Dave Limp, senior vice president of Amazon Devices told the WSJ Tech D.Live conference that there are over 10,000 employees working on Alexa and Echo devices. The total workforce for Alexa products has increased by 50% from 2007. Dave Limp told The Verge in an interview that over 100 million Alexa-equipped devices have sold to date. It wouldn't say how many of those are its … [Read more...] about Over 100 million Alexa devices have been sold
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Good e-Reader is now available on Amazon Alexa
Good e-Reader is now available as a Flash Briefing on Amazon Alexa. This includes the Alexa app for Android and iOS, in addition to the Echo line of smart speakers. Alexa will read all of the latest headlines and the news articles, which is ideal if you prefer the audio editions of our stories. Getting started with adding Good e-Reader to your device is easy. If you are … [Read more...] about Good e-Reader is now available on Amazon Alexa
Amazon Alexa to get a special Newscaster Voice
Amazon is developing a customized Alexa Voice to read the news. Currently Alexa reads the news, but uses the same voice when you issue it commands or search results. Amazon has created a special version of the voice that sounds the same as a quintessential evening newscaster. Everyone is familiar with the “newscaster” voice style; it has a unique flow and emphasis atypical … [Read more...] about Amazon Alexa to get a special Newscaster Voice
Amazon Fire HD 8 will be the first tablet that uses Fire OS 6
The upcoming Amazon Fire HD 8 will be the first tablet that uses a new Fire OS 6 operating system. It will be based on Android Nougat and more specifically Android 7.1.2. This is quite the upgrade from Android 5.1 or 6.0 that Fire OS 5 used. Amazon first debuted Fire OS 6 on the Fire TV 3 and has since also used it on the Fire TV Cube and Toshiba Fire TV Edition … [Read more...] about Amazon Fire HD 8 will be the first tablet that uses Fire OS 6
Amazon Freetime Unlimited is coming to Alexa
Amazon Freetime Unlimited is coming to all Alexa devices May 9th and this means kids will have full access to 300 audiobooks from Audible and radio stations that have no advertising. Freetime will also give hands free content from Disney, Nickelodeon, National Geographic, and more. The service is free to people who use Kindle Freetime Unlimited or if you are new to this whole … [Read more...] about Amazon Freetime Unlimited is coming to Alexa
New Alexa update for Fire 7 and Fire HD 8 tablets
Starting this week, Fire 7 and Fire HD 8 (2017) owners can enjoy a new way to interact with Alexa on their tablets. Instead of pressing down on the Alexa button, Fire owners can simply use their voice to ask Alexa to play a song, turn off the lights, start or pause a movie. Amazon said to use Alexa hands-free functionality on the Fire 7 and Fire HD 8 tablets across the room, … [Read more...] about New Alexa update for Fire 7 and Fire HD 8 tablets
Amazon Echo Speaker will now play your first Audible Audiobook for Free
The Amazon Echo line of smart speakers have just gained the ability to read aloud your first free audiobook from Audible. There are over 400,000 titles to choose from and you do not need a Prime account or a subscription to Audible. To get started, just say, "Alexa, read me ..." and the title you want to hear. There are two caveats. First, you need to be completely new to … [Read more...] about Amazon Echo Speaker will now play your first Audible Audiobook for Free
Alexa Video Calling and Messaging Now Available on Tablets
Starting today, customers can use Alexa calling and messaging on Fire, Android, and iOS tablets. With this update, customers can use their tablet to place video and audio calls, or message anyone – for free by asking Alexa. With your Fire HD 10, you’ll be able to place a call to Mom or send a quick voice message to a friend completely hands free by simply asking Alexa. Or, … [Read more...] about Alexa Video Calling and Messaging Now Available on Tablets
AR, VR and Alexa will dominate ALA Midwinter
The American Library Association Midwinter conference is occuring at the Colorado convention centre from February 9-12. Unlike previous years where audiobooks, ebooks and politics dominate the discussion groups, this year is entirely different. AR, VR and voice assistants are going to dominate the Future of Libraries track which will examine near-term trends already inspiring … [Read more...] about AR, VR and Alexa will dominate ALA Midwinter
Amazon Alexa Smart Speakers Now Available in Canada
The Amazon Alexa line of smart speakers are available in Canada for the first time ever. It took Amazon sometime to launch the products because they had to take into account for French, which is the official secondary language. The Echo Plus is likely the best deal right now it is available for $169 and it will increase to $199 sometime in the near future. The Echo second … [Read more...] about Amazon Alexa Smart Speakers Now Available in Canada
Amazon Wants Developers to Make Choose Your Own Adventure Games for Alexa
Amazon really wants developers to start making choose your own adventure style games for their Alexa device. There is a new framework available called Alexa Skills Kit that allows authors and developers to create decision trees to program audio mysteries and adventures. Choose your own Adventure started to become very popular in the 1980's and 1990's and they sold 250 … [Read more...] about Amazon Wants Developers to Make Choose Your Own Adventure Games for Alexa
Would you buy a Amazon Alexa Fire Tablet?
Amazon has been releasing tablets since 2011 and over the last two years they company really hasn't given users a reason to upgrade. The devices issued in 2015 actually have worse specs than the ones released in 2014. The saving grace for the Amazon tablet division was the $50 Fire that literary sold millions. The big question is, would you upgrade your existing Fire to get … [Read more...] about Would you buy a Amazon Alexa Fire Tablet?
Amazon Echo Will Now Read eBooks Aloud To You
Amazon has just added new functionality for their Echo streaming media center that will have bookworms celebrating. You can now have your entire e-Book collection read aloud using Alexa's default voice, which is handy if you want to breeze through a few chapters while puttering around the house. Not all Kindle e-Books are compatible with the Echo read aloud feature, but most … [Read more...] about Amazon Echo Will Now Read eBooks Aloud To You
Amazon Echo Can Now Play Audiobooks from Multiple Amazon Accounts
The Amazon Echo now has the ability to play audiobooks from multiple Amazon accounts and switching between them is as easy as a voice command. In order to get started you simply need to access the settings menu within the updated Alexa App for Android and add your second account. Once this is completed all you have to do is say "Alexa, switch accounts." This might seem … [Read more...] about Amazon Echo Can Now Play Audiobooks from Multiple Amazon Accounts