice assistant platform for healthcare, and is intended to help patients communicate with their caregivers. Letting patients use Alexa to perform basic tasks like changing TV channels also frees […]
View More Cedars-Sinai puts Amazon Alexa in patient rooms as part of a pilot programApple acquires talking Barbie voicetech startup PullString
Apple has just bought up the talent it needs to make talking toys a part of Siri, HomePod, and its voice strategy. Apple has reportedly acquired PullString, also known as ToyTalk, according to Axios’ Dan Primack and Ina Fried. The company makes voice experience design tools, artificial intelligence to power those experiences, and toys like […]
View More Apple acquires talking Barbie voicetech startup PullStringReport: Voice assistants in use to triple to 8 billion by 2023
The use of voice assistants is set to triple over the next few years, according to a new forecast from the U.K.-based analysts at Juniper Research. The firm estimates there will be 8 billion digital voice assistants in use by 2023, up from the 2.5 billion assistants in use at the end of 2018. The […]
View More Report: Voice assistants in use to triple to 8 billion by 2023Report: Smart speaker adoption in U.S. reaches 66M units, with Amazon leading
Smart speakers had a good holiday. Amazon already said its Echo Dot outsold all other items on its site this holiday season, which hinted toward the sizable growth for the voice-powered speaker market. Today, research firm CIRP is reporting the U.S. installed base for speakers grew to 66 million units in December 2018, up from […]
View More Report: Smart speaker adoption in U.S. reaches 66M units, with Amazon leadingThe Super Bowl gets voice-enabled
Amazon, Dish, Comcast and others are hoping to turn Super Bowl 2019 into a way to show off the potential for their voice technologies and TV integrations. The companies this week have been touting new features and a variety of voice commands that will allow viewers to get prepared for the big game, learn about […]
View More The Super Bowl gets voice-enabledAlexa skills top 80,000 after a big Alexa-powered holiday season
Amazon had a record-breaking holiday quarter, with revenue of $72.4 billion and profits of $3 billion, but it’s not making much money off its top-selling item, the Alexa-powered Echo Dot. While the e-commerce giant said the device was its 2018 holidays best seller across all products, it also reminded investors on yesterday’s earnings call that […]
View More Alexa skills top 80,000 after a big Alexa-powered holiday seasonAlexa gets a professional ‘newscaster’ voice for reading the day’s news
Amazon already gave Alexa the ability to whisper, and now it’s rolling out another way to change the assistant’s speaking style – it’s giving Alexa a “newscaster” voice. Starting today, when U.S. customers ask Alexa “what’s the latest?” to hear the day’s news, Alexa will respond using a voice that’s similar to how a professional […]
View More Alexa gets a professional ‘newscaster’ voice for reading the day’s news