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Last week, under the shadow of a dozen new Echo devices, Amazon continued their pursuit to redefine TV. The latest product launch expanded the Echo device ecosystem deeper into the home with new speakers, a plug, clock, microwave, and other voice-enabled gadgets. Further, the all new Fire TV Recast device is aimed at routing a larger portion of consumers TV viewing time through Amazon’s ecosystem of hardware and services.
Yesterday Amazon unleashed a tidal wave of new products, from clocks and microwaves, to an in-car Echo, and a bevy of music devices. But what is most interesting is likely not the overwhelming quantity or specifics of every item, but the clear path Amazon continues to take in both owning and partnering within its ecosystems.
The technology ecosystem is evolving and the smartphone may no longer be the dominant consumer product. Welcome to the Age of Voice and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
With the launch of the Apple Watch Series 4, Apple has further separated itself from the smartwatch pack with larger edgeless screens, better resolution, and a sleeker design. However, the biggest shift heralded in by the Series 4 is a clear pivot by Apple towards the wellness and healthcare market and away from focusing primarily on fitness.
As Apple’s annual September launch event draws closer, hearsay around device specs continues to swirl. When it comes to this year’s iPhone news, form factor sizing has risen the ranks to the most heavily speculated aspect. Assuming what is being reported is true, Apple is expected to debut devices on Wednesday with bigger screen sizes, which means accessory manufacturers are busy designing new peripherals.
I bought my first walkman-like music player when I was 16 years old. It was bigger than a Sony Walkman – in fact, clunky may be the best description – but it let me immerse myself in my music. The Stranglers, The Jam, and more travelled with me wherever I went. Indeed, I remember walking in the rain for several hours listening to Marillion's latest album, so I could truly get the peace and quiet to appreciate it. And, when I had saved up enough money, I finally bought a real Walkman with its full glory of Japanese technology miniaturization. Life was good.
The refrigerator demo was going well. The combination of cameras inside the fridge and artificial intelligence (AI) metaphorically wrapped around each item meant the external screen we were looking at not only showed what was inside, but also tagged each item with its appropriate food category. The demonstrator looked relieved and, in a moment of candid honesty, said, “Phew. Earlier the fridge labeled that broccoli as a peach and the bread as a watermelon.”
The smartwatch has undergone an evolution over the last several years, and with increased support and features, it’s becoming more desirable to a broader range of consumers. Here we take a look at who’s buying, use cases, and what’s next.
It’s been a long time since I felt a true affinity to any of my phones. Yes, each phone comes with a slightly sharper screen and more intelligence (that I’m not sure I understand how to use), but when all is said and done, they are monolithic slabs of dullness. Until yesterday, that is, when I felt the romantic tug of a phone.
While wandering the streets of Tokyo this past weekend, I came up with a theory that a city - and the people within it - is made up of alternating layers of the strange and the expected. At the most obvious level, any foreign city is filled with strange sights, smells, language and, of course, people; all of which feels increasingly alien as you move farther from wherever you consider home to be. Sometimes, the Android OS feels exactly the same to me.