Yup, you heard me right. The headline of this review isn't merely&nbsp;a&nbsp;clickbait but is&nbsp;actually&nbsp;accurate. Despite the debate around privacy, I have been a fan of smart home devices simply because of how they simplify my daily life. Trust me, if you&nbsp;are a working parent trying to navigate through the many monotonous yet imperative chores of the daily grind, you may forget about which app is tracking what as long as you can book you a cab, schedule an appointment, track a shopping order or even entertain your toddler while you try and squeeze in a workout to meet that lockdown goal. You can slot this under unpopular opinion.&nbsp;

And the new Amazon Echo Show 10 can do all of it. Though priced high, it helps me get through the day, entertains my son and even helps me meet my daily calorie burn goal.&nbsp;

Time to meet&nbsp;the latest Amazon Echo smart speaker,&nbsp;the Echo Show 10,&nbsp;which is priced at a jaw-dropping Rs 24,999. So,&nbsp;the question is, is it worth it?&nbsp;

I say yes because if you're building a smart home and relying on technology to help make&nbsp;your&nbsp;life easier, this is an investment.&nbsp;

Design&nbsp;

Say hello to the biggest model in the product family. This one is heavy and&nbsp;takes&nbsp;pride&nbsp;in&nbsp;itself&nbsp;as it has&nbsp;smart display and&nbsp;speaker. Why do I say heavy? Because you'll need to mount it in a clutter-free space to accommodate its three-driver system that acts as a backbone but also provides booming sound.&nbsp;

And here's the party trick,&nbsp;the motion sensor allows the screen to turn towards the voice command. So,&nbsp;if you're belting out orders from another corner of the kitchen to follow the recipe of a recent cooking experiment, the screen will follow you and a helpful Alexa will tell you what to do.&nbsp;

The&nbsp;third&nbsp;gen smart display comes with a brilliant 1,280 X 800 pixels&nbsp;screen with a separate speaker attached at the back. And if you don't have enough space for the massive display to swivel around, simply turn off the motion sensor from the swipe down tab at the top. Remember, this heavy body needs to be connected to a power source at all times. I wouldn't let kids lift it up as it's bound to fall from nimble hands. If you're putting it on a counter top, get rid of all decorative items since this bad boy needs some space to move. For those with privacy concerns, you can turn off the camera from the buttons on the top.&nbsp;

Display&nbsp;

I loved watching content on the Echo Show 10's display. Only those with extremely high-end televisions will disagree. The sound quality and viewing experience leaves little room for&nbsp;any&nbsp;complaint. Alexa's know-how gets better with every upgrade and she knows what you want and therein lies the conundrum about voice assistants and their indelible footprint in our lives. Use the drop-in feature to make your home truly&nbsp;smart.&nbsp;

Great for kids&nbsp;

Are we still advocating zero screen time for kids when online classes have become an intrinsic part of our lives, even for children as young as three years old? Like I always say, these gadgets are built for children and are intuitive at best. My son knows what to play, when to play, how to play. I have thoroughly enjoyed teaching him some fundamentals from across the room with a simple, "Alexa, tell us about the planets in the Solar System!" Just make sure your child isn't too close to the screen because we need to be prudent while being creative.&nbsp;

Pro Tips&nbsp;

Try using the Toy Doctor skill on Alexa. The Kids' skills are more creative, fun to indulge in, and are more engaging for different age groups. If you have other smart gadgets, connect your smart bulbs, air purifiers and regulate your electricity bill.&nbsp;

How I used Echo Show 10?&nbsp;

I can regale you all with fancy specifications, tech jargon and even some gasp-worthy features in a review. Let us cut through the noise and talk about how you would use an expensive smart display such as this one in your daily life.&nbsp;

Exercise: Given the compact space it&nbsp;occupies,&nbsp;you can plug it in any corner. The sound and display will push you to do those extra burpees, push-ups or squats depending on your punishment of choice.&nbsp;

Cook up a storm: For cooks, this is a best friend. Alexa will follow your visual and audio cues and show you what needs to be done so you can be a MasterChef in your own right.&nbsp;

Bedtime for kids: Say goodnight and the Echo Show 10 transforms from an overeager employee to a calming best friend.&nbsp;Colours&nbsp;and lights are dimmed, lullabies are played and it's time to call it a night.&nbsp;

Should you buy it?&nbsp;

We've been here before. We've been wooed with a smart display and smart speaker all in one. But as someone who sees her son marvel at technology each day, I was sold when Alexa followed him around while he jumped to&nbsp;'Wheels on the&nbsp;Bus'&nbsp;and I got to catch a breath. At nearly Rs 25,000, it is an investment. Lockdowns have taught us that technology cannot just simplify our lives but also keep us engaged. So,&nbsp;go for this smart display and speaker if you have the budget. Be prepared for Alexa to follow you around.&nbsp;

Yup, you heard me right. The headline of this review isn't merely a clickbait but is actually accurate. Despite the debate around privacy, I have been a fan of smart home devices simply because of how they simplify my daily life.

Yup, you heard me right. The headline of this review isn't merely a clickbait but is actually accurate. Despite the debate around privacy, I have been a fan of smart home devices simply because of how they simplify my daily life. Trust me, if you are a working parent trying to navigate through the many monotonous yet imperative chores of the daily grind, you may forget about which app is tracking what as long as you can book you a cab, schedule an appointment, track a shopping order or even entertain your toddler while you try and squeeze in a workout to meet that lockdown goal. You can slot this under unpopular opinion. And the new Amazon Echo Show 10 can do all of it. Though priced high, it helps me get through the day, entertains my son and even helps me meet my daily calorie burn goal. Time to meet the latest Amazon Echo smart speaker, the Echo Show 10, which is priced at a jaw-dropping Rs 24,999. So, the question is, is it worth it? I say yes because if you're building a smart home and relying on technology to help make your life easier, this is an investment. Design Say hello to the biggest model in the product family. This one is heavy and takes pride in itself as it has smart display and speaker. Why do I say heavy? Because you'll need to mount it in a clutter-free space to accommodate its three-driver system that acts as a backbone but also provides booming sound. And here's the party trick, the motion sensor allows the screen to turn towards the voice command. So, if you're belting out orders from another corner of the kitchen to follow the recipe of a recent cooking experiment, the screen will follow you and a helpful Alexa will tell you what to do. The third gen smart display comes with a brilliant 1,280 X 800 pixels screen with a separate speaker attached at the back. And if you don't have enough space for the massive display to swivel around, simply turn off the motion sensor from the swipe down tab at the top. Remember, this heavy body needs to be connected to a power source at all times. I wouldn't let kids lift it up as it's bound to fall from nimble hands. If you're putting it on a counter top, get rid of all decorative items since this bad boy needs some space to move. For those with privacy concerns, you can turn off the camera from the buttons on the top. Display I loved watching content on the Echo Show 10's display. Only those with extremely high-end televisions will disagree. The sound quality and viewing experience leaves little room for any complaint. Alexa's know-how gets better with every upgrade and she knows what you want and therein lies the conundrum about voice assistants and their indelible footprint in our lives. Use the drop-in feature to make your home truly smart. Great for kids Are we still advocating zero screen time for kids when online classes have become an intrinsic part of our lives, even for children as young as three years old? Like I always say, these gadgets are built for children and are intuitive at best. My son knows what to play, when to play, how to play. I have thoroughly enjoyed teaching him some fundamentals from across the room with a simple, "Alexa, tell us about the planets in the Solar System!" Just make sure your child isn't too close to the screen because we need to be prudent while being creative. Pro Tips Try using the Toy Doctor skill on Alexa. The Kids' skills are more creative, fun to indulge in, and are more engaging for different age groups. If you have other smart gadgets, connect your smart bulbs, air purifiers and regulate your electricity bill. How I used Echo Show 10? I can regale you all with fancy specifications, tech jargon and even some gasp-worthy features in a review. Let us cut through the noise and talk about how you would use an expensive smart display such as this one in your daily life. Exercise: Given the compact space it occupies, you can plug it in any corner. The sound and display will push you to do those extra burpees, push-ups or squats depending on your punishment of choice. Cook up a storm: For cooks, this is a best friend. Alexa will follow your visual and audio cues and show you what needs to be done so you can be a MasterChef in your own right. Bedtime for kids: Say goodnight and the Echo Show 10 transforms from an overeager employee to a calming best friend. Colours and lights are dimmed, lullabies are played and it's time to call it a night. Should you buy it? We've been here before. We've been wooed with a smart display and smart speaker all in one. But as someone who sees her son marvel at technology each day, I was sold when Alexa followed him around while he jumped to 'Wheels on the Bus' and I got to catch a breath. At nearly Rs 25,000, it is an investment. Lockdowns have taught us that technology cannot just simplify our lives but also keep us engaged. So, go for this smart display and speaker if you have the budget. Be prepared for Alexa to follow you around.

Alexa can now follow you around  

Yup, you heard me right. The headline of this review isn't merely clickbait but is accurate. Despite the debate around privacy, I have been a fan of smart home devices simply because of how they simplify my daily life.&nbsp;

Trust me, if you're a working parent trying to navigate through the many monotonous yet imperative chores of the daily grind, you may forget about which app is tracking what as long as you it can book you a cab, schedule an appointment, track a shopping order or even entertain your toddler while you try and squeeze in a workout to meet that lockdown goal.&nbsp;

You can slot this under unpopular opinion.

And the new Amazon Echo Show 10 can do all of it. Though priced high, it helps me get through the day, entertains my son and even helps me meet my daily calorie burn goal.

Lo and behold the latest Amazon Echo smart speaker -- the Echo Show 10 -- which is priced at a jaw-dropping Rs 24,999. So the question is, is it worth it?

I say yes because if you're building a smart home and relying on technology to help you make life easier, this is an investment.

DESIGN

<img alt="Amazon Echo show" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3311ab8d-4821-4f0a-8cb5-f8712c7d4494" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/amazo.JPG" />

Say hello to the biggest model in the product family. This one is a heavy one and prides itself as a smart display and smart speaker in one. Why do I say heavy? Because you'll need to mount it in a clutter-free space to accommodate its three-driver system that acts as a backbone but also provides booming sound.

And here's the party trick -- the motion sensor allows the screen to turn towards the voice command. So if you're belting out orders from another corner of the kitchen to follow the recipe of a recent cooking experiment, the screen will follow you and a helpful Alexa will tell you what to do.

The 3rd Gen smart display comes with a brilliant 1,280 X 800 pixel screen with a separate speaker attached at the back. &nbsp;And if you don't have enough space for the massive display to swivel around, simply turn off the motion sensor from the swipe down tab at the top.&nbsp;

Remember, this heavy body needs to be connected to a power source at all times. I wouldn't let kids lift it up as it's bound to fall from nimble hands.&nbsp;

If you're putting it on a countertop, get rid of all decorative items since this bad boy needs some space to move. For those with privacy concerns, you can turn off the camera from the buttons on the top.

DISPLAY

<img alt="Amazon Echo Show" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="bad08014-762e-49ef-87cc-2c6cfae91ed2" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/amazon%20netflix_0.JPG" />

I loved watching content on the Echo Show 10's display. Only those with extremely high-end televisions will disagree. The sound quality and viewing experience leaves little room for complaint.&nbsp;

Alexa's know-how gets better with every upgrade and she knows what you want and therein lies the conundrum about voice assistants and their indelible footprint in our lives. Use the drop-in feature to make your home a true smart home.

GREAT FOR KIDS

<img alt="Amazon Echo Show" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="1ab179e2-c0e1-4528-a1bc-6aaae81676b8" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/kids.JPG" />

Are we still advocating zero screen time for kids when online classes have become an intrinsic part of all our lives, even for children as young as three years old? Like I always say, these gadgets are built for children and are intuitive at best. My son knows what to play, when to play, how to play.&nbsp;

I have thoroughly enjoyed teaching him some fundamentals from across the room with a simple, "Alexa, tell us about the planets in the Solar System!" Just make sure your child isn't too close to the screen because we need to be prudent while being creative.

PRO TIPS

<img alt="Amazon Echo Show" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a2142099-5adf-4deb-b120-2766d98bfd37" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Echo%20Show%2010_Privacy.jpg" />

Try using the Toy Doctor skill on Alexa. The Kids' skills are more creative, fun to indulge in, and are more engaging for different age groups. If you have other smart gadgets, connect your smart bulbs, air purifiers and regulate your electricity bill.

HOW I USED THE ECHO SHOW 10

<img alt="Amazon Echo Show" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d2d124bc-5a8e-4a6e-8ce6-935e4fa7984a" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/ama.JPG" />

I can regale you all with fancy specifications, tech jargon and even some gasp-worthy features in a review. Let us cut through the noise and talk about how you would use an expensive smart display such as this one in your daily life.

Exercise: Given the compact space it occupies, you can plug it in any corner. The sound and display will push you to do those extra burpees, push-ups or squats depending on your punishment of choice.

Cook up a storm: For cooks, this is a best friend. Alexa will follow your visual and audio cues and show you what needs to be done so you can be a MasterChef in your own right.

Bedtime for kids: Say goodnight and the Echo Show 10 transforms from an overeager employee to a calming best friend. Colours and lights are dimmed, lullabies are played and it's time to call it a night.

SHOULD YOU BUY IT?

We've been here before. We've been wooed with a smart display and smart speaker all in one. But as someone who sees her son marvel at technology each day, I was sold when Alexa followed him around while he jumped to "Wheels on the Bus" and I got to catch a breath. At nearly Rs 25,000, it is an investment.&nbsp;

Lockdowns have taught us that technology can not just simplify our lives but also keep us engaged. So go for this smart display and speaker if you have the budget. Be prepared for Alexa to follow you around.

Yup, you heard me right. The headline of this review isn't merely clickbait but is accurate. Despite the debate around privacy, I have been a fan of smart home devices simply because of how they simplify my daily life.

Yup, you heard me right. The headline of this review isn't merely clickbait but is accurate. Despite the debate around privacy, I have been a fan of smart home devices simply because of how they simplify my daily life. Trust me, if you're a working parent trying to navigate through the many monotonous yet imperative chores of the daily grind, you may forget about which app is tracking what as long as you it can book you a cab, schedule an appointment, track a shopping order or even entertain your toddler while you try and squeeze in a workout to meet that lockdown goal. You can slot this under unpopular opinion. And the new Amazon Echo Show 10 can do all of it. Though priced high, it helps me get through the day, entertains my son and even helps me meet my daily calorie burn goal. Lo and behold the latest Amazon Echo smart speaker -- the Echo Show 10 -- which is priced at a jaw-dropping Rs 24,999. So the question is, is it worth it? I say yes because if you're building a smart home and relying on technology to help you make life easier, this is an investment. DESIGN Say hello to the biggest model in the product family. This one is a heavy one and prides itself as a smart display and smart speaker in one. Why do I say heavy? Because you'll need to mount it in a clutter-free space to accommodate its three-driver system that acts as a backbone but also provides booming sound. And here's the party trick -- the motion sensor allows the screen to turn towards the voice command. So if you're belting out orders from another corner of the kitchen to follow the recipe of a recent cooking experiment, the screen will follow you and a helpful Alexa will tell you what to do. The 3rd Gen smart display comes with a brilliant 1,280 X 800 pixel screen with a separate speaker attached at the back. And if you don't have enough space for the massive display to swivel around, simply turn off the motion sensor from the swipe down tab at the top. Remember, this heavy body needs to be connected to a power source at all times. I wouldn't let kids lift it up as it's bound to fall from nimble hands. If you're putting it on a countertop, get rid of all decorative items since this bad boy needs some space to move. For those with privacy concerns, you can turn off the camera from the buttons on the top. DISPLAY I loved watching content on the Echo Show 10's display. Only those with extremely high-end televisions will disagree. The sound quality and viewing experience leaves little room for complaint. Alexa's know-how gets better with every upgrade and she knows what you want and therein lies the conundrum about voice assistants and their indelible footprint in our lives. Use the drop-in feature to make your home a true smart home. GREAT FOR KIDS Are we still advocating zero screen time for kids when online classes have become an intrinsic part of all our lives, even for children as young as three years old? Like I always say, these gadgets are built for children and are intuitive at best. My son knows what to play, when to play, how to play. I have thoroughly enjoyed teaching him some fundamentals from across the room with a simple, "Alexa, tell us about the planets in the Solar System!" Just make sure your child isn't too close to the screen because we need to be prudent while being creative. PRO TIPS Try using the Toy Doctor skill on Alexa. The Kids' skills are more creative, fun to indulge in, and are more engaging for different age groups. If you have other smart gadgets, connect your smart bulbs, air purifiers and regulate your electricity bill. HOW I USED THE ECHO SHOW 10 I can regale you all with fancy specifications, tech jargon and even some gasp-worthy features in a review. Let us cut through the noise and talk about how you would use an expensive smart display such as this one in your daily life. Exercise: Given the compact space it occupies, you can plug it in any corner. The sound and display will push you to do those extra burpees, push-ups or squats depending on your punishment of choice. Cook up a storm: For cooks, this is a best friend. Alexa will follow your visual and audio cues and show you what needs to be done so you can be a MasterChef in your own right. Bedtime for kids: Say goodnight and the Echo Show 10 transforms from an overeager employee to a calming best friend. Colours and lights are dimmed, lullabies are played and it's time to call it a night. SHOULD YOU BUY IT? We've been here before. We've been wooed with a smart display and smart speaker all in one. But as someone who sees her son marvel at technology each day, I was sold when Alexa followed him around while he jumped to "Wheels on the Bus" and I got to catch a breath. At nearly Rs 25,000, it is an investment. Lockdowns have taught us that technology can not just simplify our lives but also keep us engaged. So go for this smart display and speaker if you have the budget. Be prepared for Alexa to follow you around.

Alexa can now follow you around

The month of April will stand out for most of us in India. Loss, grief, pain, stress, anxiety and a terrible sense of doom. These are just some of the emotions that come to mind. For me, it was the month when my entire family, including my three-year-old son, tested positive.

Locked in a room, feverish and cranky, my son and I decided at some point that we were a team. And together, we would beat the Virus. As I stand recovered today, I count my blessings.&nbsp;

With nothing to do but have our daily vitamins, track our oxygen and pray to God that we come out of this, creativity went to the bin. Fun fact, children are resilient, they realise when they feel better and hop right back into their routine, energy up to the maximum levels! And here was I, the grumpy parent battling anxiety and of course, Covid-19 symptoms.

So how does one engage a toddler who can't go out, can't have ice cream, has to be given paracetamol at regular intervals, and has been isolated from all other members of his beloved family?&nbsp;

Enter, Alexa, my son's new best friend, at a time when social interaction with his peers is a distant memory.

I opened my all-new Amazon Echo Dot 4th Gen, a sturdy curve-ball that promised me a host of skills, some great sound and enhanced voice recognition.

This isn't a review to tell you how to use the Echo Dot but simply a testimony of how technology can help us beat the blues in more ways than one.

Once I connected it, it was almost as if my son had been reunited with a long-lost friend. You see, my son's generation has inherited technology so while I still have to learn the basics of how to use a gadget, he can simply get things going following intuition.&nbsp;

Coming to the Echo Dot, the design is compact and fits anywhere. You will need to connect it to a power source at all times. For optimum use, download the Amazon Alexa app to try out the new skills which cover a wide spectrum.

Through high and low-grade fever, my son and I kept spirits up by dancing to Bollywood songs, at times, Baby Shark and his recent favourite, The Lion King soundtrack. The speakers offer great sound and make the gadget ideal to listen to music or even enjoy a high-adrenalin workout.&nbsp;

Once we were out of isolation, we loved taking the Echo Dot to the terrace to dance to old classics. These moments, in times of doom and gloom, will always stay with me.

One of the most endearing moments was when my son said "Alexa, call Papa" and spoke to his Covid-positive father who was isolating on another floor. The drop-in feature makes Alexa-enabled devices two-way intercoms and enables room-to-room conversation. If you're wondering why not just pick up the phone, try telling a toddler that!

As I recovered, I also got creative. I used the Echo Dot as my alarm and sleep timer. As energy levels resumed, I worked out with the many fitness skills on the app.

Perhaps the only feature I didn't use was the Daily News bulletin because god knows, there was enough information and misinformation across all platforms.

All in all, if you have a toddler and are looking to engage him or her at a time when schools are going to be closed for a while, the Echo Dot 4th Gen offers quite a lot and can be yours currently at the price of Rs 3,899.

Another bonus is that there is no display here, so children can learn a thing or two without the dreaded screen time.

My favourite part? Getting some rest while my son jumped to "The Circle of Life" for the 20th time!

And at that moment, as the world crumbled around me, I thought, perhaps, This Too Shall Pass.

The month of April will stand out for most of us in India. Loss, grief, pain, stress, anxiety and a terrible sense of doom. These are just some of the emotions that come to mind.

The month of April will stand out for most of us in India. Loss, grief, pain, stress, anxiety and a terrible sense of doom. These are just some of the emotions that come to mind. For me, it was the month when my entire family, including my three-year-old son, tested positive. Locked in a room, feverish and cranky, my son and I decided at some point that we were a team. And together, we would beat the Virus. As I stand recovered today, I count my blessings. With nothing to do but have our daily vitamins, track our oxygen and pray to God that we come out of this, creativity went to the bin. Fun fact, children are resilient, they realise when they feel better and hop right back into their routine, energy up to the maximum levels! And here was I, the grumpy parent battling anxiety and of course, Covid-19 symptoms. So how does one engage a toddler who can't go out, can't have ice cream, has to be given paracetamol at regular intervals, and has been isolated from all other members of his beloved family? Enter, Alexa, my son's new best friend, at a time when social interaction with his peers is a distant memory. I opened my all-new Amazon Echo Dot 4th Gen, a sturdy curve-ball that promised me a host of skills, some great sound and enhanced voice recognition. This isn't a review to tell you how to use the Echo Dot but simply a testimony of how technology can help us beat the blues in more ways than one. Once I connected it, it was almost as if my son had been reunited with a long-lost friend. You see, my son's generation has inherited technology so while I still have to learn the basics of how to use a gadget, he can simply get things going following intuition. Coming to the Echo Dot, the design is compact and fits anywhere. You will need to connect it to a power source at all times. For optimum use, download the Amazon Alexa app to try out the new skills which cover a wide spectrum. Through high and low-grade fever, my son and I kept spirits up by dancing to Bollywood songs, at times, Baby Shark and his recent favourite, The Lion King soundtrack. The speakers offer great sound and make the gadget ideal to listen to music or even enjoy a high-adrenalin workout. Once we were out of isolation, we loved taking the Echo Dot to the terrace to dance to old classics. These moments, in times of doom and gloom, will always stay with me. One of the most endearing moments was when my son said "Alexa, call Papa" and spoke to his Covid-positive father who was isolating on another floor. The drop-in feature makes Alexa-enabled devices two-way intercoms and enables room-to-room conversation. If you're wondering why not just pick up the phone, try telling a toddler that! As I recovered, I also got creative. I used the Echo Dot as my alarm and sleep timer. As energy levels resumed, I worked out with the many fitness skills on the app. Perhaps the only feature I didn't use was the Daily News bulletin because god knows, there was enough information and misinformation across all platforms. All in all, if you have a toddler and are looking to engage him or her at a time when schools are going to be closed for a while, the Echo Dot 4th Gen offers quite a lot and can be yours currently at the price of Rs 3,899. Another bonus is that there is no display here, so children can learn a thing or two without the dreaded screen time. My favourite part? Getting some rest while my son jumped to "The Circle of Life" for the 20th time! And at that moment, as the world crumbled around me, I thought, perhaps, This Too Shall Pass.

'Alexa, keep me sane!'

In a year of many firsts, the Royal family of England, too, has decided to take the Christmas celebrations up a notch and let people from all corners of the world listen to the Royal message of the Queen.

To make life easier for people, the Royal family has decided to take a little help from technology and use Amazon's smart speaker, Alexa, to spread the Queen's Christmas Day broadcast.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-british-royals-select-happy-family-snapshots-for-their-christmas-cards-350306">British royals select happy family snapshots for their Christmas cards</a>

People all over the world can sim ask "Alexa, play the Queen's Christmas Day message" and the AI-trained speaker will play the recorded message.

This service, for the first time, will be available across all geographic boundaries and will be available for all devices set to English as the primary language — it can be British English, American, Canadian or Indian.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/barack-obama-shares-list-of-favourite-films-tv-shows-of-2020-350909">Barack Obama shares list of favourite films, TV shows of 2020</a>

The announcement was made by Amazon recently. "After a challenging year, millions of people from across the Commonwealth will be eagerly awaiting Her Majesty the Queen’s message on Christmas Day," said&nbsp;Eric King, the director of Alexa Europe. "By creating this world-first innovation, just as we did in 2012 with the release of the Queen’s Christmas speech on Kindle, we hope that even more people will be able to enjoy the uplifting words of Her Majesty."

This change has come as for the first time the Queen and&nbsp;Duke of Edinburgh will be staying at the Windsor Castle rather than spending Christmas at&nbsp;Sandringham in Norfolk. This will also be the first time the Royal couple will be celebrating Christmas alone, rather than inviting relatives over for a meal. The decision to keep the celebrations hushed has been taken to pay respects to the people who lost their lives and their loved ones to the deadly virus and to make sure the Royal family does not breach any set coronavirus guidelines.

A special arrangement has also been made for people who do not own Amazon's Alexa. Google Home owners can order "OK Google, play BBC Radio 4" at 3pm EST to listen to the Queen's Christmas cheer.

Queen's new dive into the technology comes decades after her first tweet in 2014 and her first televised Christmas broadcast in 1957 — which was welcomed with absolute cheer by the locals.

In a year of many firsts, the Royal family of England, too, has decided to take the Christmas celebrations up a notch and let people from all corners of the world listen to the Royal message of the Queen.

In a year of many firsts, the Royal family of England, too, has decided to take the Christmas celebrations up a notch and let people from all corners of the world listen to the Royal message of the Queen. To make life easier for people, the Royal family has decided to take a little help from technology and use Amazon's smart speaker, Alexa, to spread the Queen's Christmas Day broadcast. Also read| British royals select happy family snapshots for their Christmas cards People all over the world can sim ask "Alexa, play the Queen's Christmas Day message" and the AI-trained speaker will play the recorded message. This service, for the first time, will be available across all geographic boundaries and will be available for all devices set to English as the primary language — it can be British English, American, Canadian or Indian. Also read| Barack Obama shares list of favourite films, TV shows of 2020 The announcement was made by Amazon recently. "After a challenging year, millions of people from across the Commonwealth will be eagerly awaiting Her Majesty the Queen’s message on Christmas Day," said Eric King, the director of Alexa Europe. "By creating this world-first innovation, just as we did in 2012 with the release of the Queen’s Christmas speech on Kindle, we hope that even more people will be able to enjoy the uplifting words of Her Majesty." This change has come as for the first time the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh will be staying at the Windsor Castle rather than spending Christmas at Sandringham in Norfolk. This will also be the first time the Royal couple will be celebrating Christmas alone, rather than inviting relatives over for a meal. The decision to keep the celebrations hushed has been taken to pay respects to the people who lost their lives and their loved ones to the deadly virus and to make sure the Royal family does not breach any set coronavirus guidelines. A special arrangement has also been made for people who do not own Amazon's Alexa. Google Home owners can order "OK Google, play BBC Radio 4" at 3pm EST to listen to the Queen's Christmas cheer. Queen's new dive into the technology comes decades after her first tweet in 2014 and her first televised Christmas broadcast in 1957 — which was welcomed with absolute cheer by the locals.

'Alexa, play Royal message': Amazon's smart speaker to spread Queen Elizabeth's Christmas message

If you think your cat is trying to tell you something, you now might have a way to understand&nbsp;its meows. A former Alexa developer has launched an app that can help the cat parents.

The app called&nbsp;MeowTalk&nbsp;records the sounds of cats and then attempts to identify the meaning of these meows. These meanings will then be fed in a database for the AI software from which the developers can learn.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tiny-traveler-owl-saved-from-rockefeller-center-christmas-tree-in-new-york-344040" hreflang="en">Tiny traveler: Owl saved from Rockefeller Center Christmas tree in New York</a>

As of now, the developers have 13 phrases in its vocabulary such as "Feed me!", "I'm angry!" and "Leave me alone!".

"I think this is especially important now because, with all the social distancing that's happening, you have people that are confined at home with ... a significant other - this feline," said&nbsp;Javier Sanchez,&nbsp;group technical program manager at app developer Akvelon.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/training-facial-recognition-on-some-new-furry-friends-bears-343019" hreflang="en">Training facial recognition on some new furry friends: Bears</a>

"This will enable them to communicate with their cat, or at least understand their cat's intent, and build a very important connection," he added.

The app is still in the development phase and the developers have advised all users who are "concerned about data retention" to uninstall the app till they are able to meet EU's GDPR privacy law requirements.

The cat behaviourists and developers have all warned the users to not to take the app too seriously as the translations will, reportedly, never be accurate.

As of now, the app has ratings between 4.3-4.5, with mixed reviews.

If you think your cat is trying to tell you something, you now might have a way to understand its meows. A former Alexa developer has launched an app that can help the cat parents.

If you think your cat is trying to tell you something, you now might have a way to understand its meows. A former Alexa developer has launched an app that can help the cat parents. The app called MeowTalk records the sounds of cats and then attempts to identify the meaning of these meows. These meanings will then be fed in a database for the AI software from which the developers can learn. Also read| Tiny traveler: Owl saved from Rockefeller Center Christmas tree in New York As of now, the developers have 13 phrases in its vocabulary such as "Feed me!", "I'm angry!" and "Leave me alone!". "I think this is especially important now because, with all the social distancing that's happening, you have people that are confined at home with ... a significant other - this feline," said Javier Sanchez, group technical program manager at app developer Akvelon. Also read| Training facial recognition on some new furry friends: Bears "This will enable them to communicate with their cat, or at least understand their cat's intent, and build a very important connection," he added. The app is still in the development phase and the developers have advised all users who are "concerned about data retention" to uninstall the app till they are able to meet EU's GDPR privacy law requirements. The cat behaviourists and developers have all warned the users to not to take the app too seriously as the translations will, reportedly, never be accurate. As of now, the app has ratings between 4.3-4.5, with mixed reviews.

'Feed me!': You can now understand your cat through MeowTalk app

Amazon is extending the feature of ‘Hindi language’ support for Alexa voice assistant. Amazon Alexa is easily available on Echo Dot, Echo Plus and more from where it can be used to gain information and entertainment of various genres.

Amazon India's smart assistant Alexa completed one year of its existence, and will now available be on both Android and iOS smartphones in the country from Monday. The customers can now interact with Alexa in Hindi using the Alexa app on their mobile devices.

Alexa in Hindi can be experienced on the entire Amazon Echo range of smart speakers, Alexa built-in devices by other brands, the company said.

Alexa can now understand 50 different ways to play a particular song in Hindi. Amazon has also added six new Alexa original songs and poems, along with 20 new stories in Hindi.

Alexa now has a special message for all users in India. Just ask "Alexa, hamari dosti par poem sunao".

The company said that Alexa is now equipped with hundreds of new words from the Hindi vocabulary, and is also able to understand different ways in which customers can ask for the same information.

At the launch last year, Amazon had over 500 Hindi skills. Today, it has over 1,000 Hindi Skills, including Audible Suno, Ramayan Katha, Devotional Stories by Hungama, Shilpa Shetty Yoga, Jungle Safari, Kabir's Dohe, Rekhta, Hindi Jokes and so on. 
&nbsp;

Amazon is extending the feature of ‘Hindi language’ support for Alexa voice assistant. Amazon Alexa is easily available on Echo Dot, Echo Plus and more from where it can be used to gain information and entertainment of various genres.

Amazon is extending the feature of ‘Hindi language’ support for Alexa voice assistant. Amazon Alexa is easily available on Echo Dot, Echo Plus and more from where it can be used to gain information and entertainment of various genres. Amazon India's smart assistant Alexa completed one year of its existence, and will now available be on both Android and iOS smartphones in the country from Monday. The customers can now interact with Alexa in Hindi using the Alexa app on their mobile devices. Alexa in Hindi can be experienced on the entire Amazon Echo range of smart speakers, Alexa built-in devices by other brands, the company said. Alexa can now understand 50 different ways to play a particular song in Hindi. Amazon has also added six new Alexa original songs and poems, along with 20 new stories in Hindi. Alexa now has a special message for all users in India. Just ask "Alexa, hamari dosti par poem sunao". The company said that Alexa is now equipped with hundreds of new words from the Hindi vocabulary, and is also able to understand different ways in which customers can ask for the same information. At the launch last year, Amazon had over 500 Hindi skills. Today, it has over 1,000 Hindi Skills, including Audible Suno, Ramayan Katha, Devotional Stories by Hungama, Shilpa Shetty Yoga, Jungle Safari, Kabir's Dohe, Rekhta, Hindi Jokes and so on.

Alexa in Hindi turns one; now available on smartphones in India

The Amazon Echo Auto is claimed to make your driving experience absolutely hands-free, but does it deliver?

Alexa voice assistant for cars: Hit or miss? | Tech It Out

Alexa voice assistant for cars: Hit or miss? Tech It Out

There are some words that might be switching on your AI systems that you might not be aware of. A group of researchers&nbsp;have compiled a list of nearly 1,000 words that can "accidentally" activate Amazon's Alexa and Apple's Siri.

The researchers are from&nbsp;Ruhr-Universität Bochum and the Max Planck Institute for Cyber Security and Privacy in Germany.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/ceos-of-apple-amazon-facebook-and-google-to-testify-in-congress-over-antitrust-issues-310090">Also read|&nbsp;CEOs of Apple, Amazon, Facebook and Google to testify in Congress over antitrust issues</a>

The study was conducted on&nbsp;Amazon's Alexa, Apple's Siri, Google Assistant, Microsoft Cortana, as well as three virtual assistants exclusive to the Chinese market, from Xiaomi, Baidu, and Tencent, according to a report from the Ruhr-Universität Bochum news blog.

The researchers conducted the study by switching on the virtual assistants and leaving them alone in a room with a television playing episodes from several series and sitcoms such as&nbsp;Game of Thrones, Modern Family, and House of Cards, with English, German, and Chinese audio tracks for each.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/tik-tok-removed-from-apples-app-store-and-google-play-after-govts-ban-309558">Also read|&nbsp;Tik Tok removed from Apple's App store and Google Play after govt's ban</a>

On playing these episodes, some words activated the system, which the researchers observed by the&nbsp;switching on of&nbsp;an LED light display. The team cross referenced the dialogue being spoken every time they observed the LED display turning on.

Once the assistants get&nbsp;activated by these words, the devices&nbsp;use local speech analysis software to determine if the sound was used with the purpose of activation or not. If the device concludes that the sound was a trigger, it sends&nbsp;an audio recording of several seconds to cloud servers for additional analysis.

Privacy concerns

While the researchers said that the developers might have used an array of words for activation to make things easier for the users, it does raise serious privacy concerns about this.

"The devices are intentionally programmed in a somewhat forgiving manner, because they are supposed to be able to understand their humans. Therefore, they are more likely to start up once too often rather than not at all," researcher Dorothea Kolossa said.

"From a privacy point of view, this is of course alarming, because sometimes very private conversations can end up with strangers.&nbsp;From an engineering point of view, however, this approach is quite understandable, because the systems can only be improved using such data. The manufacturers have to strike a balance between data protection and technical optimization," said&nbsp;Thorsten Holz, Professor at&nbsp;Ruhr-Universität Bochum.

There are some words that might be switching on your AI systems that you might not be aware of. A group of researchers have compiled a list of nearly 1,000 words that can "accidentally" activate Amazon's Alexa and Apple's Siri.

There are some words that might be switching on your AI systems that you might not be aware of. A group of researchers have compiled a list of nearly 1,000 words that can "accidentally" activate Amazon's Alexa and Apple's Siri. The researchers are from Ruhr-Universität Bochum and the Max Planck Institute for Cyber Security and Privacy in Germany. Also read| CEOs of Apple, Amazon, Facebook and Google to testify in Congress over antitrust issues The study was conducted on Amazon's Alexa, Apple's Siri, Google Assistant, Microsoft Cortana, as well as three virtual assistants exclusive to the Chinese market, from Xiaomi, Baidu, and Tencent, according to a report from the Ruhr-Universität Bochum news blog. The researchers conducted the study by switching on the virtual assistants and leaving them alone in a room with a television playing episodes from several series and sitcoms such as Game of Thrones, Modern Family, and House of Cards, with English, German, and Chinese audio tracks for each. Also read| Tik Tok removed from Apple's App store and Google Play after govt's ban On playing these episodes, some words activated the system, which the researchers observed by the switching on of an LED light display. The team cross referenced the dialogue being spoken every time they observed the LED display turning on. Once the assistants get activated by these words, the devices use local speech analysis software to determine if the sound was used with the purpose of activation or not. If the device concludes that the sound was a trigger, it sends an audio recording of several seconds to cloud servers for additional analysis. Privacy concerns While the researchers said that the developers might have used an array of words for activation to make things easier for the users, it does raise serious privacy concerns about this. "The devices are intentionally programmed in a somewhat forgiving manner, because they are supposed to be able to understand their humans. Therefore, they are more likely to start up once too often rather than not at all," researcher Dorothea Kolossa said. "From a privacy point of view, this is of course alarming, because sometimes very private conversations can end up with strangers. From an engineering point of view, however, this approach is quite understandable, because the systems can only be improved using such data. The manufacturers have to strike a balance between data protection and technical optimization," said Thorsten Holz, Professor at Ruhr-Universität Bochum.

Researchers find 1,000 words that 'accidentally' activate Alexa, Siri and Google

Digital assistance made by tech giants like Amazon, Apple, and Google has been updated after the 'Black Lives Matter' movement. Watch report.

Siri, Alexa, respond to whether black lives matter

Though the advancements made by humans in the past decade and the convenience afforded to us by technology may be an irrefutable fact, conversations regarding the way we feel about certain devices continue to raise eyebrows.

A major aspect of this topic is Alexa, a virtual assistant who can be contacted via smart speakers. According to reports, 2019 saw a shocking spike in the frequency of interactions between Indian consumers and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/amazons-alexa-recorded-a-couples-private-conversation-and-sent-it-to-random-people--139748">Amazon</a>'s <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/amazons-smart-assistant-device-alexa-scaring-users-with-creepy-laugh-35253">AI </a>assistant.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/amazons-alexa-recorded-a-couples-private-conversation-and-sent-it-to-random-people--139748">Amazon's Alexa recorded a couple's private conversation and sent it to random people</a>

According to reports from Amazon, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/amazons-alexa-recorded-a-couples-private-conversation-and-sent-it-to-random-people--139748">Alexa </a>has been declared the "most eligible bachelorette of 2019 in India," as of 2019. Some of the most frequently asked questioned were recently made public by the IT giant.

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Watch | Indians say 'I love you Alexa' once every minute 
 
'Will you marry me?' is asked by Indian users every second minute<a href="https://twitter.com/krishnaksays?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@krishnaksays</a> decodes this interesting report <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Alexa?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Alexa</a> <a href="https://t.co/TrKZv8YXTC">pic.twitter.com/TrKZv8YXTC</a>
— WION (@WIONews) <a href="https://twitter.com/WIONews/status/1225381121203920896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Though it may not be as baffling to know that weekly interaction with the AI numbers in the millions, it is a little concerning to know that a majority of Indians say the words "I love you" to their smart speaker once every 60 seconds. Indian users were also recorded asking <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/amazons-smart-assistant-device-alexa-scaring-users-with-creepy-laugh-35253">Alexa </a>"Will you marry me?" at least once every second minute.&nbsp;

Also see:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/is-siri-or-alexa-making-us-impolite-243931#survey-to-uncover-facts-243902">Is Siri or Alexa making us impolite?</a>

Perhaps after not getting a response due to the AI's limited responses and the fact that it is nothing more than binary digits, users asked "How are you?" at least 8 times every minute.

Many users were also recorded speaking to Alexa in a vernacular tongue, asking the AI "Alexa, kaisi ho?" 3 times every minute. The incorporation of Hindi into the AI was a move made by <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/amazons-alexa-recorded-a-couples-private-conversation-and-sent-it-to-random-people--139748">Amazon </a>to better serve such a large consumer base.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/amazons-smart-assistant-device-alexa-scaring-users-with-creepy-laugh-35253">Amazon's smart assistant Alexa scaring users with 'creepy laugh'</a>

Whenever Alexa is not being pummelled by a barrage of romantic queries, it is being asked to play songs for its audience from a variety of genres. Over 1,000 songs per minute was the record as of 2019, with songs such as the Hanuman Chalisa, Baby Shark, and Lamborghini being the top three.

Citing data from 2019, Alexa has imparted cooking skills and instructions on a plethora of cuisines from all corners of India, if not the world. Over 1,000 people consulted <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/is-siri-or-alexa-making-us-impolite-243931#survey-to-uncover-facts-243902">Alexa </a>for cooking purposes every day last year, and at least one Hindi folk tale was read by <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/amazons-smart-assistant-device-alexa-scaring-users-with-creepy-laugh-35253">Alexa </a>every minute in the same year.

Echo Show 8 is the new product being launched by <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/is-siri-or-alexa-making-us-impolite-243931#survey-to-uncover-facts-243902">Amazon</a>, which will start shipping in the country from February 26. It has an 8-inch HD screen, built-in camera with shutter and stereo sound output. Though the price for Amazon's latest contraption currently rests at ₹12,999, discounts of about ₹8,999 are being availed at e-commerce sites.

Though the advancements made by humans in the past decade and the convenience afforded to us by technology may be an irrefutable fact, conversations regarding the way we feel about certain devices continue to raise eyebrows.

Though the advancements made by humans in the past decade and the convenience afforded to us by technology may be an irrefutable fact, conversations regarding the way we feel about certain devices continue to raise eyebrows. A major aspect of this topic is Alexa, a virtual assistant who can be contacted via smart speakers. According to reports, 2019 saw a shocking spike in the frequency of interactions between Indian consumers and Amazon's AI assistant. Also read: Amazon's Alexa recorded a couple's private conversation and sent it to random people According to reports from Amazon, Alexa has been declared the "most eligible bachelorette of 2019 in India," as of 2019. Some of the most frequently asked questioned were recently made public by the IT giant. Watch | Indians say 'I love you Alexa' once every minute 'Will you marry me?' is asked by Indian users every second minute@krishnaksays decodes this interesting report #Alexa pic.twitter.com/TrKZv8YXTC — WION (@WIONews) February 6, 2020 × Though it may not be as baffling to know that weekly interaction with the AI numbers in the millions, it is a little concerning to know that a majority of Indians say the words "I love you" to their smart speaker once every 60 seconds. Indian users were also recorded asking Alexa "Will you marry me?" at least once every second minute. Also see: Is Siri or Alexa making us impolite? Perhaps after not getting a response due to the AI's limited responses and the fact that it is nothing more than binary digits, users asked "How are you?" at least 8 times every minute. Many users were also recorded speaking to Alexa in a vernacular tongue, asking the AI "Alexa, kaisi ho?" 3 times every minute. The incorporation of Hindi into the AI was a move made by Amazon to better serve such a large consumer base. Also read: Amazon's smart assistant Alexa scaring users with 'creepy laugh' Whenever Alexa is not being pummelled by a barrage of romantic queries, it is being asked to play songs for its audience from a variety of genres. Over 1,000 songs per minute was the record as of 2019, with songs such as the Hanuman Chalisa, Baby Shark, and Lamborghini being the top three. Citing data from 2019, Alexa has imparted cooking skills and instructions on a plethora of cuisines from all corners of India, if not the world. Over 1,000 people consulted Alexa for cooking purposes every day last year, and at least one Hindi folk tale was read by Alexa every minute in the same year. Echo Show 8 is the new product being launched by Amazon, which will start shipping in the country from February 26. It has an 8-inch HD screen, built-in camera with shutter and stereo sound output. Though the price for Amazon's latest contraption currently rests at ₹12,999, discounts of about ₹8,999 are being availed at e-commerce sites.

From 'I love you' per minute to 'Will you marry me' every second minute: What Alexa dealt with in India

&nbsp;Amazon.com Inc on Wednesday said actor Samuel L&nbsp;Jackson and other celebrities will voice speech for the company's virtual assistant Alexa, while the voice aid will also be built into a new wearable line of earbuds, eyeglasses and a ring.

The news, along with announcements of a new range of voice-controlled Echo speakers, a multilingual mode for Alexa and an additional privacy feature for deleting voice recordings regularly, underscores the investment the world's largest online retailer is putting into voice-controlled computing, a new area of technology in which it is competing against Alphabet Inc's&nbsp;Google Assistant and Apple Inc's&nbsp;Siri.

Amazon's celebrity voice feature will cost $0.99, Senior Vice President David Limp said at an event in Seattle. Jackson's is the only celebrity voice Amazon has disclosed so far.

In a new push, the company introduced a lineup of wearables, including the Echo Frames, eyeglasses that allow customers to communicate with Alexa as they walk around.

Limp said the frames are designed so that only those wearing them can hear Alexa talk. They do not include a visual display, distinguishing them from Google Glass, which is marketed toward enterprise customers.

The new "Echo Buds" come with noise reduction technology from Bose, Limp said.

Since Amazon announced its first Echo speaker in 2014, shoppers have purchased more than 100 million devices that come with Alexa, including microwaves, vacuum cleaners and even cars.

That has given the company the biggest market share for voice speakers among its rivals, according to research firm eMarketer.

Yet customers have been slow to adopt the growing range of tasks that Alexa can perform, often sticking to basic hands-free functions like directing the assistant to play music, set cooking timers or report the weather.

That may have underscored Amazon's calculus for courting celebrities to encourage users to turn to Alexa for a wider range of interactions.

The company on Wednesday also announced a deal with the Food Network television channel under which users of its Echo Show device, which includes a screen display, can tune in to celebrity chef Bobby Flay for inspiration on what to cook.

"I can get to be in basically any kitchen in the world, anywhere in the world," Flay said in a live promotional demo for the partnership.

Amazon announced an update to its Echo Show, as well as new devices like the Echo Studio, Echo Glow and the Echo Flex.

Amazon.com Inc on Wednesday said actor Samuel L Jackson and other celebrities will voice speech for the company's virtual assistant Alexa, while the voice aid will also be built into a new wearable line of earbuds, eyeglasses and a ring.

Amazon.com Inc on Wednesday said actor Samuel L Jackson and other celebrities will voice speech for the company's virtual assistant Alexa, while the voice aid will also be built into a new wearable line of earbuds, eyeglasses and a ring. The news, along with announcements of a new range of voice-controlled Echo speakers, a multilingual mode for Alexa and an additional privacy feature for deleting voice recordings regularly, underscores the investment the world's largest online retailer is putting into voice-controlled computing, a new area of technology in which it is competing against Alphabet Inc's Google Assistant and Apple Inc's Siri. Amazon's celebrity voice feature will cost $0.99, Senior Vice President David Limp said at an event in Seattle. Jackson's is the only celebrity voice Amazon has disclosed so far. In a new push, the company introduced a lineup of wearables, including the Echo Frames, eyeglasses that allow customers to communicate with Alexa as they walk around. Limp said the frames are designed so that only those wearing them can hear Alexa talk. They do not include a visual display, distinguishing them from Google Glass, which is marketed toward enterprise customers. The new "Echo Buds" come with noise reduction technology from Bose, Limp said. Since Amazon announced its first Echo speaker in 2014, shoppers have purchased more than 100 million devices that come with Alexa, including microwaves, vacuum cleaners and even cars. That has given the company the biggest market share for voice speakers among its rivals, according to research firm eMarketer. Yet customers have been slow to adopt the growing range of tasks that Alexa can perform, often sticking to basic hands-free functions like directing the assistant to play music, set cooking timers or report the weather. That may have underscored Amazon's calculus for courting celebrities to encourage users to turn to Alexa for a wider range of interactions. The company on Wednesday also announced a deal with the Food Network television channel under which users of its Echo Show device, which includes a screen display, can tune in to celebrity chef Bobby Flay for inspiration on what to cook. "I can get to be in basically any kitchen in the world, anywhere in the world," Flay said in a live promotional demo for the partnership. Amazon announced an update to its Echo Show, as well as new devices like the Echo Studio, Echo Glow and the Echo Flex.

Amazon brings Samuel L Jackson's voice to Alexa and announces voice-controlled glasses

Is Siri or Alexa making us impolite?

A school in Maharashtra's capital Mumbai has introduced a virtual teacher to its students. The 'robo-teacher', as students fondly call it, teaches them mathematics, science and languages.

The teacher interacts with students through a voice interface and answers their questions ranging from weather updates to general information.

The 'robo-teacher' is a hit with students; the attendance record has actually improved as students are excited to come back with questions.

The novel idea to introduce a voice interface enabled teacher is the brainchild of a teacher, Pooja Sankhe. She introduced the virtual assistant almost a year ago, at Ramakrishna Paramhans Marathi school run by BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

"I am always keen to incorporate new ways into my teaching, and the virtual teacher does exactly that. Students are learning questioning skills and researching to come up with new questions. This is also an attempt to improve their English language skills," she told WION.

Sankhe got the idea of creating this teacher after using Amazon's voice assistant Alexa. She merged the voice interface with a mannequin to give education a scientific touch.&nbsp;

She adds, "other government&nbsp;schools in the city have also got in touch with me to create their virtual teacher. Each virtual assistant comes at a cost of rupees ten thousand, which includes the Alexa device and externally sourced mannequin."

In 2018, Pooja Sankhe was honoured with the Best teacher award for her novel contribution to school education.

Civic schools in India offer subsidised education to all sections of society. They cater to a large number of students in modest set-ups. But one of the biggest problems they face is low attendance.

The "robo-teacher"&nbsp;aims to change that. Sankhe's idea has caught the attention of many government schools in Maharashtra; they are turning to virtual teaching to aid traditional curriculum. And excited students are eager to use this technology in their course of learning.

A school in Maharashtra's capital Mumbai has introduced a virtual teacher to its students. The 'robo-teacher', as students fondly call it, teaches them mathematics, science and languages.

A school in Maharashtra's capital Mumbai has introduced a virtual teacher to its students. The 'robo-teacher', as students fondly call it, teaches them mathematics, science and languages. The teacher interacts with students through a voice interface and answers their questions ranging from weather updates to general information. The 'robo-teacher' is a hit with students; the attendance record has actually improved as students are excited to come back with questions. The novel idea to introduce a voice interface enabled teacher is the brainchild of a teacher, Pooja Sankhe. She introduced the virtual assistant almost a year ago, at Ramakrishna Paramhans Marathi school run by BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). "I am always keen to incorporate new ways into my teaching, and the virtual teacher does exactly that. Students are learning questioning skills and researching to come up with new questions. This is also an attempt to improve their English language skills," she told WION. Sankhe got the idea of creating this teacher after using Amazon's voice assistant Alexa. She merged the voice interface with a mannequin to give education a scientific touch. She adds, "other government schools in the city have also got in touch with me to create their virtual teacher. Each virtual assistant comes at a cost of rupees ten thousand, which includes the Alexa device and externally sourced mannequin." In 2018, Pooja Sankhe was honoured with the Best teacher award for her novel contribution to school education. Civic schools in India offer subsidised education to all sections of society. They cater to a large number of students in modest set-ups. But one of the biggest problems they face is low attendance. The "robo-teacher" aims to change that. Sankhe's idea has caught the attention of many government schools in Maharashtra; they are turning to virtual teaching to aid traditional curriculum. And excited students are eager to use this technology in their course of learning.

Mumbai's Alexa-inspired 'robo-teacher' excites students, answers questions on weather to general information

Amazon's popular voice assistant Alexa recorded a couple's conversation in Portland, Oregon two weeks ago and send it to random people in its contact list.&nbsp;

The couple said they were shocked when they found out that it had been recording their conversations without them knowing. The first audio file was sent to a person in Seattle.&nbsp;

The woman with Amazon devices across her home received a call two weeks ago from her husband's employee, who said Alexa had recorded the family's conversation about hardwood floors and sent it to him.&nbsp;

"I felt invaded," the woman, only identified as Danielle, said in the report. "A total privacy invasion. Immediately I said, 'I'm never plugging that device in again because I can't trust it.'"&nbsp;

Amazon confirmed the incident and explained how it was an "unlikely&nbsp;string of events" that resulted in Alexa sending the audio clips to random people rather than Alexa spying on users.&nbsp;

Alexa, which comes with Echo speakers and other gadgets, starts recording after it hears its name or another "wake word" selected by users. This means that an utterance quite like Alexa, even from a TV commercial, can activate a device.&nbsp;

"Echo woke up due to a word in background conversation sounding like 'Alexa.' Then, the subsequent conversation was heard as a 'send message' request," Amazon said in a statement.&nbsp;

"Subsequent conversation was heard as a 'send message' request," the company added. "At which point, Alexa said out loud 'To whom?' At which point, the background conversation was interpreted as a name in the customer's contact list."

The Echo only confirms a contact name if there are multiple people in an address book with the same or similar sounding names.&nbsp;

Amazon added, "We are evaluating options to make this case even less likely." Assuring customers that Alexa's security is crucial to Amazon, which has ambitions for Alexa to be ubiquitous - whether dimming the lights for customers or placing orders for them with the world's largest online retailer.&nbsp;

University researchers from Berkeley and Georgetown found in a 2016 paper that sounds unintelligible to humans can set off voice assistants in general, which raised concerns of exploitation by attackers. Amazon did not immediately comment on the matter, but it previously told The New York Times that it has taken steps to keep its devices secure.&nbsp;

The woman with Amazon devices across her home received a call two weeks ago from her husband's employee, who said Alexa had recorded the family's conversation about hardwood floors and sent it to him

Amazon's popular voice assistant Alexa recorded a couple's conversation in Portland, Oregon two weeks ago and send it to random people in its contact list. The couple said they were shocked when they found out that it had been recording their conversations without them knowing. The first audio file was sent to a person in Seattle. The woman with Amazon devices across her home received a call two weeks ago from her husband's employee, who said Alexa had recorded the family's conversation about hardwood floors and sent it to him. "I felt invaded," the woman, only identified as Danielle, said in the report. "A total privacy invasion. Immediately I said, 'I'm never plugging that device in again because I can't trust it.'" Amazon confirmed the incident and explained how it was an "unlikely string of events" that resulted in Alexa sending the audio clips to random people rather than Alexa spying on users. Alexa, which comes with Echo speakers and other gadgets, starts recording after it hears its name or another "wake word" selected by users. This means that an utterance quite like Alexa, even from a TV commercial, can activate a device. "Echo woke up due to a word in background conversation sounding like 'Alexa.' Then, the subsequent conversation was heard as a 'send message' request," Amazon said in a statement. "Subsequent conversation was heard as a 'send message' request," the company added. "At which point, Alexa said out loud 'To whom?' At which point, the background conversation was interpreted as a name in the customer's contact list." The Echo only confirms a contact name if there are multiple people in an address book with the same or similar sounding names. Amazon added, "We are evaluating options to make this case even less likely." Assuring customers that Alexa's security is crucial to Amazon, which has ambitions for Alexa to be ubiquitous - whether dimming the lights for customers or placing orders for them with the world's largest online retailer. University researchers from Berkeley and Georgetown found in a 2016 paper that sounds unintelligible to humans can set off voice assistants in general, which raised concerns of exploitation by attackers. Amazon did not immediately comment on the matter, but it previously told The New York Times that it has taken steps to keep its devices secure.

Amazon's Alexa recorded a couple's private conversation and sent it to random people

Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook said on Monday that Amazon Prime Video would be available on Apple TV and other Apple devices starting later this year.

Apple has about 50 media partners that supply content to its Apple TV and on the television app on its popular iPhone. But Amazon&#39;s service, which includes hit shows like &quot;Transparent,&quot; has been a notable absence from Apple&#39;s hardware.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/science-tech/apple-debuts-homepod-speaker-to-take-on-amazon-google-16472">Also read: Apple debuts HomePod speaker to take on Amazon, Google</a>

CEO Tim Cook also used the Apple keynote to show off new iPad and Mac computer models, as well as provide glimpses at coming versions of the software powering the technology titan&#39;s devices.

Apple senior vice president of software engineering Craig Federighi said the next Mac operating system will be named &quot;High Sierra&quot; in tribute to the California mountain range.

High Sierra features will include being able to stop unexpected videos from starting to play automatically when landing on web pages and &quot;intelligent tracking prevention&quot; that will prevent ads from following people about the internet.

High Sierra will be released later this year as a free update, according to Federighi.

(WION with inputs from agencies)

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Apple has about 50 media partners that supply content to its Apple TV and on the television app on its popular iPhone.

Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook said on Monday that Amazon Prime Video would be available on Apple TV and other Apple devices starting later this year. Apple has about 50 media partners that supply content to its Apple TV and on the television app on its popular iPhone. But Amazon's service, which includes hit shows like "Transparent," has been a notable absence from Apple's hardware. Also read: Apple debuts HomePod speaker to take on Amazon, Google CEO Tim Cook also used the Apple keynote to show off new iPad and Mac computer models, as well as provide glimpses at coming versions of the software powering the technology titan's devices. Apple senior vice president of software engineering Craig Federighi said the next Mac operating system will be named "High Sierra" in tribute to the California mountain range. High Sierra features will include being able to stop unexpected videos from starting to play automatically when landing on web pages and "intelligent tracking prevention" that will prevent ads from following people about the internet. High Sierra will be released later this year as a free update, according to Federighi. (WION with inputs from agencies)

WWDC 2017: Amazon Prime Video coming to Apple devices

Apple is expected to announce plans next week to make its Siri voice assistant work with a larger variety of apps, as the technology company looks to counter the runaway success of Amazon&#39;s competing Alexa service.

But the Cupertino, California company is likely to stick to its tested method of focusing on a small amount of features and trying to perfect them, rather than casting as wide a net as possible, according to engineers and artificial intelligence industry insiders.

Currently, Apple&#39;s Siri works with only six types of apps - ride-hailing and sharing; messaging and calling; photo search; payments; fitness; and auto infotainment systems. At the company&#39;s annual developer conference next week, it is expected to add to those categories.

Some industry-watchers have also predicted Apple will announce hardware similar to Amazon&#39;s Echo device for the home, which has been a hot-seller recently. Apple declined comment.

But even if Siri doubles its areas of expertise, it will be a far cry from the 12,000 or so tasks that Amazon&#39;s Alexa can handle.

The difference illustrates a strategic divide between the two tech rivals. Apple is betting that customers will not use voice commands without an experience similar to speaking with a human, and so it is limiting what Siri can do in order to make sure it works well.

Amazon puts no such restrictions on Alexa, wagering that the voice assistant with the most &quot;skills,&quot; its term for apps on its Echo assistant devices, will gain a loyal following, even if it sometimes makes mistakes and takes more effort to use.

The clash of approaches is coming to a head as virtual assistants that respond to voice commands become a priority for the leading tech companies, which want to find new ways of engaging customers and make more money from shopping and online services.

Path to the money

Now, an iPhone user can say, &quot;Hey Siri, I&#39;d like a ride to the airport&quot; or &quot;Hey Siri, order me a car,&quot; and Siri will open the Uber or Lyft ride service app and start booking a trip.

Apart from some basic home and music functions, Alexa needs more specific directions, using a limited set of commands such as &quot;ask&quot; or &quot;tell.&quot; For example, &quot;Alexa, ask Uber for a ride,&quot; will start the process of summoning a car, but &quot;Alexa, order me an Uber&quot; will not, because Alexa does not make the connection that it should open the Uber &quot;skill.&quot;

After some setup, Alexa can order a pizza from Domino&#39;s, while Siri cannot get a pie because food delivery is not - so far - one of the categories of apps that Apple has opened up to Siri.

&quot;In typical Apple fashion, they&#39;ve allowed for only a few use cases, but they do them very well,&quot; said Charles Jolley, chief executive of Ozlo, maker of an intelligent assistant app.

Apple spokeswoman Trudy Muller said the company does not comment on its plans for developers. 
Amazon said in a statement: &quot;Our goal is to make speaking with Alexa as natural and easy as possible, so we&rsquo;re looking at ways to improve this over time.&quot;

Side dish, not entree

Apple&#39;s narrower focus could become a problem, said Matt McIlwain, a venture capitalist with Seattle-based Madrona Venture Group.

The potential of Apple&#39;s original iPhone did not come to light until thousands of developers started building apps. McIlwain said he expects Apple to add new categories at its Worldwide Developers Conference next week, but not nearly enough to match Alexa&#39;s number of skills.

&quot;To attract developers in the modern world, you need a platform,&quot; McIlwain said. &quot;If Apple does not launch a &#39;skills store,&#39; that would be a mistake.&quot;

Neither Siri nor Alexa has a clear path to making money. Siri works as an additional tool for controlling traditional apps, and Apple pays money to owners of those apps. Alexa&#39;s skills are free, and developers are not paid.

At the moment, because of their limits, voice apps are &quot;a side dish, not the entree,&quot; according to Oren Etzioni, CEO of the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence.

Amazon was wise to not commit to an economic model at such an early state, Etzioni said. &quot;Once a successful economic model for developers emerges, people are going to gravitate to it.&quot;

(Reuters)

Currently, Apple's Siri works with only six types of apps

Apple is expected to announce plans next week to make its Siri voice assistant work with a larger variety of apps, as the technology company looks to counter the runaway success of Amazon's competing Alexa service. But the Cupertino, California company is likely to stick to its tested method of focusing on a small amount of features and trying to perfect them, rather than casting as wide a net as possible, according to engineers and artificial intelligence industry insiders. Currently, Apple's Siri works with only six types of apps - ride-hailing and sharing; messaging and calling; photo search; payments; fitness; and auto infotainment systems. At the company's annual developer conference next week, it is expected to add to those categories. Some industry-watchers have also predicted Apple will announce hardware similar to Amazon's Echo device for the home, which has been a hot-seller recently. Apple declined comment. But even if Siri doubles its areas of expertise, it will be a far cry from the 12,000 or so tasks that Amazon's Alexa can handle. The difference illustrates a strategic divide between the two tech rivals. Apple is betting that customers will not use voice commands without an experience similar to speaking with a human, and so it is limiting what Siri can do in order to make sure it works well. Amazon puts no such restrictions on Alexa, wagering that the voice assistant with the most "skills," its term for apps on its Echo assistant devices, will gain a loyal following, even if it sometimes makes mistakes and takes more effort to use. The clash of approaches is coming to a head as virtual assistants that respond to voice commands become a priority for the leading tech companies, which want to find new ways of engaging customers and make more money from shopping and online services. Path to the money Now, an iPhone user can say, "Hey Siri, I'd like a ride to the airport" or "Hey Siri, order me a car," and Siri will open the Uber or Lyft ride service app and start booking a trip. Apart from some basic home and music functions, Alexa needs more specific directions, using a limited set of commands such as "ask" or "tell." For example, "Alexa, ask Uber for a ride," will start the process of summoning a car, but "Alexa, order me an Uber" will not, because Alexa does not make the connection that it should open the Uber "skill." After some setup, Alexa can order a pizza from Domino's, while Siri cannot get a pie because food delivery is not - so far - one of the categories of apps that Apple has opened up to Siri. "In typical Apple fashion, they've allowed for only a few use cases, but they do them very well," said Charles Jolley, chief executive of Ozlo, maker of an intelligent assistant app. Apple spokeswoman Trudy Muller said the company does not comment on its plans for developers. Amazon said in a statement: "Our goal is to make speaking with Alexa as natural and easy as possible, so we’re looking at ways to improve this over time." Side dish, not entree Apple's narrower focus could become a problem, said Matt McIlwain, a venture capitalist with Seattle-based Madrona Venture Group. The potential of Apple's original iPhone did not come to light until thousands of developers started building apps. McIlwain said he expects Apple to add new categories at its Worldwide Developers Conference next week, but not nearly enough to match Alexa's number of skills. "To attract developers in the modern world, you need a platform," McIlwain said. "If Apple does not launch a 'skills store,' that would be a mistake." Neither Siri nor Alexa has a clear path to making money. Siri works as an additional tool for controlling traditional apps, and Apple pays money to owners of those apps. Alexa's skills are free, and developers are not paid. At the moment, because of their limits, voice apps are "a side dish, not the entree," according to Oren Etzioni, CEO of the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence. Amazon was wise to not commit to an economic model at such an early state, Etzioni said. "Once a successful economic model for developers emerges, people are going to gravitate to it." (Reuters)

WWDC 2017: Apple set to make Siri work with a larger variety of apps

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