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It’s a Christmas miracle, soon you’ll be able to play Apple Music on your Amazon Echo

NEWS – Well, this is an interesting bit of news. Apparently the long-standing riff, feud, or whatever you want to call it between the two largest tech industry power players Amazon and Apple may be softening. The news is that starting next month (December 17th, 2018), you’ll be able to play Apple Music on Amazon Echo smart speakers and devices. How’s that for an early Christmas present to Echo owners? Soon you’ll be able to say “Alexa, play Post Malone on Apple Music”.

If you’re not sure what Apple Music is, it’s Apple’s own paid streaming music service like Amazon’s Music Unlimited, Spotify, or Pandora. Yes, you have to pay for it. Prices start at $4.99 for students and goes up to $14.99 a month for families but you can get a free 3-month trial. Until now, or on December 17th to be exact, access to the Apple Music service hasn’t been possible through Echo devices.

If you don’t have an Amazon Echo device yet, you’re in luck because you can buy the 3rd generation Echo Dot for only $29.99 right now which would make a great stocking stuffer.

You can read more about this announcement on Amazon’s blog and thanks to Doug F. for the news tip!

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It’s a Christmas miracle, soon you’ll be able to play Apple Music on your Amazon Echo originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 30, 2018 at 5:11 pm.

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Amazon says Big Mouth Billy Bass is back and better than ever with Alexa compatibility!

NEWS – Amazon has been expanded the list of items that have Alexa built in.  There’s even a microwave with built-in Alexa.  The Big Mouth Billy Bass is being introduced into the Echo universe as an “Alexa compatible device.”  Billy doesn’t have Alexa built-in, but he pairs with an Echo device you already own.  Once paired, the fish will lip sync with everything that Alexa says.

According to Amazon, Billy responds to inquiries about the weather, your commute, the news, random facts, and more; he reacts to timers, notifications, and alarms; and he’ll even dance to the beat when Alexa is playing music.

The plaque measures 11″ x 3″ x 7″.  Big Mouth Billy Bass is available to pre-order for $39.99.  Never fear, you’ll get him in time for Christmas with no problem, because shipping begins December 1, 2018.  Order yours at Amazon.

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Amazon says Big Mouth Billy Bass is back and better than ever with Alexa compatibility! originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 30, 2018 at 8:16 am.

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Add a speaker and an alarm clock to your Amazon Echo Dot with iHome

NEWS – The Echo Dot is a cost-effective way to add Amazon’s Alexa to your smart home, but you’ll find it doesn’t have the best built-in speaker for listening to music.  And sure, you can use Alexa to set a wake-up alarm, and you can ask her the time, but a middle-of-the-night time check might wake up your sleeping partner.  With the iHome iAV2B Docking Bedside and Home Office Amazon Echo Dot Speaker System, you’ll add an alarm clock with digital time display and better speakers to the 2nd gen Amazon Echo Dot you already own.

You just insert the Echo Dot into the chamber on the top of the iAV2B dock, and the dock will power the Dot.  At 5.3″ x 4.6″ x 5.2″, the dock won’t take up a lot of room on your night table.  The front of the dock has a black fabric grill and white LEDs for the time display.  The built-in speaker has Reson8 speaker chamber technology and a passive subwoofer for richer sound than the Echo Dot provides on its own.  The dock connects to the Dot with a USB cable for power and an aux-in cable for sound.  There’s another 1A USB port that can be used to charge your phone.  The iAV2B is powered by an included 100V-240V AC power adapter.  A CR2450 backup battery for the clock is included.

iHome iAV2B Docking Bedside and Home Office Amazon Echo Dot Speaker System is $49.59 at Amazon.

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Add a speaker and an alarm clock to your Amazon Echo Dot with iHome originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 17, 2018 at 2:21 pm.

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Why press buttons when Alexa will perfectly nuke your next Hot Pocket

NEWS – Here’s just one more indication that we’re getting closer to the day when we can just ask a replicator to make us a sandwich. Case in point – GE’s new smart, scan-to-cook microwave which works with your phone or your voice to heat up your food without pressing a button. You can use your phone to snap a photo of the barcode on your pre-packaged food, and the microwave will set the right time with the right power setting for you. This feature currently works with 3,000 meals and food items with more items being added as time goes by.

If using your phone to control your microwave takes too much effort, the new .9 cubic foot GE microwave also works with Amazon Alexa, so you can say… “Alexa, start the microwave”, “Alexa, add 30 more seconds to the microwave” and more. With voice control, you can easily start defrosting the frozen rump roast without having to touch any buttons on the microwave, or add an extra 30 seconds to heat up the coffee you forgot about.

The GE .9 Cu. Ft. Capacity Countertop Microwave Oven is currently priced at $154.98 (that price includes an Echo Dot) on Amazon.

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Why press buttons when Alexa will perfectly nuke your next Hot Pocket originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 6, 2018 at 5:02 pm.

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Why press buttons when Alexa will perfectly nuke your next Hot Pocket

NEWS – Here’s just one more indication that we’re getting closer to the day when we can just ask a replicator to make us a sandwich. Case in point – GE’s new smart, scan-to-cook microwave which works with your phone or your voice to heat up your food without pressing a button. You can use your phone to snap a photo of the barcode on your pre-packaged food, and the microwave will set the right time with the right power setting for you. This feature currently works with 3,000 meals and food items with more items being added as time goes by.

If using your phone to control your microwave takes too much effort, the new .9 cubic foot GE microwave also works with Amazon Alexa, so you can say… “Alexa, start the microwave”, “Alexa, add 30 more seconds to the microwave” and more. With voice control, you can easily start defrosting the frozen rump roast without having to touch any buttons on the microwave, or add an extra 30 seconds to heat up the coffee you forgot about.

The GE .9 Cu. Ft. Capacity Countertop Microwave Oven is currently priced at $154.98 (that price includes an Echo Dot) on Amazon.

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Why press buttons when Alexa will perfectly nuke your next Hot Pocket originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 6, 2018 at 5:02 pm.

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