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 computing
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 EchoAmazon’s ‘Alexa Blueprints’ can now be published publicly on the US Alexa Skills Store
Last year, Amazon introduced Alexa Blueprints, a way for an Alexa device owner to create their own customized voice skills and Alexa responses without needing to know how to code. These skills — like family trivia or tips for your babysitter — could then be published for personal use. Later, Amazon added the ability to share […]
View More Amazon’s ‘Alexa Blueprints’ can now be published publicly on the US Alexa Skills StoreReport: 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 seasonGoogle woos smart home device makers with launch of Google Assistant Connect
Google is making it easier for device manufacturers to integrate with Google Assistant technology, including those times when devices need to respond to voice commands without the benefit – or the expense – of being connected to Google’s cloud. To do so, Google is today launching a new set of tools called Google Assistant Connect […]
View More Google woos smart home device makers with launch of Google Assistant ConnectThe NFL launches its first standalone voice app with ‘A Rookie’s Guide to the NFL’ for Alexa
The NFL is giving voice assistants a go. Earlier this year, the organization had tested the waters with the launch of a flash briefing called “NFL in :60,” but today the company is debuting its first standalone voice-enabled app. The new Alexa skill, “A Rookie’s Guide to the NFL,” is designed to serve as companion that […]
View More The NFL launches its first standalone voice app with ‘A Rookie’s Guide to the NFL’ for AlexaSmart speakers hit critical mass in 2018
We already know Alexa had a good Christmas – the app shot to the top of the App Store over the holidays, and the Alexa service even briefly crashed from all the new users. But Alexa, along with other smart speaker devices like Google Home, didn’t just have a good holiday — they had a […]
View More Smart speakers hit critical mass in 2018Alexa gains support for location-based reminders and routines, calling features and more
Amazon Alexa is gaining new capabilities, including support for location-based reminders and routines, the ability to call local businesses by voice and the ability to check your email, hands-free, on supported Alexa devices, among other things. These features were previously introduced this fall at Amazon’s Echo event in Seattle, alongside a host of other capabilities […]
View More Alexa gains support for location-based reminders and routines, calling features and more