Items tagged with (NASDAQ:AMZN)
It does not seem all that farfetched that one day even your toaster will connect to the web and download crusty designs to sear into your bread. We have entered the Internet of Things (IoT) era. The focus on IoT devices can lead to some fun and interesting things (and of course useful), but also comes with added risk. To that end, security researchers warn of newly discovered vulnerabilities affecting one of the most popular IoT platforms out there. That platform is FreeRTOS, which is widely used in a range of IoT and embedded devices. FreeRTOS is a real-time operating system kernel with a small...
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Amazon talked up its new Whisper Mode back in September, when it outlined how it was able to get the feature to work. What Whisper Mode does is allow Alexa to respond to a whispered command with a whispered response. Why would you need this? One usage scenario would be for people using an Alexa device in a room where others are sleeping, be it a baby or spouse, with less chance of waking them up. When the feature was announced, Amazon promised it would launch in October; Amazon made good on the promise with today’s launch. Whisper Mode works with U.S. English and is rolling out right now....
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Here's my bold, and maybe biased prediction: Red Sox are going to the World Series, Patriots are headed to the Super Bowl, Celtics are a lock for the NBA Finals, and the Bruins will compete for the Stanley Cup. If you're a diehard Boston sports fan like myself and want to catch all the glory on something bigger and better than 32-inch TV, you can upsize your viewing experience at Amazon today with a snazzy deal on a Toshiba 50-inch 4K Ultra HD Smart TV for $349.99. That's a good deal even if you hate Boston sports (unthinkable!). This is one of Amazon's Fire TV Edition models too, which means the...
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Amazon has announced a new iteration of its Kindle Paperwhite e-reader that is changed significantly from the previous generation. The new Paperwhite has a thinner and lighter design with a flush-fitting front display and waterproofing. The waterproof design of the new Paperwhite means that users can read while they are in the pool or at the beach with no fear of liquid damage. Amazon uses a soft and grippable material to cover the tablet that is designed to stay in the hand easily, and with water resistance, the additional grip will be welcome is used in the pool or bath. The new Paperwhite is...
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Just as Microsoft previously started rolling out its October 2018 Update for Windows 10 PCs (and then paused it to investigate reports of missing files), there is also a new system update available for Xbox One consoles that is packed with new features. One of them is an Xbox skill for Cortana and Alexa. To celebrate the latter, Microsoft has teamed up with Amazon to bundle a free third-generation Echo Dot with select Xbox One X and Xbox One S consoles. "Anyone who buys a qualified Xbox One S or Xbox One X bundle at Amazon.com will also get a new Amazon Echo Dot, but don’t wait too long because...
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Although they are being announced a little later than previously thought, Facebook has announced new hardware products that we first told you about last month. The company is debuting two smart displays dubbed Portal and Portal+, which are similar to devices currently on the market like the Amazon Echo Show and the Lenovo Smart Display. The Portal, which will retail for $199, has a 10.1-inch display (1280x800) with an integrated speaker in its base. The Portal+, however, has a ginormous 15.6-inch display with a resolution of 1920x1080 and will retail for $349. Whereas the...
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Amazon's Alexa companion app for iOS and Android is the central hub for discovering, setting up, and controlling Alexa smart devices installed within your home. However, no one could credibly describe the app as being easy to use or that it made controlling those devices straightforward. This week, however, Amazon has unleashed an all-new Alexa app that greatly simplifies how you control your smart devices. There is now a dedicated Devices tab, which gives you quick and easy access to all of your smart devices. You'll see your accumulated device Groups right off the bat, which are presented by...
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It might be taking content developers a long time to flood the market with 4K movies and TV shows, but one thing is for sure, the hardware is in place on the consumer side. TVs with native 4K support are the new norm, and the transition is taking place on the peripheral side as well. Case in point, Amazon today announced a new version of its streaming Fire TV Stick that brings 4K resolution support into the fold. It doesn't stop there, either. Amazon's new Fire TV Stick 4K adds support for the two most popular high dynamic range (HDR) standards, those being Dolby Vision and HDR10+, to make those...
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When it comes to electronics, one way to stretch your dollar is to stay a generation behind. This can prove particularly savvy if you strike right when a new product is announced, as the 'old' one might not be all that old or outdated at that point. Following that philosophy, you can snag a 2nd generation Echo Dot smart speaker with Alexa integration for only $22.99 right now. There are a couple of caveats. One is that Amazon just announced a 3rd generation Echo Dot, which releases on October 11. You'll spend more than twice as much, however, as the asking price is $49.99 on Amazon's website. The...
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China is a huge market for gaming, and likewise, Twitch is the largest streaming platform in the world. Unfortunately for Twitch, which is owned by Amazon, it will have to forge ahead without a presence in China, at least for now. China decided to block Twitch not longer after the streaming service experienced a surge in downloads in the area. Twitch is gone from Apple's App Store in China after recently rising to near the top of the chart, landing at No. 3 among free app downloads. The rise in downloads is attributable to the Asian Games, and state broadcaster CCTV deciding to now to air the esports...
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The Echo Dot has long been one of Amazon's most popular Alexa-backed devices, and it's getting yet another redesign. This time around, you'll find the same four-button control scheme atop the device, but the previous 7-microphone array has been replaced with just 4 microphones. We first reported on this change when the device leaked back in late July. We don't know if this was just a cost-saving measure for Amazon, or if it just feels that four microphones are more than enough for the device to hear your voice from across a noisy room. Echo Dot On the design front, the hard-plastic exterior...
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Amazon held a special event today to announce a new round of Alexa-powered products, and you've already seen a few of them leaked right here at HotHardware. Among the devices unveiled include the Echo Sub, which as we described this morning, is a 100W subwoofer. It can pair with up to two [same model] Echo devices to provide full 2.1 stereo audio. Pairing is accomplished using handy Alexa app for Android or iOS. The Echo Sub is priced at $129.99 is available for preorder today. Amazon Echo Sub Adding to the audio theme are the Echo Link ($199) and Echo Link Amp ($299)....
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Amazon is doing very well with its line of Alexa-powered Echo smart speakers. Earlier this week a rumor was making the rounds that suggested Amazon was set to significantly expand its Alexa offerings on the market with eight new devices including a microwave and an amplifier. A couple of those new Alexa devices have leaked with Amazon itself being the source. It appears someone hit the live button a bit too early and listings turned up for an Echo Sub and an Echo Plug on Amazon UK. Those listings have since disappeared, but Pocket-lint was able to grab images and details on what we can expect in...
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If you're an Amazon Prime member that has no qualms about being sucked deeper into the Amazon ecosystem, the online retail giant is running some big discounts on its first-party hardware. In fact, these are some of the biggest discounts that we've seen on Amazon hardware since this year's Prime Day(s) event. Amazon Fire TV 4K Starting off with the Fire TV 4K, Amazon regularly sells the device for $69.99, but today is selling it for a low $39.99. For that price, you get [obviously] 4K support along with HDR. There's support for Dolby Atmos audio, and the device is powered by a quad-core processor....
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