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  • Best Amazon Alexa Features: Is it Time for You to Get an Echo Device?

    Best Amazon Alexa Features: Is it Time for You to Get an Echo Device?

    Amazon’s Alexa personal assistant can be found in a number of the company’s hardware releases. The Echo line of smart home hubs as well as the Fire TV line have been using Alexa for a few years now. Today we’re looking at some of the best Amazon Alexa features to help you decide whether one of these devices is right for you.

    Alternatively, if you’re already an Alexa user, maybe you’ll learn about some new features you didn’t know about. There are so many Alexa features that it’s unlikely you’ve seen them all! It’s hard to overestimate just how many skills Alexa has. You might even learn about some new ways to use the technology in this article.

    Best Amazon Alexa Features

    Simple and Easy

    Alexa’s best features are often her simplest. If you’re getting ready for work and want to know how to dress for the day, simply ask Alexa about the weather. Rather than having to pull out your phone and check the weather app, Alexa can just read it off to you as you get ready. What’s more, she’ll tell you the expected high and low and if any precipitation is expected, in addition to the current temperature.

    Another excellent feature Alexa has built-in is simply telling time. It sounds like such a small thing but asking for the time and having it quickly announced back to you is about as convenient as it gets. If your phone is far away, or dead, it can be useful to quickly find out what time it is just by asking.

    The most useful “simple” task we’ve found that Alexa handles is setting timers while we’re cooking. Since the device is hands-free, you can call out to start a timer while you’re in the middle of cooking a meal or some other task. She’ll alert you when the timer is up, and you need only tell her to stop to make the alert go away. Easy and simple, simple and easy!

    Books

    You can have Alexa read your Kindle books to you. It’s a really cool way to keep up with the books you’re trying to read even while you’re doing things like cleaning or cooking. You can have her pause, skip ahead or back, and even skip to different chapters. It’s essentially a text-to-speech audiobook. There’s not a lot of personality to her voice, but she’ll keep you up-to-speed on your favorites.

    Additionally, you can have Alexa playback your Audible audiobooks. Audible sports a ton of books read aloud by professional voice actors, and they have much more in-depth emotional heft than a machine simply converting text-to-speech. That said, Audible audiobooks tend to cost a bit more than simply buying the book on Kindle.

    Organizing

    If you want, you can use Alexa to organize your activities. Telling her to add items to a shopping list lets you see them the next time you open Amazon. Alternatively, you can just flat-out shop through Alexa. You can use your voice to reorder common items or even browse Amazon’s online inventory.

    If you sync your Alexa with your Google Calendar, you can also ask Alexa to tell you what upcoming events you have. Asking her makes it easier on you, since you can be getting ready in the morning or cleaning and be reminded of what you have coming up later that day or week.

    Similarly, Alexa can set alarms for you so that you don’t miss important deadlines. If you need to leave at a certain time so that you don’t miss the window to be on time, have Alexa tell you when it’s time!

    Hosting

    The most advertised aspect of Amazon’s Alexa is her ability to act as an impromptu DJ. You can call out for Alexa to start playing music by naming an artist, genre or song you want to hear. The digital assistant grabs the song off of Prime Music and begins playback quickly. It’s very intuitive to tell the device to pause, skip or start over.

    Alexa can also play music through Spotify if you have an account and link it with your device.

    If you have house guests over and want to set the mood for a gathering, Alexa is your friend. If you’ve invested in smart lights like Philips Hue, you can have Alexa adjust the lights for you. Colors, intensity and more can be switched with your voice and on the fly. Be ready to wow your guests when you switch the mood of a room with music and lights just by telling Alexa which pre-sets to use.

  • 5 “Smart Home” gadgets every house should have…

    5 “Smart Home” gadgets every house should have…

    It’s 2018 folks, and the future is here. Astronauts are driving Tesla’s through space and the Reese’s company is doing some really innovative stuff with popcorn. With all this technology around us, it’s easy to take it all for granted and we sometimes don’t get all the use we can out of it and take advantage of smart home gadgets.

    And the most important place you can use all this cool tech to your advantage is right in your very own home. Here are some amazing new smart home gadgets to make your life easier…

    1. The iRobot Roomba

    Ever since it’s inception in 2002, the Roomba vacuum has been an integral piece of smart home tech. With the ability to program this round robot to vacuum your home 7 days a week it can be a real time saver. With the latest 980 Model, the Roomba is more advanced than ever. With cutting-edge mapping technology and dirt detection programs, this “set it and forget it” vacuum is a must-have! For dog or pet owners like myself, I can stress it’s value enough. I have a lot on my plate and one thing I don’t to concern myself with is the daily sweeping thank to “Roger the Roomba”. Yes, I named my Roomba, he’s family, folks. Word of advice…there are several competitors is the robot vacuum department, do yourself a favor and stick with the iRobot Roomba. You may a little more, but in this case “you get what you pay for”. This has been probably the best $900.00 I’ve ever spent.

    2. The Nest Thermostat

    Coming in at a price tag of $279.00, the Nest Thermostat is well worth the extra cost. Thanks to it’s smart and adaptive AI, the Nest knows when your home and learns your work schedule to monitor the A/C usage. You can also control the thermostat right form your Nest App on your mobile device to fine tune your A/C needs. For a native Floridan like myself, A/C usage and consumption is a real beast you have to tame. In the summer months, electric bills can soar thanks to primitive thermostats. There is nothing like a thermostat shutting down for the day knowing you’re at work, and then turn on a half hour before you get home so you don’t walk into a hot and muggy house. It’s just bliss. Once I had installed the Nest, I noticed an immediate 50% drop in my A/C consumption and a large drop in my electric bill respectively. This is a must-have in your home.

    3. Brilliant Light Switch

    With the ability to control your homes, light, music, ambiance, and even take pictures with voice commands, the Brilliant light switch is a 2018 must-have gadget for your home. The brilliant light switch also connects to several of your home’s smart gadgets such as Nest, Alexa, Sonos Speaker, Ring doorbell system, and more. Starting at $200.00 per panel, Brilliant Switch is a costly addition but this innovative new gadget gives your home a brain.

    4. Amazon Echo and Echo Dot

    This smart home “must” is quickly finding it’s way into every home, worldwide. Alexa and Echo Dot, is a voice-controlled system that used to play music, make calls, send and receive messages, read the news, set alarms, and even order and Uber or takeout! With the capability of syncing up to Amazon-Fire, Apple Music, Audible, Pandora, and more, you easily find usage and justification for this piece of smart tech in your home. At a price tag of $150.00, the Amazon Echo has many uses to help in your home and is a fantastic smart home gadget. Word to the wise, Alexa has a built-in microphone for consumer purposes that is ALWAYS LISTENING…Use responsibly. 

    5. The Ring II doorbell system

    The Ring Video Doorbell, provides you with the capability to see who is at your door from the safety and comfort of your bed or couch. It lets you accept or deny visitor calls if you’re not home, and uses motion detection to alert you of activity on your doorstep even when the bell hasn’t been rung. By working off your home’s Wifi and mobile data, the 1080HD  camera will alert your smartphone of any activity at your doorstep day or night. For an extra $3.00 a month, you can pay for cloud storage and have all moments video recorded for later purposes if desired. The newest model also has a 2-way intercom system, and infrared night vision. For that extra bit of security at a relatively inexpensive cost of $199.00, this doorbell is the must have for any smart home.

    The Conclusion

    With so many smart gadgets available, some better than others, these products can make our homes better, safer, and more convenient. 2018 is going to be a big tech year and the “smart home” business is growing ever more advanced daily. If you can pick-up just one of these items this year, you’ll be headed in the right direction. I’m still anxiously awaiting the release for Rosie the robot maid, but I may have to hold my breath for a while.


  • Amazon Echo Auto, Alexa in the Car

    Amazon Echo Auto, Alexa in the Car

    Last week Amazon announces a slew of new and updated products. One in particular caught my eye. Its called the Amazon Echo Auto. This device gives your car the smart AI assistant you are already using at your home. Already you are thinking, how does this work and why would i need it. Hang on baby birds, ill feed ya.

     

    How it Works

    It is wireless voice controls. It works just like you think it would. A simple plug in to your car and boom you are interactive. 2 easy, simple steps. Plus the Echo Auto in to your dash via the cigarette lighter port. Download the alexa app. Done.

    What Does it Do?

    SO what can Echo Auto do? It will Connect to Alexa using your phone, is ready in seconds, and plays through your car speakers. Includes Echo Auto Dash Mount. It has eight microphones and far-field technology. This means Echo Auto can hear you over music, A/C, and road noise. It will let you use your voice to play music, check the news, open the garage door, find the nearest gas station. Echo Auto gives you control to play Audible books, stream podcasts, or listen to Amazon Music, Spotify, Sirius XM, or NPR. You can eve Make calls, set reminders, add items to your shopping and to-do lists, or manage your calendar.The feature and function I like the most is the ability to set location-based routines. I can use the automated actions Alexa can start when I leave the office or get home. GPS capacities? She has them. Get directions and Alexa connects to supported apps like Google Maps, Apple Maps, or Waze on your phone.

     

    The Final Thought

    Tt works better then any car bluetooth voice system I have ever seen. It is magnificent to actually control my phone while driving. Much more then I ever thought it could be. I have had voice control options before, all the way to siri, but none worked with the AC on, let alone anything else. This is the solution to the problem you didn’t realize was a big as you will find out.

  • 5 “Smart Home” gadgets every house should have…

    5 “Smart Home” gadgets every house should have…

    It’s 2018 folks, and the future is here. Astronauts are driving Tesla’s through space and the Reese’s company is doing some really innovative stuff with popcorn. With all this technology around us, it’s easy to take it all for granted and we sometimes don’t get all the use we can out of it and take advantage of smart home gadgets.

    And the most important place you can use all this cool tech to your advantage is right in your very own home. Here are some amazing new smart home gadgets to make your life easier…

    1. The iRobot Roomba

    Ever since it’s inception in 2002, the Roomba vacuum has been an integral piece of smart home tech. With the ability to program this round robot to vacuum your home 7 days a week it can be a real time saver. With the latest 980 Model, the Roomba is more advanced that ever. With cutting edge mapping technology and dirt detection programs, this “set it and forget it” vacuum is a must have! For dog or pet owners life myself, I can stress it’s value enough. I have a lot on my plate and one thing I don’t to concern myself with is the daily sweeping thank to “Roger the Roomba”. Yes I named my Roomba, he’s family, folks. Word of advice…there are several competitors is the robot vacuum department, do yourself a favor and stick with the iRobot Roomba. You may a little more, but in this case “you get what you pay for”. This was been probably the best $900.00 I’ve ever spent.

    2. The Nest Thermostat

    Coming in at a price tag of $279.00, the Nest Thermostat is well worth the extra cost. Thanks to it’s smart and adaptive AI, the Nest knows when your home and learns your work schedule to monitor the A/C usage. You can also control the thermostat right form your Nest App on your mobile device to fine tune your A/C needs. For a native Floridan like myself, A/C usage and consumption is a real beast you have to tame. In the summer months, electric bills can soar thanks to primitive thermostats. There is nothing like a thermostat shutting down for the day knowing your at work, and then turn on a half hour before you get home so you don’t walk into a hot and muggy house. It’s just bliss. Once I had installed the Nest, I noticed an immediate 50% drop in my A/C consumption and a large drop in my electric bill respectively. This is a must have in your home.

    3. Brilliant Light Switch

    With the ability to control your homes, light, music, ambiance, and even take pictures with voice commands, the Brilliant light switch is a 2018 must have gadget for your home. Brilliant light switch also connects to several of your home’s smart gadgets such as Nest, Alexa, Sonos Speaker, Ring doorbell system, and more. Starting at $200.00 per panel, Brilliant Switch is a costly addition but this innovative new gadget gives your home a brain.

    4. Amazon Echo and Echo Dot

    This smart home “must” is quickly finding it’s way into every home, world wide. Alexa and Echo Dot, is a voice-controlled system that used to play music, make calls, send and receive messages, read the news, set alarms, and even order and Uber or takeout! With the capability of syncing up to Amazon-Fire, Apple Music, Audible, Pandora, and more, you easily find usage and justification for this piece of smart tech in your home. At a price tag of $150.00, the Amazon Echo has many uses to help in your home and is a fantastic smart home gadget. Word to the wise, Alexa has a built in microphone for consumer purposes that is ALWAYS LISTENING…Use responsibly. 

    5. The Ring II doorbell system

    The Ring Video Doorbell, provides you with the capability to see who is at your door from the safety and comfort of  your bed or couch. It lets you accept or deny visitor calls if you’re not home, and uses motion detection to alert you of activity on your doorstep even when the bell hasn’t been rung. By working off your home’s Wifi and mobile data, the 1080HD  camera will alert your smart phone of any activity at your door step day or night. For an extra $3.00 a month, you can pay for cloud storage and have all moments video recorded for later purposes if desired. The newest model also has a 2 way intercom system, and infrared night vision. For that extra bit of security at a relatively inexpensive cost of $199.00, this doorbell is the must have for any smart home.

    The Conclusion

    With so many smart gadgets available, some better than others, these products can make our homes better, safer, and more convenient. 2018 is going to be a big tech year and the “smart home” business is growing evermore advanced daily. If you can pick-up just one of these items this year, you’ll be headed in the right direction. I’m still anxiously awaiting the release for Rosie the robot maid, but I may have to hold my breath for awhile.


  • 5 “Smart Home” gadgets every house should have…

    5 “Smart Home” gadgets every house should have…

    It’s 2018 folks, and the future is here. Astronauts are driving Tesla’s through space and the Reese’s company is doing some really innovative stuff with popcorn. With all this technology around us, it’s easy to take it all for granted and we sometimes don’t get all the use we can out of it and take advantage of smart home gadgets.

    And the most important place you can use all this cool tech to your advantage is right in your very own home. Here are some amazing new smart home gadgets to make your life easier…

    1. The iRobot Roomba

    Ever since it’s inception in 2002, the Roomba vacuum has been an integral piece of smart home tech. With the ability to program this round robot to vacuum your home 7 days a week it can be a real time saver. With the latest 980 Model, the Roomba is more advanced that ever. With cutting edge mapping technology and dirt detection programs, this “set it and forget it” vacuum is a must have! For dog or pet owners life myself, I can stress it’s value enough. I have a lot on my plate and one thing I don’t to concern myself with is the daily sweeping thank to “Roger the Roomba”. Yes I named my Roomba, he’s family, folks. Word of advice…there are several competitors is the robot vacuum department, do yourself a favor and stick with the iRobot Roomba. You may a little more, but in this case “you get what you pay for”. This was been probably the best $900.00 I’ve ever spent.

    2. The Nest Thermostat

    Coming in at a price tag of $279.00, the Nest Thermostat is well worth the extra cost. Thanks to it’s smart and adaptive AI, the Nest knows when your home and learns your work schedule to monitor the A/C usage. You can also control the thermostat right form your Nest App on your mobile device to fine tune your A/C needs. For a native Floridan like myself, A/C usage and consumption is a real beast you have to tame. In the summer months, electric bills can soar thanks to primitive thermostats. There is nothing like a thermostat shutting down for the day knowing your at work, and then turn on a half hour before you get home so you don’t walk into a hot and muggy house. It’s just bliss. Once I had installed the Nest, I noticed an immediate 50% drop in my A/C consumption and a large drop in my electric bill respectively. This is a must have in your home.

    3. Brilliant Light Switch

    With the ability to control your homes, light, music, ambiance, and even take pictures with voice commands, the Brilliant light switch is a 2018 must have gadget for your home. Brilliant light switch also connects to several of your home’s smart gadgets such as Nest, Alexa, Sonos Speaker, Ring doorbell system, and more. Starting at $200.00 per panel, Brilliant Switch is a costly addition but this innovative new gadget gives your home a brain.

    4. Amazon Echo and Echo Dot

    This smart home “must” is quickly finding it’s way into every home, world wide. Alexa and Echo Dot, is a voice-controlled system that used to play music, make calls, send and receive messages, read the news, set alarms, and even order and Uber or takeout! With the capability of syncing up to Amazon-Fire, Apple Music, Audible, Pandora, and more, you easily find usage and justification for this piece of smart tech in your home. At a price tag of $150.00, the Amazon Echo has many uses to help in your home and is a fantastic smart home gadget. Word to the wise, Alexa has a built in microphone for consumer purposes that is ALWAYS LISTENING…Use responsibly. 

    5. The Ring II doorbell system

    The Ring Video Doorbell, provides you with the capability to see who is at your door from the safety and comfort of  your bed or couch. It lets you accept or deny visitor calls if you’re not home, and uses motion detection to alert you of activity on your doorstep even when the bell hasn’t been rung. By working off your home’s Wifi and mobile data, the 1080HD  camera will alert your smart phone of any activity at your door step day or night. For an extra $3.00 a month, you can pay for cloud storage and have all moments video recorded for later purposes if desired. The newest model also has a 2 way intercom system, and infrared night vision. For that extra bit of security at a relatively inexpensive cost of $199.00, this doorbell is the must have for any smart home.

    The Conclusion

    With so many smart gadgets available, some better than others, these products can make our homes better, safer, and more convenient. 2018 is going to be a big tech year and the “smart home” business is growing evermore advanced daily. If you can pick-up just one of these items this year, you’ll be headed in the right direction. I’m still anxiously awaiting the release for Rosie the robot maid, but I may have to hold my breath for awhile.


  • Amazon Unloads Info on Tons of New Tech

    Amazon Unloads Info on Tons of New Tech

    Amazon, always trying to keep up with the fast-paced world of technology, has unveiled a ton of new gadgets. Last Thursday they held a press event where they showed off a ton of stuff you’re going to want on your Christmas list. If you’ve been waiting for a chance to jump on the Alexa bandwagon, here is! Today we’re looking at just a few of the many, many products Amazon unveiled.

    New Amazon Tech

    Third Gen Echo Dot

    The third gen Echo Dot is a complete overhaul on the existing Echo Dot. It’s 70 percent louder, it sports a new mic setup and it offers a much stronger speaker. If you’ve been wondering when it is the right time to get into Alexa products, this is a good time. The best part is, the Echo Dot still costs the same: it’s $50. That’s a pretty solid price!

    Second Gen Echo Show

    The Echo Show has a pretty cool niche. It’s an Alexa-enabled device with a bold, readable screen that looks great. The second-generation version of the technology is sleeker, larger and has a much better speaker. It also costs the same as the first gen did: it starts a $230! Other features on offer are voice-command browsing and video streaming, as well as games and visuals with various skills.

    Amazon Fire TV Recast

    This one is a little unusual. It’s a DVR for Fire TV, and it also works on other Amazon devices. It also works on iOS and Android devices! It allows you to watch live or recorded TV. It starts at $230, and it comes with two tuners. It sports 500GB of storage, but if that isn’t enough, you can opt for an upgrade. For $280, you get four tuners and 1TB of storage.

    Second Gen Echo Plus

    The Echo Plus is also getting an overhaul! This time, the taller speaker is getting a smart home hub, a built-in thermometer for controlling smart climate keeping, and even more speaker quality. It’ll retail for $150, making it a very premium device, but the sound quality speaks for itself.

    Amazon Echo Sub

    This is exactly what it sounds like: a big, Echo-branded subwoofer. It’s actually keyed to be tied in to Alexa-enabled devices and it’s a proper Echo companion. It also has huge bass, with its massive drivers forcing tons of sound out around itself. The best part is, it’s only $130.

    Amazon Echo Input

    The Amazon Echo Input solves a problem you didn’t know you had! The Echo device in your home isn’t always the strongest speaker. If you want your best speaker to play your Alexa-enabled music, just get this $25 device and plug it in. Then, you can call for Alexa to play your music out of the speaker you’ve hooked the Input up to. That’s innovation!

    And a Lot More

    That’s hardly all of it. Amazon announced a huge slew of new tech, including Echo-enabled wall clocks and microwaves. No, seriously. Smart homes are the future, man! At least, Amazon is pretty sure they are.

  • 5 “Smart Home” gadgets every house should have…

    5 “Smart Home” gadgets every house should have…

    It’s 2018 folks, and the future is here. Astronauts are driving Tesla’s through space and the Reese’s company is doing some really innovative stuff with popcorn. With all this technology around us, it’s easy to take it all for granted and we sometimes don’t get all the use we can out of it and take advantage of smart home gadgets.

    And the most important place you can use all this cool tech to your advantage is right in your very own home. Here are some amazing new smart home gadgets to make your life easier…

    1. The iRobot Roomba

    Ever since it’s inception in 2002, the Roomba vacuum has been an integral piece of smart home tech. With the ability to program this round robot to vacuum your home 7 days a week it can be a real time saver. With the latest 980 Model, the Roomba is more advanced that ever. With cutting edge mapping technology and dirt detection programs, this “set it and forget it” vacuum is a must have! For dog or pet owners life myself, I can stress it’s value enough. I have a lot on my plate and one thing I don’t to concern myself with is the daily sweeping thank to “Roger the Roomba”. Yes I named my Roomba, he’s family, folks. Word of advice…there are several competitors is the robot vacuum department, do yourself a favor and stick with the iRobot Roomba. You may a little more, but in this case “you get what you pay for”. This was been probably the best $900.00 I’ve ever spent.

    2. The Nest Thermostat

    Coming in at a price tag of $279.00, the Nest Thermostat is well worth the extra cost. Thanks to it’s smart and adaptive AI, the Nest knows when your home and learns your work schedule to monitor the A/C usage. You can also control the thermostat right form your Nest App on your mobile device to fine tune your A/C needs. For a native Floridan like myself, A/C usage and consumption is a real beast you have to tame. In the summer months, electric bills can soar thanks to primitive thermostats. There is nothing like a thermostat shutting down for the day knowing your at work, and then turn on a half hour before you get home so you don’t walk into a hot and muggy house. It’s just bliss. Once I had installed the Nest, I noticed an immediate 50% drop in my A/C consumption and a large drop in my electric bill respectively. This is a must have in your home.

    3. Brilliant Light Switch

    With the ability to control your homes, light, music, ambiance, and even take pictures with voice commands, the Brilliant light switch is a 2018 must have gadget for your home. Brilliant light switch also connects to several of your home’s smart gadgets such as Nest, Alexa, Sonos Speaker, Ring doorbell system, and more. Starting at $200.00 per panel, Brilliant Switch is a costly addition but this innovative new gadget gives your home a brain.

    4. Amazon Echo and Echo Dot

    This smart home “must” is quickly finding it’s way into every home, world wide. Alexa and Echo Dot, is a voice-controlled system that used to play music, make calls, send and receive messages, read the news, set alarms, and even order and Uber or takeout! With the capability of syncing up to Amazon-Fire, Apple Music, Audible, Pandora, and more, you easily find usage and justification for this piece of smart tech in your home. At a price tag of $150.00, the Amazon Echo has many uses to help in your home and is a fantastic smart home gadget. Word to the wise, Alexa has a built in microphone for consumer purposes that is ALWAYS LISTENING…Use responsibly. 

    5. The Ring II doorbell system

    The Ring Video Doorbell, provides you with the capability to see who is at your door from the safety and comfort of  your bed or couch. It lets you accept or deny visitor calls if you’re not home, and uses motion detection to alert you of activity on your doorstep even when the bell hasn’t been rung. By working off your home’s Wifi and mobile data, the 1080HD  camera will alert your smart phone of any activity at your door step day or night. For an extra $3.00 a month, you can pay for cloud storage and have all moments video recorded for later purposes if desired. The newest model also has a 2 way intercom system, and infrared night vision. For that extra bit of security at a relatively inexpensive cost of $199.00, this doorbell is the must have for any smart home.

    The Conclusion

    With so many smart gadgets available, some better than others, these products can make our homes better, safer, and more convenient. 2018 is going to be a big tech year and the “smart home” business is growing evermore advanced daily. If you can pick-up just one of these items this year, you’ll be headed in the right direction. I’m still anxiously awaiting the release for Rosie the robot maid, but I may have to hold my breath for awhile.


  • Tablet Talk: Amazon’s Fire HD 8 tablet

    Tablet Talk: Amazon’s Fire HD 8 tablet

    AMAZON has another new tablet to add to its expansive range with the launch of  Amazon’s Fire HD 8 tablet and this device includes a new feature that should make it a whole lot more useful. Here’s full details about the Amazon’s Fire HD 8 tablet including price, release and specs.

     

    The Great

    • Up to 10 hours of battery life, A
    • Vibrant 8″ HD display
    • 1.3 GHz quad-core processor
    • 1.5 GB of RAM
    • Dolby Audio
    • 2x as durable as the iPad Mini 4.
    • Alexa Voice enabled

    The Not

    • Basic
    • Entry level tablet
    • The battery life drops from last year’s 12 hours to 10 hours

     

    The Conclusion

    From a quick glance, there’s not much to differentiate this latest tablet from its predecessors but the HD 8 has a very neat trick up its sleeve with something called ‘Show Mode’.

     

    We have an update here.  Amazon has offered truly hands-free Alexa on the Fire HD 10 tablet, but never on its 8-inch model. Which means you have had to wake it up firs. Not an issue but mildly annoying. Those days are a thing of the past with an updated Fire HD 8. The new model blasts its always-on Alexa feature. a Feature that lets you voice directions even when the device is asleep. Yes this in fact is almost like turning it into an impromptu Echo speaker. This does in fact reduce your battery life, but you can turn off the always-available feature if that extra running time is valuable.

    Perhaps one of the greatest other features of the new HD 8 is its price which starts at just $79.99. This rises to $109.88 for those that want the Show Mode Charging Dock bundled with the device. The all-new Amazon’s Fire HD 8 tablet comes in four colour options: Black, Marine Blue, Punch Red, and Canary Yellow, and is available for pre-order beginning today with it shipping on October 4.

     

    Introducing Show Mode

    Show Mode is a new, immersive hands-free Alexa experience for your Fire HD 8 that provides full-screen landscape visuals that complement voice responses from Alexa. Show Mode lets you ask Alexa to see trending news, make calls, check the weather, view camera feeds, and more—all glanceable whether you’re up close or across the room. Show Mode is available with free software update.

     

    The Final Thought

    That’s all there really is to this update to the Amazon’s Fire HD 8 tablet. Just some Alexa support and functionality and this Show mode that  basically transforms the tablet into a smart home device with the screen instantly being switched to show useful data such as local weather, news and your upcoming events. Still no Paul Bettany voiced alarm clock reading me the news, weather, traffic and a run down of my schedule. I mean would that be so hard Amazon?

  • Ten Ways Amazon Became Valued Over $1 Trillion

    Ten Ways Amazon Became Valued Over $1 Trillion

    A few days ago, Amazon became the second company in history to have its value crest the one-trillion-dollar mark. That’s an absolutely mind-boggling amount of money that we don’t even want to start thinking about. What’s even crazier is that, despite that huge value, the company hasn’t been pulling in absurd profits. In fact, in 2017 their profits were right around $3 billion. Don’t get us wrong, $3 billion is more money than anyone can ever hope to comprehend, but it’s chump change compared to $1 trillion. To put this in perspective, today we’re looking at the ten ways Amazon became valued over $1 trillion. To start, we have to go all the way back to 1994…

    Ten Ways Amazon Became Valued Over $1 Trillion

    Humble Beginnings

    Photo Credit: 99Designs

    Believe it or not, Amazon started its existence as an alternative to Barnes and Noble. It’s weird to think about, but one of the biggest companies in the world originated as an online bookseller. Their primary goal was to be an alternative to the large-scale book sellers of the time. By using an online-only business model, they could keep the overhead low and sell their products for less. However, they quickly learned that there was more money to be made in ecommerce than just selling books.

    Perfect Positioning

    Amazon broke onto the scene in 1994, positioning themselves correctly to begin making a great deal of money. The popularization of the internet in the mid-to-late-90’s certainly helped the fledgling bookseller. The dot com bubble of the late 90’s saw increased interest in online presence, domain names and ecommerce. This came as Amazon was diversifying their business and branching out into other areas.

    Branching Out

    Photo Credit: CNET

    Amazon spent the latter half of the 90’s branching out of books and into other forms of ecommerce. They developed a logistics operation that was efficient and took full advantage of their online storefront’s easy and convenient appeal. They incorporated goods from pet food to appliances and everything in between into their inventory. Their already-sizable book selling business stayed profitable, too, eventually edging out companies like Borders. Barnes and Noble, while still existent, is much diminished from what it once was.

    Convenience and Logistics

    Photo Credit: Kim Kommando Show

    Throughout the early 2000’s, Amazon survived the popping of the dot com bubble thanks to their inertia. They had created a sizable logistics operation that made them fast and reliable. Their vast inventory made them one-stop internet shopping. Smart branding and marketing made them come off as an underdog, helping customers get ahead of the “big guys.” No longer did customers have to shop when stores were open or fight with crowds. Department stores and malls began to feel the squeeze as Amazon captured more and more of the market.

    Amazon Prime

    Photo Credit: Amazon

    Amazon’s success helped them develop a great deal of clout in the world of package delivery. Leveraging this, they introduced their Prime subscription program. The biggest draw to Prime for most users is the free, 2-day shipping. It’s a pretty stellar deal at 10 bucks a month if you order a ton of things on Amazon.

    The program’s appeal helped catapult Amazon into the stratosphere with their ecommerce. People who don’t order as much essentially just give Amazon 10 bucks a month for free. Those who order more are more inclined to use Amazon since they get free shipping and get their products in just two days. It’s a win-win for the big A.

    Amazon Prime Video

    Photo Credit: Deadline

    Another facet of Amazon’s Prime subscription, their premium video service competes with Hulu and Netflix. It’s been wildly successful, and originals like Jack Ryan have brought in tons of subscribers. It certainly helps that Amazon Prime is also an Amazon Video subscription, so its numbers are bolstered by those who just want free, 2-day shipping.

    Twitch Acquisition

    Photo Credit: Amazon

    The next part of Amazon’s mission to take over the world was acquiring Twitch. The popular streaming platform hosts gamers who stream their live gameplay. The streams garner millions of views and rake in tons of ad revenue. Since purchasing the company, Amazon has seen a huge windfall from the platform. The timely acquisition has proven to be a stroke of business genius for the ecommerce giant.

    Kindle, Fire and other Flame-Based Names

    Photo Credit: Amazon

    The first step into hardware for Amazon was the Kindle e-reader. It was rather popular and resulted in Barnes and Noble firing back with their own ill-fated Nook. Kindle was a modest success that was overtaken by the Fire line of tablets. Amazon’s Fire tablets have also given way to hardware like the Fire TV Stick and other streaming devices. However, all of these product lines have been overshadowed by the Echo.

    “Alexa, Make us Money”

    Photo Credit: Amazon

    Amazon capitalized on the smart-assistant market with the introduction of their own assistant, Alexa. The mega-popular Echo line of smarthome speakers house the useful assistant, and they’re ubiquitous. Some critics say that the Echo devices are little more than wiretaps you pay to have in your house. Others claim that the smart speakers are convenient and awesome, and they can’t imagine life without them. The rest of the world, however, asks Alexa about the weather and laughs at memes about the virtual assistant.

    The Future

    Photo Credit: Amazon

    Amazon, along with Google and Apple, is well and truly on the way to becoming a megacorp. Their AI is advanced and everywhere, they deliver everything from food to video games, and they’re worth a trillion dollars. The future will see the juggernaut unleashing its drone fleet to deliver items with unprecedented speed. Amazon plans to open storefronts with no employees that are run entirely by robots. We wouldn’t be surprised if automated Amazon units replaced police officers by 2050, at this rate. One thing is certain: whatever happens in the future, Jeff Bezos has made a lot of freaking money.

  • 5 “Smart Home” gadgets every house should have…

    5 “Smart Home” gadgets every house should have…

    It’s 2018 folks, and the future is here. Astronauts are driving Tesla’s through space and the Reese’s company is doing some really innovative stuff with popcorn. With all this technology around us, it’s easy to take it all for granted and we sometimes don’t get all the use we can out of it and take advantage of smart home gadgets.

    And the most important place you can use all this cool tech to your advantage is right in your very own home. Here are some amazing new smart home gadgets to make your life easier…

    1. The iRobot Roomba

    Ever since it’s inception in 2002, the Roomba vacuum has been an integral piece of smart home tech. With the ability to program this round robot to vacuum your home 7 days a week it can be a real time saver. With the latest 980 Model, the Roomba is more advanced that ever. With cutting edge mapping technology and dirt detection programs, this “set it and forget it” vacuum is a must have! For dog or pet owners life myself, I can stress it’s value enough. I have a lot on my plate and one thing I don’t to concern myself with is the daily sweeping thank to “Roger the Roomba”. Yes I named my Roomba, he’s family, folks. Word of advice…there are several competitors is the robot vacuum department, do yourself a favor and stick with the iRobot Roomba. You may a little more, but in this case “you get what you pay for”. This was been probably the best $900.00 I’ve ever spent.

    2. The Nest Thermostat

    Coming in at a price tag of $279.00, the Nest Thermostat is well worth the extra cost. Thanks to it’s smart and adaptive AI, the Nest knows when your home and learns your work schedule to monitor the A/C usage. You can also control the thermostat right form your Nest App on your mobile device to fine tune your A/C needs. For a native Floridan like myself, A/C usage and consumption is a real beast you have to tame. In the summer months, electric bills can soar thanks to primitive thermostats. There is nothing like a thermostat shutting down for the day knowing your at work, and then turn on a half hour before you get home so you don’t walk into a hot and muggy house. It’s just bliss. Once I had installed the Nest, I noticed an immediate 50% drop in my A/C consumption and a large drop in my electric bill respectively. This is a must have in your home.

    3. Brilliant Light Switch

    With the ability to control your homes, light, music, ambiance, and even take pictures with voice commands, the Brilliant light switch is a 2018 must have gadget for your home. Brilliant light switch also connects to several of your home’s smart gadgets such as Nest, Alexa, Sonos Speaker, Ring doorbell system, and more. Starting at $200.00 per panel, Brilliant Switch is a costly addition but this innovative new gadget gives your home a brain.

    4. Amazon Echo and Echo Dot

    This smart home “must” is quickly finding it’s way into every home, world wide. Alexa and Echo Dot, is a voice-controlled system that used to play music, make calls, send and receive messages, read the news, set alarms, and even order and Uber or takeout! With the capability of syncing up to Amazon-Fire, Apple Music, Audible, Pandora, and more, you easily find usage and justification for this piece of smart tech in your home. At a price tag of $150.00, the Amazon Echo has many uses to help in your home and is a fantastic smart home gadget. Word to the wise, Alexa has a built in microphone for consumer purposes that is ALWAYS LISTENING…Use responsibly. 

    5. The Ring II doorbell system

    The Ring Video Doorbell, provides you with the capability to see who is at your door from the safety and comfort of  your bed or couch. It lets you accept or deny visitor calls if you’re not home, and uses motion detection to alert you of activity on your doorstep even when the bell hasn’t been rung. By working off your home’s Wifi and mobile data, the 1080HD  camera will alert your smart phone of any activity at your door step day or night. For an extra $3.00 a month, you can pay for cloud storage and have all moments video recorded for later purposes if desired. The newest model also has a 2 way intercom system, and infrared night vision. For that extra bit of security at a relatively inexpensive cost of $199.00, this doorbell is the must have for any smart home.

    The Conclusion

    With so many smart gadgets available, some better than others, these products can make our homes better, safer, and more convenient. 2018 is going to be a big tech year and the “smart home” business is growing evermore advanced daily. If you can pick-up just one of these items this year, you’ll be headed in the right direction. I’m still anxiously awaiting the release for Rosie the robot maid, but I may have to hold my breath for awhile.