| 1. Amazon Echo Show is Alexa with a touchscreen |
| By Steve Dent, Engadget |
| Amazon has revealed the Echo Show, a squared-off Echo device equipped with a 7-inch touchscreen. More» |
| Why This Matters: This already got leaked and panned in the process, but now there are release specs. Full disclosure: I love my Amazon Echo, Tap, and Dot (Fire not so much) so this looks kinda cool to me. Here’s more from CNET which calls it a “giant phone for your kitchen counter.” Maybe not so cool? –Cynthia Wisehart |
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| 2. Register for Webcast: Understanding Microphone Arrays and Beamforming |
| What are the benefits of microphone intelligibility and user experience? What is the science behind good intelligibility? In this tutorial webcast you will learn about the vital role of directionality and directivity. We will also take a close look at principles of beamforming, methods of noise cancellation, and voice tracking, wrapping up with some in-the-field examples. More» |
| Why This Matters: Free to attend with registration. Join us for a good presentation on a hot topic. Thanks for considering. –Cynthia Wisehart |
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| 3. HomeHub: Microsoft is turning Windows 10 PCs into Amazon Echo competitors |
| By Tom Warren, The Verge |
| Microsoft has been working on a new HomeHub feature for Windows 10 to better compete with devices like Amazon’s Echo. HomeHub is designed to create a family environment for a PC with shared access to calendars, apps, and even a new welcome screen. Microsoft is even planning to support smart home devices like Philips’ Hue lights, to enable Windows 10 to act as a hub to control and manage smart home hardware. More» |
| Why This Matters: We’ve heard about HomeHub before, but The Verge has obtained internal concepts of exactly how Microsoft is imagining HomeHub will work. Check it out. –Cynthia Wisehart |
