Amazon just ramped up its smarthome game—and Echo product line—with new Echo and Echo Plus smart speakers, and the Echo Spot.
Amazon
007: Apple and Amazon Battle for Bond
The James Bond movie rights are up in the air and Apple and Amazon are both hoping to land a deal.
Tim Cook’s Political Junket and Amazon’s Master Plan for Alexa - ACM 426
Is Tim Cook running for President? Bryan and Jeff take a look at his recent higher public profile and the political junket he seemed to take through the midwest. They also talk about Amazon’s recent improvements to Alexa and how they fit in with the company’s master plan for the platform.
How to Set Up Multi-room Music Streaming for the Echo and Echo Dot
Here’s how to set up Amazon’s new multi-room music streaming for your Echo, Echo Dot, and Echo Show devices.
Here's How to Turn Your Neighbor's Amazon Echo into a Remote Listening Device
MWR Labs was able to open a first generation Amazon Echo and add permanent code to the firmware that streamed live audio from the always-listening microphones to remote services.
Apple Watch Shipment Milestone, Echo Eavesdropping Hack - TMO Daily Observations 2017-08-03
Bryan Chaffin and Jeff Butts join Jeff Gamet to share their thoughts on a report claiming more than 30 million Apple Watches have been sold so far, plus they look at a hack that turns Amazon’s Echo into an eavesdropping device.
Bob LeVitus Doesn't Want You Buying the Paperback of Working Smarter for Mac Users
So my old friend Bob “Dr. Mac” LeVitus made a paperback version of Working Smarter for Mac Users, but he doesn’t want you to buy it. Weird, right? He has his reasons, though, and he made a video (with some cheesy help from yours truly) explaining why. Check it out. And if you haven’t already checked out Working Smarter for Mac Users, you should. I edited this book, and it’s amazeballs. It’s chock full of both Mac productivity tips and Dr. Mac’s techniques for overcoming procrastination. But unlike other productivity systems I’ve read, Bob’s focus is less about “do these things” than it is, “here are different things to try, and here’s how to think about them so you can pick what works for you.” It’s on Amazon ($19.99 Kindle, $29.99 Paperback), iBooks ($19.99), or direct from Bob (where’s a coupon code at the bottom of the page). In the meanwhile, enjoy Bob’s video!
Amazon Pay Places, Atari Flashback, and Apple's New Emojis - ACM 420
In episode 420, Bryan and Jeff discuss whether or not Amazon was high when it came up with Amazon Pay Places. They also discuss Atari Flashback 8 Gold, the new Atari retro gaming box, as well as Apple’s new emojis.
Here’s how to Use Amazon In Stores With Amazon Pay Places
Right now Amazon Pay Places is only available at TGI Friday’s in certain locations, and Amazon hasn’t said when it will roll out to more locations and with more partners.
Amazon's HomePod Competitor, Apple Store HomeKit Demos - TMO Daily Observations 2017-07-13
Bryan Chaffin and Jeff Butts join Jeff Gamet to offer up their take on Amazon’s Echo that’s coming this fall to compete with Apple’s HomePod, plus they have some thoughts on Apple adding HomeKit demonstration stations to its stores.
Amazon Working on Echo Competitor to Apple's HomePod
Amazon is working on a new Echo designed to compete directly with Apple’s HomePod, and it’s expected to ship this fall.
Guy Accidentally Tells Smart Home Device to Call the Cops on Him
I don’t think he collected $200, either.
AAPL, MSFT Among Stocks Affected By NASDAQ Glitch
Nasdaq is blaming Bloomberg and other market-tracking sites for publishing test data that reset the prices of several tech stocks.
Amazon Prime Day 2017 Kicks Off Tuesday, July 11th
Amazon Prime Day, the company’s annual Black Friday-like sales event for Prime members that first launched in 2015, is coming soon. The company today announced that Prime Day 2017 is set for Tuesday, July 11, 2017, and that current Prime members can get an early start on shopping by logging on the previous night, Monday, July 10 at 9:00 p.m. EDT (6:00 p.m. PDT). Like the company’s Black Friday sales, Prime Day shoppers can expect a rotating series of deals throughout the day. Many of the products are clearance-like items that Amazon needs to move, but you’ll still occasionally find big savings on some cool stuff. If you’re not already a Prime member, you can sign up for the free trial which will give you access to the sale as well as all of the other Prime member benefits.
Amazon Updates Echo With Home Intercom Feature
The feature works with the Echo, Echo Dot, Echo Show, and even with the Alexa iPhone app, so you’ll be able to annoy your family from anywhere in the world.
Apple Giveth, Amazon Taketh Away: Say Goodbye to Unlimited Amazon Drive Storage
Amazon’s change of heart on unlimited data closely mirrors that of Microsoft, which also ditched unlimited storage for OneDrive just one year after initially offering it as a perk for Office 365 subscribers.
Amazon Prime Video Is Coming to Apple TV
You’ll be able to watch your favorite shows and movies from Amazon on your set-top box.
How AIs, like Siri, Could Become Our Proxy Shoppers
People of means don’t spin their wheels on frustrating shopping expeditions, however, AIs could be the equalizer for the rest of us.
Amazon's Alexa Calling Feature Works From Your iPhone, too
Amazon’s Alexa Calling feature works great on the Echo and Echo Dot, from the testing TMO staff have done so far. Jeff Butts and Jeff Gamet also took the time to check out how the feature works from the Alexa app on the iPhone. Here’s what they found out, and how you can use it, too.
Amazon Prime on Apple TV Announcement Coming at WWDC
Apple plans to announce Amazon Prime Video for Apple TV during its Worldwide Developer Conference keynote presentation on June 5th. Amazon also plans to start selling Apple’s entertainment device again once the app is available.
Imagining a Siri Smarthome, Apple and Sleep Tracking, and the Real iPhone 8 - ACM 410
With Alexa Show and Microsoft Invoke, Bryan and Jeff envision the Siri smarthome of the future to make the case for an Apple Siri device. They also talk about what Apple might do with sleep tracking technology from Beddit, as well some sexy new renders of Apple’s unannounced iPhone 8.
Alexa Calling: Amazon Adds Voice Calling to Echo, Echo Dot
The just announced Echo Show isn’t the only device in Amazon’s lineup getting voice calling support. A new feature dubbed Alexa Calling is coming to the Echo, Echo Dot, and Alexa mobile app today. For now, the calling features are limited to the Echo lineup and Alexa app, but that could be the first step in turning the devices into speaker phones fro our homes.
Amazon's Echo Show, FBI's iPhone Hack Price Tag - TMO Daily Observations 2017-05-09
Amazon unveiled its Echo Show, and it has a display. Bryan Chaffin and the Maccast’s Adam Christianson join Jeff Gamet to share their reactions to Amazon’s newest Alexa device. They also have some thoughts on the unintended confirmation that the FBI paid $900,000 for the San Bernardino iPhone hack, plus Bryan coins “I’m gonna up that up.”
Amazon Unveils Echo Show with Display and Video Camera
The biggest un-surprise of the day comes from Amazon and its just announced Echo Show. The well-leaked new Echo model includes a built-in display and camera so you can get visual responses to your Alexa queries and make video calls, too.