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Amazon has updated its year-old Echo Show (2017) with a gorgeous new model that has a fresh look and beefier sound.But how do these devices really stack up? We're comparing the established Echo Show (2017) with its new sibling, the Echo Show (2018), spec... Read more
The Echo Plus has been given a redesign. When it launched last year it was somewhat confusing that it used the old standard Echo design and now that has been rectified.We loved the previous Plus; with so many people using these devices for music it's... Read more
Amazon announced 70 new devices. Here's each one. Kidding. Kind of. From an updated Echo Show with a gorgeous 10-inch HD screen to an Echo Wall Clock (seriously), no stone was left unturned. Amazon joked at the start that it would cover about "70 news... Read more
There’s a new Dot in town – here are our first impressions of Amazon’s new third-generation Echo Dot revealed at today's launch event at the company’s headquarters in Seattle.The Echo Dot has long been one of our favourite pieces of tech because... Read more
Amazon announced the second generation of its Echo Plus smart speaker at an event in Seattle. The updated speaker brings a new design to match the smaller Echo speaker and new Echo Dot, whilst also improving the sound experience.How does the all-new Echo... Read more
Amazon has revealed a new, improved Echo Show. The new Echo Show is available for pre-order from today for £220/$230 and will ship in October.We’re at Amazon’s US launch at its headquarters in Seattle so here are our first impressions of the all-new... Read more
Amazon announced several new devices during a special event in Seattle, including an all-new Echo Dot. The Echo Dot is the small, puck-sized version of the Echo speaker, offering a way to access Alexa smarts without the need for the full-sized Echo.The... Read more
With the ever-increasing popularity of Amazon Echo smart speakers, it's no surprise to see more and more companies jumping on the bandwagon and releasing devices with Alexa.Amazon itself is even putting support into regular household appliances and products.Here... Read more
Amazon has announced the Fire TV Recast, a new addition to its line-up of home entertainment devices.This is a box that can stream shows from an HD antenna to your home. The idea is that you hook-up the box in your home and you can record and stream content... Read more
A new and improved Amazon Echo Show has been announced during the company's special launch event in Seattle.Like the other "new" devices Amazon is showcasing, the latest Echo Show model is being pitched as "all-new". It features "new speakers", a "new... Read more
Now that Amazon owns smart security camera and doorbell company Ring, it used its surprise event in Seattle to announce a few Ring device updates.One of those is an all-new Ring Stick Up Cam, which will be released later this year.Even though it was previously... Read more
Amazon is announcing probably 70 new devices right now at a surprise event in Seattle, including an Alexa-enabled wall clock and microwave.Starting with the Echo Wall Clock, it's an Echo-branded accessory for displaying timers you’ve set with Alexa.... Read more
Although there are several third-party equivalents, Amazon is bringing its own-branded smart plug to market.The Amazon Smart Plug is interesting because it can add Alexa voice control to any electrical socket - the first such device from Amazon itself.... Read more
Amazon is rattling off updates to Echo devices at a surprise event in Seattle, where it's now announcing a new Echo Input product.With this device, you can plug it into any existing speaker and essentially turn it into an Amazon Echo. It appears to be... Read more
Amazon's major Echo speaker refresh for 2018 includes a new version of its Echo Plus speaker.Similar to the other updated Echo devices announced, the "all-new Echo Plus" will bring an improved sound experience. It kicks things up a notch with premium... Read more
Amazon is making its Echo speakers sound even better, by matching them with a new Echo Sub. The Amazon Echo Sub is designed to deliver down-firing, 100W deep bass sound through a woofer.It's designed to pair with an Echo or Echo Plus, which are sold separately,... Read more
Amazon has launched a line-up of new Echo devices, including a new Echo Dot.Dubbed the "all-new Echo Dot", the new model comes with sound improvements and a fresh design.The original Echo Dot, a hockey puck-sized version of the Echo, was Amazon's most... Read more
Clever heating systems have really come into their own over the last couple of years, with several solutions available to allow you to control your heating using your smartphone.The systems that exist all look to make it simpler and easier to control... Read more
If you have ever walked out of your house and wondered whether you had turned the iron or hair straighteners off, smart plugs are what you need in your life.Smart plugs are simple devices that have the ability to make your electronics that little bit... Read more
The Amazon Echo and its Amazon Alexa voice-control system has been a break-away hit for smart home speakers over the past few years.When it launched - way back in 2014 in the US - the at-home voice-assistant forged a whole new category, leaving rivals... Read more
Did you know you can use Alexa to call and message others?Amazon's Alexa calling and messaging feature enables you to make and receive calls, as well as send messages between Echo devices, the Amazon Alexa app for iOS and Android, and Fire tablets. It's... Read more
UPDATE: Amazon has now announced its own Smart Plug, which was leaked earlier as you can see below.For the official, up-to-date details, head here: Amazon Smart Plug adds Alexa voice control to any electrical device.Earlier story...Amazon is going to... Read more
Those of you who own an Amazon Echo might be surprised to learn how much it can really do. It's loaded with features and hidden settings.The Amazon Echo can make to-do lists, set alarms, stream podcasts, play audiobooks, read PDFs, provide weather forecasts,... Read more
Amazon's Echo devices support multi-room audio, but you need to use the Alexa app to group them up.This feature lets you play music across multiple Echo devices in your home at the same time. But there are caveats: the feature is only available in a few... Read more
There's been an explosion in smart home devices over the past few years. What was once referred to as "home automation" and still referred to as "Internet of Things" has now settled into a more friendly category we call smart home. We've got heating,... Read more
Google might unveil a device that's designed to rival Amazon's screen-equipped Echo Show. It'll supposedly be called Google Home Hub.Google currently offers three different Google Home-branded devices that showcase its assistant, Google Assistant. They... Read more
Alexa has liberally thrust itself into the lives of just about everyone. Amazon's omnipotent AI appeals not only to the technically minded, but to everyone.Amazon's voice-controlled virtual assistant, Alexa, has become the complete smart home influencer:... Read more
Google is holding an event next month, when it's supposed to unveil the Pixel 3, but it might also debut a new Google Home device.The company has been rumoured to be working on its own "Smart Display", and now, that device has leaked online as the “Google... Read more
Amazon Echo is one of a range of hands-free speakers and devices that can be controlled with your voice. The voice-controlled Amazon "personal assistant" on these devices is called Alexa, who will perform various tasks for you and control various systems.In... Read more
Your Amazon Echo has just arrived and you might have glanced at the quick-start guide, but beyond the basic setup, do you know the first things you should do with your new Echo? Alexa is the virtual assistant inside Amazon Echo devices - for a briefing... Read more
Amazon is developing an entire new range of Alexa-powered smart home devices. To be clear, these likely won't be new Echo speakers.According to a report from CNBC, Amazon is working on new voice-controlled devices, including a microwave oven, an in-car... Read more
Amazon is pushing the Echo and Echo Dot hard in a bid to dominate the connected home market before too many players - like Google - can catch up.The Amazon Echo got off to a flying start, establishing itself as one of the hottest smart home devices,... Read more
Apple is on stage at the Gather Round event in Cupertino, where it is unveiling several new devices, as well as new HomePod features.That's right. Apple didn't forget about its Siri speaker. CEO Tim Cook featured the product during the final minutes... Read more
Fresh from announcing Elan IR internet radios and its Alexa-enabled smart speaker last week, British firm Pure has now powered up its Siesta alarm clock with a version that features wireless charging. Our guide to the best Alexa speakers The £130... Read more
Fancy turning an entire wall into a new way to light up your room? Nanoleaf Canvas can do just that. The light panels will be available in a pack from £179 at the beginning of December and is the perfect way to brighten up a dull winter’s day.You can... Read more
A lot of smart speakers could pass for normal wireless speakers with mics jammed in, but the Pure DiscovR is a little different.It’s a smart speaker with Amazon Alexa that has a pop-up top. Push it in and the mics used to communicate with Alexa physically... Read more
We’ve known for a little while that Huawei was going to bring out a smart speaker. Now it has officially announced the device at IFA 2018 and, pleasingly, Huawei has opted for Amazon Alexa rather than attempting to create its own smart assistant.We... Read more
We're big fans of the Neato Botvac D7 Connected and now the company has launched two sister models here at IFA 2018, the D6 and D4 to follow up the D3 and D5. As you'd expect, both are cheaper than the D7; the D6 is £649/$799 while the D4 is a very... Read more
Tado has updated its suite of smart home thermostat products to V3+ and introduces a new app to give you greater understanding and control over the air quality in your home.The new Tado app, which helps you control your Smart Thermostat and Radiator products,... Read more
Netatmo is constantly expanding its range of smart home devices and the latest is something that could literally save your life.Announced in the US in 2017 but finally making its way across the pond, the Netatmo Smart Smoke Alarm not only works like a... Read more
If you live in a bilingual household and own a Google Assistant speaker, you'll love the assistant's latest update.Google has announced a new feature for Google Assistant: it’s now bilingual. So, if you ask the assistant a question, it will automatically... Read more
Netgear has debuted a new smart speaker here at IFA 2018. And while it's Alexa-powered, there are several key differences with the Orbi Voice, as it's called. Firstly, Orbi Voice should sound rather good, coming as it does with Harman/Kardon sound.Naturally,... Read more
Lenovo is entering the smart home market in a big way. As well as its Smart Display, shown first at CES in January, the Chinese firm is introducing other smart devices, including a bulb to rival Philips Hue, plus a security camera and smart plug.All three... Read more
Samsung-owned Harman Kardon just introduced the Google Assistant-enabled Citation series. Now, JBL is doing something similar.The company, which Samsung acquired, is introducing five new devices: Link Bar, which serves up voice-enabled smart TV content... Read more
Google has finally introduced the larger of its smart speakers to the UK.The Google Home Max has been a big hit in the US, adding four drivers and six Class D amplifiers to the same Google Assistant voice control you get on the standard Google Home. Of... Read more
Google has a difficult task: it needs to steal your attention - or rather, your ears and voice - from the competition, as the world of smart home and voice-controlled tech products continues to hot up. These days it's not just Amazon with its Echo line... Read more
Sonos speakers look and sound great. They are easy to set up and use. But you can still make them even better, thanks to Flexson, which makes stands and mounts which let you place the speakers in the perfect locations.For instance, if you have the Sonos... Read more
Bose has announced a smart speaker and two soundbars - and all three offer Alexa voice support, with "other voice assistants to follow".Starting with the Bose Home Speaker 500, the speaker has an aluminium build with a small non-touch display on the... Read more
Eve Systems, the smart home brand formerly known as Elgato, has announced a second-generation version of its air quality and indoor climate monitor, Eve Room.The small device comes with an E Ink display, links with Apple HomeKit and an iPhone, iPad or... Read more
If you're looking to buy a premium smart speaker with Google Assistant, you may be interested in this latest product from Harman Kardon.The Samsung-owned company, which has yet to release a Bixby-enabled speaker, though it did work on the new Galaxy Home... Read more