Alexa

First revealed last year, the Echo Flex is a device that acts as an Alexa smart speaker that plugs directly into an outlet. As the name suggests, the Echo Flex is also a modular piece of equipment, as it has a USB port on the bottom that allows users to plug in attachments. We've seen a few different attachments for the Echo Flex including a night light and a motion sensor, but today, a company called Third Reality is introducing a new one called the Echo Flex Smart Clock.

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Amazon has updated its Alexa mobile app, adding enhanced personalization while reducing the presence of certain third-party features. Notably, the app's home screen has been updated in a way that emphasizes the features that consumers most commonly use, helping them get straight to the tools they want without excessive tapping and searching. The Alexa icon has moved to the top of the app, as well.

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Amazon has announced a new preview called Alexa for Apps, a new feature that enables developers to add mobile app control to their Alexa skill. With this new option, users will be able to summon and control certain mobile apps using Alexa voice commands, making it easier to open and navigate within apps using something like the Echo Buds or other Alexa mobile accessories.

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Logitech is axing its Alexa-powered Harmony Express remote, giving owners a little over two months notice that their voice-controlled remote is about to stop working. Launched in April 2019, the Harmony Express was to be an alternative to Logitech's traditional touchscreen and button-heavy remotes, and it'll be with one of those that the company tries to pacify customers now.

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It seems that this is the year for sunsetting products that no longer make sense in today's world or, more importantly, don't make the company any money. One of Amazon's oddest products, right next to its fashion-sensing Echo Look, fits the bill on both accounts. Part barcode scanner and part Alexa microphone, the Amazon Dash Wand was envisioned to revolutionize the way you order supplies, especially in the kitchen. Starting July, however, it will practically become some pointless device that might not even be useful as a paperweight.

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Smart assistants don't make headlines these days, at least not until they get involved in some privacy-related scandal. That doesn't mean, however, that they have gone out of fashion. On the contrary, they have almost become so common in some homes that they've no longer become special or noteworthy. At least not until they get new features that offer to make life easier, especially during these times of isolation and quarantines.

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Bang & Olufsen has updated its Bluetooth portable speaker, boosting battery life and adding Alexa support to the new Beosound A1 2nd Gen. An update to the old Beoplay A1, the puck-shaped speaker now allows you to chat with Amazon's virtual assistant, albeit assuming your smartphone is nearby.

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Different tech companies have had their own ways to respond to the pandemic gripping the entire world but Amazon may be the one with the largest coverage as far as services and products go. From deliveries to entertainment to smart devices, the retail giant is busy not just responding to the crisis but also responding to criticisms and allegations. Its latest action to respond to the call of the times is to equip Alexa and its line of smart speakers and displays with information and content to keep people connected to the outside world even when stuck at home.

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Retro speaker company Marshall has announced its latest portable speaker product: Uxbridge. The new model functions as a smart speaker, meaning users can summon and use Amazon Alexa alongside expected wireless connection options like Bluetooth, Airplay 2, and WiFi. The model brings the same classic Marshall design as the company's other more modern speakers, as well as physical button controls.

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A slightly convoluted set of steps appeared this week on Atom Tickets with an end-goal of a single free movie ticket to a film of the user's choice. The folks at Atom Tickets likely enabled this promotional bit of work in order to tie users' minds to the idea that ordering a movie ticket via Alexa (and Atom) would be the best (and most default) way to go through the future. In any case - it might be worth the process, depending on movie ticket prices in your area.

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Amazon rolled out a number of new features for its Alexa personal assistant over the month of February, ones you may not have realized arrived. The new features are convenient for a wide number of users, including for people who regularly commute to work or school, basketball fans, and for anyone who lives in a region prone to severe weather. As previously announced, the personal assistant can also offer 2020 election updates, as well.

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The Samsung smart speaker called Galaxy Home Mini leaked in a release-ready configuration today tossing a jab at Apple's smart assistant Siri (unofficially, of course). The video comes courtesy of an unnamed source* who would appear to have been at a location where several new Samsung products were being shown. This new smart speaker will apparently allow you, the user to "make it say literally anything you want" - like what we see in the video below: "At least I'm better than Siri."

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