Amazon Echo More Admired than Google Now and Siri, It’s Official - http://clapway.com/2016/01/05/amazon-echo-more-dmired-than-google-now-and-siri-its-official-123/

Amazon reported their Amazon echo device as one of the top selling products this past Black Friday, and it has been receiving acclaim from critics across the board. Things are only getting better for the company. They recently introduced the Amazon Alexa store to help customers make the best out of the Amazon Echo assistant.

 Amazon Echo Introduces Alexa’s ‘Skills’

The Amazon Echo store has over 130 apps labeled as ‘Skills’ for Alexa. This is a huge step since the Echo device only went on sale on Amazon.com on August 2015. It moved out to other retailers like Staples afterwards. Though only available on the Staples online store, it’s a generous stride out of their comfort zone.

Amazon Echo StubHub Tops The Charts

Alexa is powered by voice. Because of this, Amazon has released voice-powered apps to get the best out of this virtual assistant. They have released applications that let Alexa carry out simple tasks. These include: finding or reciting the news, playing music, setting alarms and controlling other electronics in the house.

StubHub is probably the most popular of all of these apps. This platform lets users ask Alexa about events in the area. It may not be the most convenient app, but it is something that no other voice-powered platform is able to achieve yet. There are also many other apps that appeal to convenience rather than novelty.

Amazon Echo Alexa Is Better Regarded than Siri, Google Now and Cortana

Amazon has made some serious investments on Internet of Things-related platforms. This is especially remarkable in smart home technology and artificial intelligence. 2016 is going to be a very exciting year for the eCommerce giant.

Adobe statistics officially declare the Amazon Echo as the ‘most admired’ product of all virtual assistants on the market. With 67%, it was well ahead of Google Now and Siri, with 45% of the favor. The next best was Windows Cortana at 38%, and Facebook M was next at 18%. In fact, the Amazon Echo had more buzz on social media than just about every other IoT market product. It was second only to the Google OnHub between July and November of 2015.

This shows that the Amazon Echo is going to be a serious contender for the top spot in many fields of electronics. The company is taking the smart home industry very seriously while also breaking ground in artificial intelligence.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkOCeAtKHIc

Amazon Echo More Admired than Google Now and Siri, It’s Official 

Amazon’s Echo is Heading to Over 3,000 Retail Stores in the U.S. - http://clapway.com/2015/11/12/amazons-echo-is-heading-to-over-3000-retail-stores-in-the-u-s-123/

Amazon has finally decided to send their Echo smart speaker on the shelves of thousands of retail stores. Before this, the only way to purchase the Amazon Echo was on their website. However, Amazon has now announced the Echo will be sold at over 3,000 retail stores including: Brookstone, Fry’s, Home Depot, PC Richard & Son, RadioShack, Sears, and Staples. The timing of this decision could not have been more perfect as the holiday season is alive and well and about ready to hit its peak.

amazon.com

WHAT IS AN ECHO SMART SPEAKER?

The Amazon Echo is certainly more than just a speaker. Per various sources, the it is a 9.25-inch tall cylinder speaker with a seven piece microphone array that responds to the default name Alexa. Alexa reportedly allows users to use voice interaction with this speaker and this allows the device to do some amazing things. The Echo can reportedly be used for music playback, streaming podcasts, playing audiobooks, making to-do lists, providing weather for the day, setting alarms, and also receiving other real time information. This device can also reportedly control other smart devices. As can be seen, this device has a lot of cool and convenient elements. According to Amazon’s website, the Echo costs $180, but with Black Friday coming up it may cost less in retail stores. However, as of right now Amazon has not commented on whether or not it will be cheaper than its online price.

This is an absolutely awesome decision by Amazon to send their Echo to retail stores because many people do not shop online and will only buy it if it is sold at stores. Then considering that Amazon decided to release the Echo in November, the decision becomes even more genius. The Echo smart speaker seems to be an awesome device, but looks can always be deceiving. I myself have never used an Echo speaker, but listening to all the features that it has makes it very tempting. It seems like Amazon is wanting to make their Echo speaker a massive hit this holiday season with this decision. The Echo speaker could indeed be a hot commodity in the coming months and customers will need to be on the lookout because it may be announced with a discount in the future.

Amazon’s Echo is Heading to Over 3,000 Retail Stores in the U.S.

%On Friday #SmartThings took to their blog to announce the company was teaming up with Amazon to provide home automation support to #Amazon Echo.% - http://clapway.com/2015/08/22/amazon-samsung-smartthings-amazon-echo-101/

On Friday SmartThings took to their blog to announce the company was teaming up with Amazon to provide home automation support to Amazon Echo.

SMARTTHINGS FEATURES

SmartThings is a home automation company that is owned by Samsung, and happens to be one of the more popular and user-friendly home automation platforms out there. The new Echo-friendly features allows users who use SmartThings devices like lights, switches, or anything else that might be plugged into a SmartThings powerstrip to be voice compatible with Amazon Echo.

That last part is what makes this partnership interesting. SmartThings is touted for its cross-platform support, which blows the doors wide open for other devices. Plug something that isn’t natively compatible with Amazon Echo into a SmartThings plug-in or powerstrip and suddenly it works.

CHECK OUT MORE NEWS ABOUT AMAZON HERE!

SmartThings says that this new Amazon Echo compatibility will work for both their upcoming hub and their current hub. Pairing the two devices together is relatively easy, too. You’ll use Amazon Echo’s Device Links option in the Echo app to connect your SmartThings account. After that you can just choose to pair devices from a list of your current devices. You’ll then have to ask Alexa to discover the new devices, but from there you can ask Alexa to turn on your lamp and it’ll do it.

AMAZON ECHO

For anyone less familiar with Amazon Echo, don’t worry. It’s actually one of the company’s newest devices. It debuted in June, but was limited to Amazon Prime subscribers who were invited to purchase the device. The device, which retails for $179, connects to your home’s Wi-Fi and has an always-on mic. From there, you simply ask the Amazon Echo how the weather is, a question to ask Google, or ask it to add something to your Amazon shopping list. Just be sure you address it by “Alexa” first.

AVAILABLE NOW

Current SmartThings hub owners should already have Echo-support, which started on Friday. User can take a look at their more detailed setup instructions here. For users who are waiting on the newest SmartThings hub, it can be pre-ordered on their site for $99. Amazon Echo users interested in home automation should definitely give SmartThings a look over.

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YOU NEEDN’T TOLERATE FAULTY TECH

Amazon and Samsung Team Up to Bring SmartThings Support to Amazon Echo