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mercredi 28 septembre 2022

Here are the products that were announced during Amazon’s hardware event

Today, Amazon held an online event showcasing its latest hardware for 2022. Now, this wasn’t like your typical product launch event with just a few things. Instead, Amazon took things to another level, announcing device after new device in a variety of different product categories. So, in case you weren’t available, or you missed the event, we have you covered. So, sit back, relax and enjoy – here’s mostly all of the hardware that announced during Amazon’s fall hardware event.

Echo Dot, Echo Dot with Clock, Echo Dot Kids

Amazon’s latest Echo Dot and Echo Dot with Clock offer a simple look but deliver excellent audio thanks to its custom full-range driver, offering double the bass of previous models, and at the same time, delivering clear vocals. In addition to the audio enhancements, the devices also have new sensors, enabling contextual Alexa experiences and gesture controls. The Echo Dot with Clock can now show off more information than previous models, thanks to its upgraded high-density dot display. If that wasn’t enough, the new models will also have eero integration, giving the Echo Dot and Echo Dot with Clock the ability to act error Wi-Fi mesh extenders.

    Amazon Echo Dot and Echo Dot with Clock
    The latest smart speakers from Amazon, the Echo Dot and Echo Dot with Clock.

Amazon also announced a new Echo Dot Kids model that will come in two new designs, Owl and Dragon. The speaker will include one year of Amazon Kids Plus service, which will bring the Own and Dragon to life with new Alexa voices that can tell jokes, sing songs, say greetings, and more. Furthermore, the Kids Plus service will also include access to childrens content like thousands of ad-free books, games, videos, and more. The Echo Dot, Echo Dot with Clock, and Echo Dot Kids are now available for pre-order with release date set for October 20. The Echo Dot will cost $49.99 and will be available in Charcoal, Deep Sea Blue, and Glacier White, while the Echo Dot with Clock will cost $59.99 and will come in Cloud Blue and Glacier White. Finally, the Echo Dot Kids will cost $59.99 and will be available as an Owl or Dragon model.

    Echo Dot Kids
    The latest Amazon smart speaker made children, modeled as an owl or a dragon.

Echo Studio

The Amazon Echo Studio isn’t a completely new product, but the company did announce it in a new color, Glacier, during its latest hardware event. The new look is quite clean and bright, giving it a refreshed look that should look great in any environment. The Echo speaker is one of the best that Amazon offers, building on Echo speaker technology and taking things a step further by adding spatial audio support and frequency range extension. The smart speaker offers the most optimal sound no matter what kind of content is being listened to. Best of all, the complex and robust audio comes from a single product and doesn’t rely on a huge bulky setup. The Echo Studio costs $199.99. The Glacier model will be available starting on October 20, while the Charcoal model is currently available for sale.

    Amazon Echo Studio
    The Echo Studio is the best smart speaker that Amazon has to offer. The speaker can be purchased in Charcoal and the all-new Glacier color.

Echo Auto

The Echo Auto had been improved and revamped for 2022, looking thinner and much more portable than predecessor. The smaller footprint of the device will now allow users more flexibility when placing it into their vehicles. The Echo Auto features five microphones that are capable of listening to your requests no matter what kinds of noises are inside the car’s cabin. The device is powered by Alexa and in addition to the traditional set of commands, will give access to hands-free roadside assistance. The new Echo Auto will cost $54.99 but at the moment, Amazon does have a pre-order available or a release date.

    Amazon Echo Auto
    The Amazon Echo Auto brings Alexa to your car, while also offering access to emergency roadside services.

Halo Rise

The Halo Rise is one of Amazon’s latest products, offering a new way to track sleep behavior without the need for wearable hardware. The bedside tracker comes with sensors that can track breathing and movement, and harnesses machine learning to provide details about your night’s rest like REM, light, and deep sleep. In addition to sleep tracking, the Halo Rise can also illuminate the room with its “wake-up light” that can simulate the sunrise. Being an Amazon product, there is also integration with other Echo products and Alexa. The Halo Rise is priced at $139.99 and will first be available to those in the United States. Amazon has not set a release date for this product.

    Amazon Halo Rise
    The Halo Rise is a sleep tracker that sits by your bedside, monitoring your breathing and movement.

Kindle Scribe

Perhaps the most surprising product announced today is the next generation Kindle that merges reading and writing. The new Kindle Scribe comes with a large 10.2-inch e-ink display coming in at 300ppi and measures in a just 5.8mm thin. For the first time, the Amazon Paperwhite display will be able to support input from a pen, and along with taking notes or scribbling in a book, you can still use the new Kindle Scribe to download and read all of your favorite books. Perhaps, best of all, the pen never needs to be charged. Like previous Kindles, the new model will offer months of battery life on a single charge. There will only be one color, Tungsten, but the unit will be available in three different models, with internal storage options of 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB. The Kindle Scribe will come priced starting at $339, with pre-orders starting today and will begin shipping on November 30.

    Amazon Kindle Scribe
    For the first time, Amazon has introduced a Kindle that can also take notes using a pen.

Fire TV Omni QLED Series

Amazon is expanding its TV lineup, introducing its Omni QLED series featuring a 4K QLED display, Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+ support for the best picture quality available. The TV is able to provide this level of image quality thanks to its panel which features 96 local dimming zones. Furthermore, the TV is the first to support Amazon’s Fire TV Ambient Experience, which allows the display to react smartly without physical input from the user. For example, it can understand when a person enters a room, turning on the screen, displaying relevant information. The Omni QLED TV can also be controlled hands-free, making it a seamless experience when plopping down on a couch. Furthermore, it can display stylized image and pieces of art, taken from a collection of over 1,500 options. The all-new Fire TV Omni QLED series will be available in two sizes: a 65-inch model priced at $799.99 and a 75-inch model priced at $1,099.99. Both TVs are now available for pre-order and will be released on October 27.

    Amazon Fire TV Omni Series
    The best TVs offered from Amazon featuring Dolby Vision IQ, local dimming, and Alexa.

Fire TV Cube

The latest media player from Amazon featuring a 2Ghz octa-core processor for seamless 4K streaming and lightning fast navigation. The device will also feature an HDMI in, allowing other media devices to be connected and controlled. Furthermore, since it is an Amazon product, you’ll have access to Alexa for hands-free control of compatible devices. The Fire TV Cube is now available for pre-order for $139.99 and will be released on October 25.

    Amazon Fire TV Cube
    The Fire TV Cube packs all the features you'd want from a Fire Stick but offers an improved processor and more features.

Echo Show 15

Although the Echo Show 15 isn’t a new device, Amazon announced during its hardware event that the 15-inch smart display would be gaining Fire TV capabilities. Amazon stated that over 70 percent of Echo Show 15 owners used it to watch videos, so it only seemed natural to add Fire TV to the product. Perhaps best of all, the update will be free to all current and future owners. The Echo Show 15 is now currently available for sale, priced at $249.99

    Amazon Echo Show 15
    The Echo Show 15 gets even better with the inclusion for Fire TV capabilities.

Alexa Voice Remote Pro

Amazon’s most premium remote control offering, that comes with several upgrades when compared to the standard model. The remote control features backlit keys, making it easier to navigate the buttons at night. Furthermore, it also has two programmable buttons, which can be used to store your favorite apps, but can also be used to store Alexa commands. In addition, the device offers support for voice commands and can even play an audible chime when lost. The Alexa Voice Remote Pro is now available for pre-order and costs $34.99. The remote will be available starting on November 16.

    Alexa Voice Remote Pro
    The Alexa Voice Remote Pro features voice control, programmable and backlit buttons.

Ring Spotlight Cam Pro

The Ring Spotlight Cam Pro offers an incredible set of security features and doesn’t require any cables when installed. The new security camera features 1080p HDR video, 3D motion detection, customizable motion zones, and more. The device can even track movement, showing a mapped trail through the camera’s Bird’s Eye View. Best of all, the camera can run completely wirelessly through a rechargeable battery or through a added solar panel. Those that prefer a traditional plug in solution will have that option. The base model is now available for pre-order priced at $229.99 and will be available on October 26.

    Ring Spotlight Cam Pro
    The latest from Ring, offering powerful new features like a Bird’s Eye View mode.

Blink Wired Floodlight Camera and Blink Mini Pan Tilt

Along with the Ring Spotlight Cam Pro, Amazon also debuted two new Blink devices, the Blink Wired Floodlight Camera and the Blink Mini Pan Tilt. The Floodlight Camera is a wired solution powered by Amazon’s AZ2 processor and features powerful LED lighting capable of producing up to 2600 lumens. The camera offers weather resistance, two-way audio, a customizable motion detection system, and loud audible siren. The all-in-one design is perfect for easy installation and comes at a price that isn’t going to break the bank. The Blink Wired Floodlight Camera retail for $99.99. Unfortunately, Amazon has not announced a release date for the product but you can sign up to be notified.

    Blink Wired Floodlight Camera
    The Blink Wired Floodlight Camera provides all the essentials and more for just $99.99.

In addition to a wired outdoor solution, Amazon also introduced a new indoor camera and camera mount system with the Blink Mini and the Blink Mini Pan Tilt. The camera can be purchased as a set with the mount or you can just choose to purchase the mount itself. By having it mounted, the camera can obtain a wider field of view thanks to the mounts range of motion. Users will be able to control the the pan and tilt access. The camera is now to pre-order for $59.99, while the mount is available for pre-order for $29.99

    Blink Mini Pan-Tilt Camera
    The Blink Mini Pan-Tilt Camera and the Blink Mini Pan-Tilt Mount.

Astro

During its hardware presentation, Amazon debuted some news about its household robot, Astro, originally built for home monitoring purposes. Today, the firm announced new updates to the robot, bringing a wealth of new features like allowing support for up to ten caregivers for one care recipient. It also added a Remote Assist features, allowing the primary caregiver to set up Alexa routines remotely. Furthermore, it will gain the ability to better understand the world around it, learning more about objects and environments. This will first be applied to doors and windows so that it can alert owners if something is left open. Astro will now also be able to recognize cats and dogs.   While Astro is available directly from Amazon, it isn’t a straight purchase like many other products on this round up and will require an invitation. You can submit your request using the link below. 

    Amazon Astro
    Amazon Astro is a powerful and friendly household robot that can be used for home monitoring.

The post Here are the products that were announced during Amazon’s hardware event appeared first on XDA.



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BMW’s next-generation vehicle voice assistant will be powered by Amazon Alexa technology

Amazon held its fall hardware event, where it announced numerous products, including the Kindle Scribe, Fire TV Cube, Halo Rise, and more. Along with a variety of different hardware products, it also announced its partnership with BMW Group, makers of vehicles like BMW, Mini, and Rolls-Royce.

During its presentation, BMW Group shared its plans to build its next voice assistant using Amazon’s Alexa technology. Stephan Durach, who is the Senior Vice President Connected Company and Development Technical Operations stated, “The Alexa technology will enable an even more natural dialogue between driver and vehicle, so drivers can stay focused on the road. This will bring the digital experience to an entirely new level.” While Alexa is never really thought of for use in a custom application, it does have that capability, which can make it easier and faster for companies to develop their own virtual assistant. This not only works for vehicles but can also be applied in other applications.

According to BMW Group, the new voice assistant built using Amazon’s technology will work in harmony with Alexa, providing immense benefits for both brands and consumers. Furthermore, BMW Group will provide options with its vehicles, allowing consumers to choose BMW’s own voice assistant, the Alexa variant, or both. It will be interesting to see how the two interact when the latter configuration is enabled. For those that are getting excited about the prospect of being able to use Alexa in their BMW, Mini, or Rolls-Royce vehicle, you might be a little disappointed, as the company stated that the new voice assistant option would be rolling out sometime within the next two years.

As mentioned before, along with its partnership with BMW Group, Amazon also launched several new products at its hardware event. Perhaps one of the most interesting out of the bunch was its latest e-reader, the Kindle Scribe. What makes Scribe different from previous Kindle models is its ability to not only display books but also allow users to take notes. That means users can take notes on the device and also do so on pages of books that they are currently reading. Currently, the Kindle Scribe is available for pre-order starting at $339.99 and will be available on November 30.


Source: BMW Group 

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Twitter Blue subscribers using Android now have access to podcasts in Spaces

It was about a month ago when Twitter rolled out its brand-new Spaces tab on its platform. Despite being available towards the tail-end of August, it was limited to a select group of users. While it was eventually made available to its Blue subscribers a couple of weeks later, it was again limited, this time to just iOS users. Now, the somewhat long wait is finally over, as the company has announced that it is making it available to Twitter Blue subscribers on Android.

While still in its infancy, the Twitter Spaces revamp attempts to make it into a full-fledged audio hub where users can enjoy different forms of audio entertainment, including podcasts. The original Spaces tab was created to allow hosts and co-hosts to have audio discussions with large audiences. There could be an unlimited number of members and it could even become a conversation space if the host allowed it. In August, Twitter changed this in order to accommodate its new podcast ambitions. The redesign offered personalized hubs with different content themes like music, sports, news, and other areas of interest. Furthermore, Twitter also added live and recorded audio content, while still managing to keep the original Spaces audio platform.

While it remains to be seen just how impactful the move to podcasts will be for Twitter, in its research, it found that nearly 45 percent of its US users listened to podcasts. Knowing this, it could become quite a popular space for the platform going forward. In addition to Spaces, Twitter Blue subscribers gain access to a number of different perks, like being able to upload higher resolution and longer videos, a bookmarks folder, ad-free articles, custom app icons, the ability to undo tweets, and more. Furthermore, Blue subscribers have access to experimental features found in its Labs section. Twitter Blue costs $4.99 per month and the subscription is available in Australia, the United States, and New Zealand.


Source: Twitter 

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Best Surface Go 3 Pen Options: Microsoft, Tesha, and more

Microsoft launched the all-new Surface Go 3 at the company’s fall 2021 event. While the Surface Go 3 is a great machine, it unfortunately does not come bundled with a pen. Of course, you can buy the official Surface pen separately from Microsoft or another vendor, but there are plenty of other options to consider. When searching for alternative Surface pens, make sure they support the Microsoft Pen Protocol or MPP. In this article, we’ve curated a selection of the best pens to use with your Microsoft Surface Go 3 at any budget.

Some of the key considerations when selecting a new pen are tilt, pressure sensitivity, and battery life. If you do a lot of drawing with your Surface, you’ll want a pen that has accurate tilt and excellent pressure sensitivity. These aspects are key to achieving high precision when sketching or coloring with your pen. For those who do an exceptional amount of writing each day, make sure you get a pen with solid battery life. Several of the pens below are rechargeable, but some of them still take regular AAA batteries. Keep in mind that having a rechargeable pen will increase flexibility when traveling. In the case of a rechargeable pen, you can throw a portable charger in your bag and not worry about running out of juice.

    Microsoft Official Surface Pen

    Microsoft reliability

    If you want to match your new Surface Go 3 perfectly, the official Microsoft Surface Pen is the way to go. Writes like pen on paper. Surface Pen is a natural writing and drawing tool, with precision ink on one end that now enables tilt and a natural-feeling rubber eraser on the other. Responds to an artists touch. Effortlessly express the finest sketches and lines with Surface Pen. Rest your hand on the screen of your Surface device, just as you would writing on a notebook.
    Tesha Surface pen

    Best affordable alternative

    At under $30, the Tesha Surface pen has just about everything the Microsoft version offers. It features 1024 pressure points is designed for writing, drawing, and notes taking. Instant response, low latency, truly accurate handwriting reproduction. Palm rejection technology allows you to rest your hand naturally on the screen while writing, no need wearing anti-friction gloves. Super convenient for kids.
    Renaisser 520

    Cheap and versatile

    The Renaisser 520 is a an affordable stylus pen that still offers some great capabilities. It has 4,096 levels of pressure and tilt support, so it can handle writing, doodling, and even more advanced art just fine. It also has a rechargeable battery so you don't have to worry about buying new batteries, and it even supports magnetic attachment. For this price, you can't ask for much more.
    Dell Premium Active Pen

    Excellent pressure sensitivity

    The Dell Premium Active Pen features flexible, multi-protocol compatibility with select Dell 2-in-1s with a Windows Ink compatible display. Quickly launch OneNote by clicking the top button and write notes (even on a locked screen), capture a screenshot, or activate Cortana. Efficiently erase or launch the context menu with the side buttons. Install Windows Ink Workspace to customize buttons to your needs.
    Wacom Bamboo Ink (2nd Gen)

    Dual protocols

    The Wacom Bamboo Ink is a very cool pen in that it supports both the Microsoft Pen Protocol and Wacom AES, meaning it will work on the Surface Go 3, but also a lot of devices from other brands. It has 4.096 levels of pressure, too, so you get a fantastic experience for a very reasonable price.
    iafer Surface Pro Pen

    No charging

    This pen from iafer is relatively basic, but it does everything you need, with 1,024 levels of pressure and palm rejection. It comes with a replaceable AAAA battery that can last for over 1,000 hours, so you never have to worry about charging it. It also has a pen clip so you can easily store it in a pocket without losing it.

Those are our picks for the best Surface pens available today for your Microsoft Surface Go 3 tablet. If you’re looking for the best value, the Renaisser Raphael 520 is probably your best option. It’s affordable, yet it has very good pressure sensing capabilities and tilt support, along with other niceties. For those that want the full Microsoft Surface experience, the official Surface pen is of course still your best bet. We’ll keep this list updated as new products arrive. Let us know which Surface pen you use in the comments below.

    Surface Go 3
    The Surface Go 3 refreshes its predecessor with new 10th-gen processors.

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Truecaller debuts AI-powered Assistant in the U.S. to help users easily filter scam calls

Truecaller today debuted a new AI-powered Assistant feature to help users combat the growing threat of scam calls. The feature answers incoming calls on your behalf and provides a live transcription of what the caller says. This makes it easy for you to answer important calls from unknown numbers while avoiding scams.

Truecaller Assistant works a lot like the Call Screening feature in the Google Phone app. It uses machine learning, speech-to-text, and natural language processing technologies to understand caller requests with over 90% accuracy. As mentioned earlier, it then provides a live transcription to help you figure out if you wish to answer the call, mark it as spam, or ask the caller for more information.

Talking about the new feature, Truecaller’s Co-founder and CEO, Alan Mamedi, said, “Assistant is a game changer for the global market because it does so much more than simply block robocalls. Until now, you had to make a split-second decision as to whether you think a call is important. Assistant focuses on what the caller is saying to filter out the robocalls and spam so you know whether the call is worth your time or not.”

What makes Truecaller Assistant potentially better than Google Phone’s Call Screening feature is that it’s available on iOS and Android and doesn’t require you to use a Google Pixel device. On the downside, it isn’t free. Truecaller Assistant will initially be available for a free, 14-day trial in the U.S.

Truecaller Assistant screenshots on Android. Truecaller Assistant screenshots on iOS.

Following the free trial, users will be able to access it as part of the Truecaller Premium subscription. The Assistant currently supports calls in English, but Truecaller plans to add support for more languages soon. The feature will be available in other regions as well. However, the company has not shared a tentative release timeline at the moment.

It’s worth mentioning that you can get Google Phone’s Call Screening feature on any rooted Android device using this Magisk mod. If you’d like to try it out, follow the instructions provided in our Magisk installation guide.

What do you think of Truecaller’s new AI-powered Assistant? Are you open to paying a monthly fee to use the feature? Let us know in the comments section below.

Truecaller: Caller ID & Block (Free, Google Play) →

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Google Phone update brings new in-call UI for some users

The Google Phone app received a new dial pad UI in April this year, featuring bigger buttons and new animations. The updated design included pill-shaped buttons similar to what we previously saw in the redesigned Calculator app, along with some cool new animations. Google is now rolling out a new in-call UI for the Phone app, but it takes a slightly different approach.

As per a few screenshots shared by users on Twitter, the new in-call UI features circular buttons instead of the pill-shaped buttons on the dial pad. While the design looks inconsistent, it will likely be more intuitive to use as it brings all the buttons closer to the bottom of the display. In addition, the new UI features a card behind the buttons that adds some contrast for enhanced visibility.

The screenshots show that the new layout gives users access to four buttons in a row, Keypad, Mute, Speaker, and More, along with a button to end the call underneath. Tapping on the More button adds another row at the top with shortcuts to put the call on hold, record the call, and add another call.

The new in-call UI appears to be rolling out with version 90.0.475844574 of the Google Phone app on the beta channel. However, it is not available on any of our devices at the moment. Since Google has not shared any details so far, we can’t say for sure when it will reach your device. But, given that the new UI has already started showing up for some users, a wider rollout should follow soon.

What do you think of the new in-call UI in the Google Phone app? Let us know in the comments section below.

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mardi 27 septembre 2022

Latest iPadOS 16.1 beta brings Stage Manager support to older iPad Pro models

Although there are many new features in iPadOS 16, Stage Manager is perhaps the most important and interesting, as it brings a new multitasking system, allowing for a more productive and layered experience. The feature is quite powerful and will even include external display support, as long as the iPad is equipped with an Apple M1 chip. Now, with the latest iPadOS 16 developer beta, Stage Manager is being expanded to work with other iPad models like the older 11-inch iPad Pro and also the 12.9-inch iPad Pro as long as it’s a third-generation or newer.

While this is exciting news, there is one caveat, which is older iPad Pro models will not offer support for Stage Manager on an external display. Furthermore, Apple states that for those with third and fourth-generation iPad Pros, the feature will work in a reduced capacity, only allowing support for up to four apps on a single screen instead of the eight apps that can be run on M1 iPad models. As to why this feature is now rolling out when initially it was said it couldn’t deliver the right experience to older iPads, Apple had this to say:

Delivering this multi-display support is only possible with the full power of M1-based iPads. Customers with iPad Pro 3rd and 4th generation have expressed strong interest in being able to experience Stage Manager on their iPads. In response, our teams have worked hard to find a way to deliver a single-screen version for these systems, with support for up to four live apps on the iPad screen at once.

Back in June during WWDC22, Apple announced iPadOS 16, alongside iOS 16 and macOS Ventura. iPadOS 16 was originally slated to be released alongside iOS 16 but was later delayed. The Cupertino giant stated that the reason for the delay was that it was an “especially big year for iPadOS” and that it had the ability to deliver the software “on its own schedule.” While it didn’t come out and say it, early reports indicated that the delay was caused in part due to its complex Stage Manager feature. Although external display support on M1 iPads for Stage Manager had been present since the first developer beta, Apple has removed the feature in the latest beta update. It plans to restore it with a software update sometime later this year. The public release of iPadOS 16 is scheduled to arrive sometime in October.


Source: Engadget

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