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The Polk Audio Assist Smart Speaker lets your music speak to you in every room


The audio industry has evolved along with everything else, and those of us who love music whether you are a casual listener or an audiophile, want as many capabilities as we can have in one small and “sexy’ looking device that complements our décor. While there are us audiophiles who still must have our relatively large left and right channel speakers along with our stereo rack, there are many others who want the big sound to still exist but vanish into a small package.

Polk Audio is a long-standing audio company that has been known for years for making speakers of every size to fit every type of room and lifestyle. Continuing with their desire to provide excellence to every level of the listener, they have introduced the Polk Audio Assist Smart Speaker. This voice-controlled smart speaker is built to provide the customary Polk premium sound, and it includes the Google Assistant for hands-free operation. Some of the additional features include music streaming via the built-in Google Chromecast, with access to services like Pandora, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Google Play Music, etc., and hi-res multi-room audio streaming utilizing Chromecast-enabled speakers and sound bars. All of the features that are offered can be controlled via the free Google Home app for iOS or Android devices.

The Polk Audio Assist Smart Speaker is available in midnight back or cool gray, and it will be available for purchase in the U.S. in June 2018 for $199.

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The Polk Audio Assist Smart Speaker lets your music speak to you in every room originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 2, 2018 at 9:37 am.

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The Mission Battery Shell For Amazon Echo 2 has you covered

The Amazon Alexa service is a world class platform for enabling natural language with a host of Alexa capable devices. Many people interact with the Alexa service using one of Amazon’s own Echo devices. Late in 2017, Amazon updated the original three-year-old Echo with a new design. The new design offered a lower price, new skins, and the ability to stream audio, but also kept the Echo tethered to an AC power receptacle. The Mission Battery Shell For Amazon Echo 2 looks to change that with designs that provide power and portability to the Echo.

What’s it offer?

The shell comes in 2 flavors and a total of four colors: black, white, sandstone or charcoal. The standard design offers a soft fabric finish, a non-marking silicone base, and 6 hours of portable playtime. In contrast, the rugged version offers a hard shell finish, an extra-thick silicone base and 8 hours of playtime.  In addition to offering a battery, each design also includes a three-segment LED battery level indicator. One thing this design apparently lacks: a charging dock. You’ll need to connect this to a cable to keep the battery full. Also, while the front looks suave and cylindrical, there is a jumper in the rear which connects the Echo’s existing DC plug to the battery compartment of the sleeve.

You may think it is preferable to purchase an Alexa enabled speaker with a built-in battery. The Amazon Tap is a viable option (and also compatible with hands-free mode). While there are some 3rd-party manufacturers that also build portable speakers with Alexa, Amazon will limit the services you can ask Alexa to stream.

Each version of the Mission Battery Shell sells for $49.99 at Amazon. Visit the Mission site here to find out more info.

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The Mission Battery Shell For Amazon Echo 2 has you covered originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on May 21, 2018 at 11:00 am.

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The Meural Canvas is art for your walls that you can control with your voice

Do you remember ten years ago when digital photo frames were so popular? I reviewed about a dozen or so of those frames at the height of their popularity and then overnight it seemed like they just disappeared. This is until recently when we’ve seen a new crop of digital frames pop up that makes those frames from a decade ago look like toys. The new digital photo frames are extra large and are designed to hang on the wall just like a piece of real artwork.

The newest digital frame that I’ve been reading about is the Meural Canvas and you can control it with your voice! That’s right, the Meural Canvas digital photo frame features a 27-inch IPS 1920 x 1080 display with built-in Alexa integration so you can see the next or previous image and set the brightness just by asking. You can use hand gestures as well.

There’s an optional $39.95/yr membership that you can buy that provides a library of art to choose from. The membership is entirely optional and without it, you can have access to 100 free images, and are able to upload as much of your own art and photography as you please.

The reason they have a membership is that they pay for licensing for everything in their collection, and they want to make sure they can continue our practice of fairly compensating both artists and rights holders (like museums and artists estates).

Images are stored locally on the frame, so it will still be functional should anything happen to the company. It takes an SD card as well.

The Meural Canvas comes in three frame styles and is priced at $595. Visit meural.com for more info and Amazon to order one.

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The Meural Canvas is art for your walls that you can control with your voice originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 27, 2018 at 4:52 pm.

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Amazon’s new Alexa Skill Blueprints lets you create your very own Alexa skills

The first review I ever wrote for the Gadgeteer was for the Amazon Echo Dot. With Amazon’s AI Alexa, you could use skills to do things such as turn on lights or order a pizza. Since that time Alexa has evolved. Now there are literally thousands of new skills. Some useful, others not so much. In a press release on Thursday Amazon revealed possibly its best feature yet, Alexa Skill Blueprints. Alexa Skill Blueprints allows users of Alexa to build their own personalized skills and responses using a set of easy-to-use templates.

“Alexa Skill Blueprints is an entirely new way for you to teach Alexa personalized skills just for you and your family,” said Steve Rabuchin, Vice President, Amazon Alexa. “You don’t need experience building skills or coding to get started—my family created our own jokes skill in a matter of minutes, and it’s been a blast to interact with Alexa in a totally new and personal way.”

Create personal Alexa skills in minutes

Creating your own Alexa skill and response is as easy as 1, 2, 3.

  1. Select your blueprint template by visiting the Alexa Skill Blueprints website.
  2. Unleash your creativity. Fill in the blanks, Mad Libs style.
  3. Use your Skill. Publish it with just a click, making the skill or response instantly available on all devices connected to your Amazon account.

At launch, there are 21 different blueprint templates available across four main categories. Fun & Games, Learning & Knowledge, At Home, and Storyteller.

I tried blueprint myself using Sci-Fi Storyteller. It was both easy and fun to use. In just a few short minutes I was able to listen to a short Sci-Fi story. Complete with far-out sound effects. And once you’ve created skills you can manage and edit them at any time on the Alexa Skill Blueprints website.

To browse the list of available blueprints and to get started creating your own skills head over to the Skill Blueprints website.

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Amazon’s new Alexa Skill Blueprints lets you create your very own Alexa skills originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 20, 2018 at 10:00 am.

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Ecobee recruits Amazon’s Alexa for their new Switch+ smart switch

The ecobee Switch + is the smarter light switch with built-in Amazon Alexa. Unlike other smart switches that just work with Alexa, the ecobee Switch + has the voice assistant built right in. Use the built-in mic to ask Alexa for lights, news, music, and more. Or control other voice-enabled devices in your home.

Depending on Alexa’s state the built-in light bar will flash different colors.

What else can Switch + do?

With Switch +, you’re in total control of your lighting. Rely on motion and daylight sensors, or ask Alexa. You can even use the ecobee app.

If you’re old-school, a button allows you to turn it on and off manually. But who does that anymore?

The “smart-off” setting senses when a room is empty and automatically turns the lights off. There’s even a nightlight to keep you from fumbling around in the dark.

Any outdoor light will be upgraded to automatically turn on at sunset and turn off at a time of your choosing with Switch +.

Switch + plays well with all the platforms you already know and love, such as Apple Home Kit, Google Assistant, SmartThings, and IFTTT.

Simple do it yourself installation takes about 45 minutes. And step-by-step videos and illustrations in the ecobee app make it easy.

Coming soon

When you’re away on vacation you can randomize your lights to turn on or off at different times of the day. So your lights say someones home even when you’re thousands of miles away. Kind of like auto-pilot for your lights.

And you’ll soon be able to control your ecobee thermostats with the Switch +. Built-in sensors will help you to manage hot or cold spots in your home.

A firmware update coming this summer will add both of these new features.

The ecobee Switch + comes with a wall plate, mounting screws, wire nuts, and install guide. Available on March, 26th it will sell for $99.99. You can pre-order yours now on Amazon.

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Ecobee recruits Amazon’s Alexa for their new Switch+ smart switch originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 24, 2018 at 8:38 am.

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