Category: Amazon
Amazon Alexa user given access to stranger’s conversations
A user of Amazon’s Alexa smart voice assistant was sent audio files from a stranger after requesting access to his own recordings. According to a report in German technology magazine C’t, the user – who is based in Germany – made a request to Amazon under the new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) to access…
Amazon reveals UK’s best sellers for 2018 – including FIFA 19, Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine
With 2019 just around the corner, Amazon.co.uk has revealed some of the UK's bestselling products of 2018. The internet retailer has also shared the nation's Christmas must-haves, revealing the gifts at the top of Brits lists this year. Products of 2018 include the FIFA 19 game, the book Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine and products related…
Alexa can now be used hands-free on the Amazon Music app
Alexa is widening its reach even further by working on the Amazon Music app, meaning users can request tracks hands-free. The feature has been made available to users in the UK on Android and iOS for the first time, as Amazon continues to integrate the digital voice-powered assistant into more of its products. With the…
Amazon introduces Christmas Countdown feature to Alexa – including Santa stories!
Amazon Alexa users are now able to hear a story from Father Christmas and have the virtual assistant sing Christmas songs as part of a new festive feature. Called Christmas Countdown, the new Alexa Skill means that when users ask “how many sleeps until Christmas?”, they’ll hear a Christmas story from Santa and a different…
Dinner is ready! Amazon adds Alexa Drop In intercom feature to Fire HD tablets
Amazon has announced an expansion of its Alexa Drop In service – which enables intercom-style communication between Alexa-enabled devices. Starting on Wednesday, the latest generation of the Fire HD 8 tablet and the 2017 model, as well as the Fire HD 10, will be able to make and receive Drop Ins and Announcements on their…
Apple Music is coming to Alexa – in US from December 17
(Yui Mok/PA) Amazon’s Alexa voice-powered assistant is preparing to gain another high profile music service in the form of Apple Music. Support for Apple’s own music streaming service will be available to Amazon Echo devices across the US from December 17 with “additional countries coming next year”, the company said.…
Amazon launches Speaker ID on Alexa for individual voice recognition
Amazon Echo owners in the UK can now receive personalised experiences with the arrival of Alexa Speaker ID. The feature means the smart assistant can recognise different voices when spoken to, serving up individual options for Alexa calling and messaging, news Flash Briefings, shopping and music. Users must set up the feature by asking Alexa…
Amazon parcels ‘could be delivered to HS2 passengers at their seat’
HS2 passengers could get Amazon packages delivered to their seat, a train manufacturer has claimed. Bombardier Transportation, which is bidding to win a £2.75 billion contract to build the high-speed trains in a joint venture with Hitachi Rail, is developing technology which would enable onboard click-and-collect services. Martin Rennoldson, sales director at Bombardier, said the…
You can now ask Alexa to make Skype calls on Amazon Echo devices
Skype on Amazon Echo Show (Microsoft/PA) Amazon Echo devices can now be used to make calls between Skype users for the first time, as Amazon and Microsoft’s increased collaboration continues to bear fruit. Alexa-enabled devices can be linked up to a Skype account, meaning anyone can say, “Alexa, call Jeff on…
People turning to smart speakers such as Amazon Echo to ‘declutter’
Amazon recently added the Echo Sub to its line-up (Amazon/PA) Users of smart speakers such as Amazon Echo and Google Home see the technology as a way to declutter and use fewer screens in their day-to-day lives, new research suggests. The number of people using intelligent voice-activated speakers has almost…
