Bill Roberson/Digital Trends So the wait is over, and the Apple HomePod is finally available. We had high hopes for this smart speaker equipped with voice assistant Siri. But while the sound quality of the $350 device is incredible, to say we’re disappointed by its “smarts” is an understatement. As our reviewer Caleb Denison points out in his Digital Trends review of the HomePod, it’s less of a smart speaker and more like a great-sounding speaker with half-baked artificial intelligence. Yikes. Until Apple adds more capabilities to the HomePod and opens the door to more companies (more on that later), we’re going to recommend that you stick with an Amazon Echo device instead. Here’s why. 1. The Echo is much, much cheaper You can get a second-generation Amazon Echo for $85, or a small-but-still-mighty Echo Dot for $40 right now. Even if you opt for a more expensive Echo device, like the Echo Show, Plus, or Spot, you’re still … [Read more...] about 6 reasons you should buy an Amazon Echo over an Apple HomePod
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How Amazon Echo, Control4, smart homes help injured veterans
This is part of CNET's "Tech Enabled" series about the role technology plays in helping the disability community.Retired US Army Col. Phil Swinford skillfully maneuvers his powered wheelchair through the Polytrauma Rehabilitation Center at the McGuire VA Hospital in Richmond, Virginia. The PRC specializes in treating veterans and active-duty service members with traumatic brain injuries. But that isn't why Swinford's here.His 28-year military career ended abruptly on July 18, 2015, after a mountain biking accident resulted in an incomplete fracture of his C2 vertebra and quadriplegic paralysis. Today, he's meeting with the PRC's in-house assistive technology (AT) department for a much-needed tune-up on his chair. "Technology is great when it works, and not so great when it doesn't work, which frequently is [compounded] when I break it," Swinford says. Swinford's in luck. Smart devices might be relatively new to consumers, but the US Department of Veterans Affairs has long embraced … [Read more...] about How Amazon Echo, Control4, smart homes help injured veterans
‘The Tick’ returns to Amazon Prime in late February 2018
On Feb. 23, the second part of season 1 of "The Tick" will stream on Amazon Prime. I'm not the biggest fan of breaking up seasons like this and am curious if it results in more views or not. Anyway, Amazon has the fourth season of "Mozart in the Jungle" coming up as well. It's a show I have yet to get really into since there are some NSFW scenes (and I tried to watch it at work). As for movies, "Logan Lucky" might be one of the bigger, more recent titles to hit a streaming service. It's a Steven Soderbergh movie where a heist is taking place during a NASCAR race. In my head, this movie is clearly "Cars" meets "Ocean's Eleven." Check out the full list below: Available on Amazon Prime, Feb. 2018 Feb. 1 Feb. 2 Absentia, season 1 (Prime Original) Feb. 4 Feb. 6 Feb. 7 Feb. 8 Feb. 9 Feb. 10 Feb. 11 Feb. 13 The Ballad of Lefty BrownStinky & Dirty Valentine's Day Special (Prime Original) Feb. 14 National Lampoon Presents Cattle … [Read more...] about ‘The Tick’ returns to Amazon Prime in late February 2018
Amazon Prime’s video lineup for January 2018
Look at Amazon's lineup for January and you'll have to search for standouts. But lucky for you, that's what I did. For those of you who are interested in watching "Doctor Who," Amazon Prime has got season 10 at the beginning of the month. If you're curious about starting "Doctor Who," but are afraid due to its 50-year history, check out How to watch "Doctor Who" in the best order.Want more sci-fi? How about "Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams," season one, which starts streaming on Jan. 12. It's got a star-studded cast including Anna Paquin, Bryan Cranston and Steve Buscemi.Check out the full list below:New to Amazon Prime, January 2018Jan. 1Jan. 5Jan. 6Jan. 7Jan. 9Prime Suspect: Tennison, season 1Jan. 12Jan. 16My Mother & Other StrangersJan. 17Jan. 19Jan. 30Jan. 31xXx: The Return of Xander CageFor more information on what's available to watch online, check out CNET.com/Netpicks or subscribe to the podcast -- it's free! And go to TVGuide.com to see what else is out in the world of … [Read more...] about Amazon Prime’s video lineup for January 2018
Amazon’s Alexa-enabled Dash Wand is fun and nearly free
Amazon's newest gadget is a battery-powered, voice-enabled grocery scanner called the Dash Wand. Point it at a barcode and press the button to add that item to your Amazon shopping cart when you're running low, or press and hold to ask Alexa to add it. She'll even talk back to you through the scanner's tiny speaker. The Amazon Dash Wand arrives just as the megaretailer is completing its $13.7 billion-dollar acquisition of Whole Foods, so it's clear that Amazon sees huge potential in disrupting people's grocery habits and making it as easy as possible to buy everything online. To that end, the Dash Wand is a success -- it's easy to use, it works reliably, and it only costs $20. Add in the fact that Amazon throws in a $20 shopping credit and three months of free AmazonFresh Pickup (normally $15 per month), and the Dash Wand can pay for itself and then some. Seems fair for a gadget that's designed to get you to buy things. And I mentioned, Alexa, right? The Dash Wand can't do … [Read more...] about Amazon’s Alexa-enabled Dash Wand is fun and nearly free