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Showing posts from January, 2019

Turn any speakers into Alexa smart speakers with this $35 accessory

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Why do they even make speakers anymore that don’t have Alexa built in? We won’t be happy until Alexa is easily accessible anywhere and everywhere. If you’re the same way, we’ve got something you definitely need to check out. Amazon’s new Echo Input is the device you’ve been waiting for. Simply connect it to any portable speaker or home audio system and it instantly adds hands-free Alexa access. Now every speaker can be an Alexa speaker! Echo Input – Bring Alexa to your own speaker- Black : $34.99 Here’s some more info from the product page: Echo Input adds Alexa to an external speaker and connects via 3.5 mm audio cable or Bluetooth. Can hear you from across the room—even when music is playing. Stream Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify, Pandora, SiriusXM, and more on your favorite speaker. Just ask Alexa to play a song, read the news, or check the weather and traffic. Set alarms and timers, add items to your to-do list, and control compatible smart home devices. Calling and

Facebook and Twitter just took down hundreds of fake accounts from Iran and elsewhere that were trying to influence politics

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Facebook and Twitter have taken down hundreds of fake accounts designed to influence politics and public debate, the two social networks announced on Thursday. Facebook took down 783 accounts linked to Iran that targeted countries ranging from Afghanistan to France, Germany, Israel, Morocco, South Africa and the US. Twitter, meanwhile took down accounts linked to Iran, Venezuela, and Russia, it said , that were active during the US 2018 midterm elections. According to The Washington Post , 418 and were from Russia, 764 were from Venezuela. "This morning we removed 783 Pages, groups and accounts for engaging in coordinated inauthentic behavior tied to Iran. There were multiple sets of activity, each localized for a specific country or region, including Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Libya, Mexico, Morocco, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, US, and Yemen,"

Huawei’s upcoming foldable phone looks pretty sleek in these new renders

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Richard Yu, the CEO of Huawei's consumer products division, is already on record talking a pretty big game about the foldable smartphone the embattled China-based tech giant appears set to reveal at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona later this month, with a press conference scheduled for Feb. 24. The company's foldable handset is of course one of a slew of such devices coming very soon, with specs that include a reported 5-inch screen on the front, a notch that makes facial identification recognition possible, 5G -- and, according to Yu, it will also be powerful enough to replace your computer. As he puts it, in fact, this is the "smartphone that comes after the smartphone." The next evolution of one of if not the most successful consumer electronics product of all time. No pressure, right? Continue reading... BGR Top Deals: Instant Pot’s most advanced multi-cooker is down to its lowest price ever, today only These new $16 smart LED bulbs don’t need a hub or ev

The best money I've ever spent was on a small piece of technology that let's me know my baby is safe

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There are times in life to save money and consider budget product options , but there are also times when you should settle for nothing but the best, price notwithstanding. When it comes to providing safety for my kids, I'm more than willing to spend whatever necessary to do it right. The Owlet Smart Sock was a gift my wife and I gave to ourselves, as well, as the peace of mind it provides lets us sleep better at night.   A few years back, if you had asked me what was the best money I ever spent, I probably would have told you it was on a pair of hiking boots. Back in 2012, I treated myself to a pair of Asolo TPS boots that cost more than $300, a lot of money for me then (and plenty now, of course), but I was getting more serious about mountaineering, and I wanted gear that could help ensure my safety and comfort. Those boots have held up beautifully even after miles of trekking through all sorts of conditions, and I have sung their praises to any who would listen. They

The world's biggest tech stocks are at a crucial turning point. Here's why the next few months could determine the fate of the market.

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Facebook and Apple have jumped this week after their quarterly reports eased investors' minds. Like FAANG compatriots Amazon, Netflix and Alphabet, they suffered huge losses late last year. The stocks have surged over the last month, and it's a sign investors are putting some of their fears behind them and getting more optimistic about the US economy and the stock market. There are still signs technology stocks could struggle, and the FAANG group may never be as unified as it was over the past few years. The world's biggest tech stocks are on the mend after a brutal three months, and it could be a good sign for the broader market. Facebook is on track for its best day in two years after its fourth-quarter profit and revenue beat analyst estimates. That came two days after rallied following a quarterly report that was rough, but no worse than expected . Facebook is up about 20% since the market hit its low point on Christmas Eve. Amazon has staged a similar rally a

Scientists built a robot that taught itself what it is

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AI researchers who develop machine learning algorithms have demonstrated that telling a machine to teach itself how to do a certain task is a pretty great strategy. Trial and error over countless attempts often results in a machine or program that is highly skilled. A new research effort took that concept to an entirely different level by not only tasking a robot with completing an objective, but also forcing it to learn about itself in the process. The robot, which had to figure out that it is a robot, didn't even know what its own body looked like when the tests began, but that quickly changed. Continue reading... BGR Top Deals: Instant Pot’s most advanced multi-cooker is down to its lowest price ever, today only These new $16 smart LED bulbs don’t need a hub or even Wi-Fi to work together Trending Right Now: ‘Avengers: Endgame’ theory explains how Doctor Strange used the Time Stone in ‘Infinity War’ New ‘Captain Marvel’ footage gives a big nod to ‘Avengers: Infinit

San Francisco could ban facial recognition technology, becoming first US city to do so

San Francisco could become the first U.S. city to ban the use of facial recognition technology — criticized as biased by lawmakers and privacy advocates — by all city agencies if a new bill becomes law.

Super Bowl LIII: Tom Brady, Patriots and Pepsi tops among social media buzz

As the hype around Super Bowl LIII reaches white-hot status, social media and internet users are doing everything and anything they can to learn about the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Rams and join in on the conversation.

Check out this $74 robot vacuum before you spend hundreds on a Roomba

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If there’s one piece of technology everyone should own whether or not they’re fans of gadgets, it’s a robot vacuum. These awesome little gadgets take care of light dirt and dust cleanup for you so you only have to vacuum when there’s a real mess that needs attention. Some people avoid robot vacuums because they think they’ll need to spend hundreds to get one, but there are some terrific entry-level models out there that are shockingly affordable. Check out the Pure Clean Automatic Robot Vacuum Cleaner by Pyle , which is currently available on Amazon for just $74. It doesn’t have all the bells and whistles you’ll find in a $600 Roomba, but it does a very good job and you’ll wonder how you ever got along without one. Smart Robot Vacuum Sweeper Cleaner - Automatic Multisurface Bagless Floor Cleaner w/ Built-in R… : $68.99 Here’s what you need to know from the product page: LOW-PROFILE DESIGN: The Pure Clean Automatic Vacuum Cleaner by Pyle has an obstacle detection feature which lets

This is the clearest look so far at Samsung's upcoming Galaxy S10

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The device pictured above is supposedly a render of Samsung's upcoming Galaxy S10 Plus designated for the press. If accurate, the render gives away a few details of the Galaxy S10 Plus before Samsung's big Unpacked event on February 20, where the company is expected to announce its new Galaxy S smartphones. The render was obtained by tech site 91Mobiles. Here it is, supposedly: Samsung's Galaxy S10 Plus.  The image above is apparently a render by Samsung designed for the press that was obtained by tech site 91Mobiles . If accurate, the render doesn't add to the long list of rumors surrounding Samsung's Galaxy S10 Plus. If anything, it reinforces some of the existing rumors, like ultra-narrow bezels, an oval punch-hole for the selfie camera on the top right, two selfie cameras, three rear cameras, and Samsung's switch to an in-display fingerprint sensor. Indeed, there's no visible fingerprint sensor on the front or back of the device pictured abo

DC’s next Batman movie now has a release date – and it won’t star Ben Affleck

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In what should come as a shock to basically no one, Ben Affleck confirmed that he will be passing on the costume to a new Batman for DC's next standalone movie featuring the Dark Knight. On Wednesday, Deadline reported that DC's highly-anticipated standalone Batman movie -- The Batman -- is now slated to hit theaters on June 25th, 2021. Matt Reeves ( Cloverfield , Dawn of the Planet of the Apes ) is attached to write and direct. The movie was initially set to be written and directed by Ben Affleck, who took on the role of the character in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice , and penned a script with former DC president Geoff Johns. But as Affleck's schedule got busier and the story came into focus, he realized he wouldn't be the best fit for this role. Continue reading... BGR Top Deals: Instant Pot’s most advanced multi-cooker is down to its lowest price ever, today only These new $16 smart LED bulbs don’t need a hub or even Wi-Fi to work together Trending R

THE VOICE APPS REPORT: The top issues with voice discoverability, monetization, and retention — and how to solve them

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This is a preview of a research report from Business Insider Intelligence, Business Insider's premium research service. To learn more about Business Insider Intelligence, click here . The voice app ecosystem is booming. In the US, the number of Alexa skills alone surpassed 25,000 in January 2018, up from just 7,000 the previous January, in categories ranging from music streaming services, to games, to connected home tools. As voice platforms continue to gain footing in homes via smart speakers — connected devices  powered primarily by artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled voice assistants —  the opportunity for voice apps is becoming more profound. However, as observed with the rise of mobile apps in the late 2000s, any new digital ecosystem will face significant growing pains, and voice apps are no exception. Thanks to the visual-free format of voice apps, discoverability, monetization, and retention are proving particularly problematic in this nascent space. This is creating a