If you relying on smart devices to help keep your life organized, Amazon's new Alexa feature 'Tell me when' will quickly prove useful. The feature was added as part of Alexa's December 2020 update, adding the ability to get 'dynamic, event-based reminders' for upcoming moments, including everything from future emails you anticipate getting to reminders for when your favorite show will air.
Kohler's goal of giving the bathroom an Internet of Things makeover continues, with its CES 2021 range including everything from an "intelligent toilet" to a fog-emitting bathtub. It's fair to say the company has been responsible for some of the more memorable products - and the oddest - of the Consumer Electronics Show in recent years, including an Alexa-powered shower and a mirror with Amazon's assistant built-in.
As carriers make more aggressive steps towards switching to 5G, they are also eager to finally let go of aging technologies and equipment in the process. Some, however, might have been too eager to put up an image of being a leader and pioneer in the industry. That, however, may have ironically cost Verizon some PR points when it tried to shutter its 3G network early. Rather than delay it repeatedly, the carrier will apparently continue offering the service, at least until further notice.
GE Lighting is expanding beyond smart bulbs, with the company rebranding as Cync and announcing a new smart camera, fan speed switch, and outdoor smart plug as its range grows. Previously known as C by GE, with the company now owned by Savant it's time for a new name, though all of the existing products are coming along for the ride.
It looks like Google may be gearing up to launch another smart display, possibly a Nest Hub model joining its existing Hub and Hub Max offerings. The hints surfaced in some FCC documents, which don't reveal exactly what we can expect but do drop enough indications to give us a pretty good idea about what Google is working on.
The list of kitchen appliances you can talk to (and reasonably expect some sort of response) gets longer, with LG's newest - and fanciest - refrigerators adding voice-controlled door opening among other features. The revamped LG InstaView Door-in-Door range will make its debut at the fully-virtual CES 2021 in just a couple of weeks time, aiming to make restocking the fridge a little easier when your arms are full.
Amazon has a special treat for Echo device owners, at least those who have their speakers set to English: Queen Elizabeth's Christmas Day message. The ability to request the message will make it easier than ever for many people across the world to hear the broadcast, one that may otherwise be a bit more difficult to access outside of the UK.
Amazon has announced new features for its Alexa assistant and related Echo products, including group calling and support for new video conferencing options on its Echo Show 8. The features come just ahead of the year's biggest holidays, giving users new ways to connect with their friends and family while staying socially distanced.
Google has announced that its Android Things smart home OS will be shutting down for good in just a few weeks, something that will impact just about nobody at all. The IoT platform never grew into anything notable and many consumers remained unaware of its existence -- and as of January 5, it will join the huge list of Google projects that disappeared after a few years.
The office conference rooms are empty, and their expensive video calling systems sit idle: in 2020, we take our virtual meetings from home, and Crestron wants to bump up the audio quality, and the convenience. Enter the Crestron MM30-R, both a speaker system for your pick of the video calling apps, and a touchscreen tablet designed to control your smart home.
Amazon has announced the arrival of Live Translation on its Echo devices, enabling users to have a conversation in two different languages in real-time with Alexa serving as a translator. The feature is arriving for Echo devices in the US with a total of six language pairs to kick things off, including English - Spanish.
Tesla Powerwall is getting more competition, with LG Energy Solution unveiling a new home battery system designed to keep the lights on even if the power goes out. The new LG RESU Prime and LG RESU Flex ranges package up lithium-ion batteries for off-grid, solar, and backup use, with the company claiming it has the largest residential energy storage system so far.