New smart speaker expected as Apple kicks off conference

Amazon Stock A 10 Billion Opportunity That Is Growing Fast

Rosalie Gross | 06 June, 2017, 06:13

Tapping Apple's Siri digital assistant, such a speaker is expected to serve as a butler as well as an outlet for listening to music.

Amazon has updated its smart speaker so that it's fully functional in the build-up to the General Election.

Amazon just announced its AI assistant Alexa will now be able to recognize commands to set reminders and named timers.

- iPhone 8. Sorry, but you're probably going to have to wait until the fall for this one.

Read our Echo tips and tricks guide to find out about the best hidden features and Alexa easter eggs.

Alexa, which powers Amazon's popular home automation device Echo, has gained a growing following over the past two years for its ability to answer questions, turn on lights, and order goods from Amazon.com.

Amazon says both reminders and named timers were among the top requests from customers. If you're in the USA, you'll soon receive an update for your Echo speaker (if you haven't yet) that gives Alexa the capability to set reminders. Not very useful if you're fixing a full-on feast however, with lots of things cooking at the same time. Assign each one a specific title and you'll be informed when they hit zero - so Alexa will tell you when the "rice timer" is up, with the "lamb curry timer" still ticking away in the background.

In addition, you can now give timers names so Alexa doesn't confuse multiple set timers. In fact, Digitimes' sources say that Amazon surpassed its full-year shipment goal for the Echo Dot in just a few months earlier this year.

"To attract developers in the modern world, you need a platform", McIlwain said.

To speed up the process, you can lump everything into a single command by saying, "Alexa, remind me to go to the grocery store tomorrow at 8:00 am". To see all reminders/named timers, users can simply open the Alexa application on their Android or iOS device and navigate to the "Alerts and Alarms" section of the app.

You can also ask Alexa to remind you of something after a short period. Apple's Reminders app is already the most-used app on my iPhone, since I'm constantly setting reminders to run errands, pick up groceries, pay rent, or get work done; it's a great way to stay organized.

Amazon is constantly updating Alexa with new skills, ranging from the mundane to the critical-reminders and lists being the latter.

Harvard rescinds offers to incoming freshmen over hateful memes

Aaron Judge is 'the scariest thing I've ever seen,' says David Ortiz

06 June 2017

Officials say Trump may not try to block Comey's testimony
Collins was discussing Comey's scheduled testimony - set for Thursday - before the Senate Intelligence Committee. I didn't even really talk to him. "That's the extent of my acquaintance with Mr Flynn", he added.

06 June 2017

Semi-finals delayed by light winds
The winners of the qualifying series will carry a point into the regatta finale, the Cup Match, if they get that far. The other two semi-finalists will be Artemis Racing and Softbank Team Japan.

06 June 2017

Ex-MMA fighter gets 36 years to life in kidnap, beating case
As Radar previously reported, Mack claimed that her ex-boyfriend walked in on her and a man named Corey Thomas on August 8, 2014. The 35-year-old Jonathan Paul Koppenhaver , who was convicted by a jury in March, will be eligible for parole in 36 years.
06 June 2017

'Wonder Woman' gross revised up to $103.1 million
Next week, Lucia Aniello, a writer and director from "Broad City", will release her bachelorette comedy " Rough Night ". The studio said Monday that the tickets sold on Sunday turned out to be even higher than it estimated over the weekend.

05 June 2017

Spelling bee champ asked to spell 'covfefe,' gets it wrong
Ananya, of Fresno, California , won the Scripps National Spelling Bee on Thursday after numerous rounds against Rohan Rajeev . Vinay said she has two plans for her prize money: sharing it with her younger brother and putting it into her college account.

05 June 2017

White House informing allies Trump will abandon climate pact
A downward revision would certainly prompt criticism from the global community, but not almost so much as an abandonment. In light of this, it will be hard for the President to argue that the Paris agreement hurts the USA economy.
06 June 2017

Report of multiple casualties in incident on London Bridge
But small hardline groups, including the Maute and Abu Sayyaf, have refused to negotiate and sought to united behind IS. Lorenzana said there might have been other foreign fighters killed in the battle.

Australian Woman Stabbed In Throat During London Bridge Attack
Our thoughts are with those killed and injured in these horrifying attacks, and we will bring more details as they come in. A GoFundMe page has been set up to support Zelenak's family during their search.

Del Potro wins 1st match at French Open since 2012
That may sound ideal to a tennis-loving bachelor, but as Andy Murray will tell you, it can take its toll on a family man. That will be against Juan Martin Del Potro , who rather than a horror show found himself caught up in a real "weepie".
06 June 2017

Djokovic, Muguzura, Nadal in action at French Open
The 14-time major victor has dropped just 20 games in four rounds so far, just one more than he lost at the same stage in 2012. Mladenovic could have company in the quarterfinals, though: Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia plays her fourth-round match Monday.

06 June 2017

ICC Champions Trophy 2017
Williamson's departure heralded a mini collapse by the Kiwis as they lost the remaining six wickets over the next six overs. His innings was studded with 8 fours and 3 sixes. "We bowled both sides of the wicket and it was pretty ordinary ".

'Pirates of the Caribbean' tops box office, 'Baywatch' sinks
Over time, the "Pirates" franchise has become more reliant on overseas ticket sales, and that's certainly the case this time out. First, Alien: Covenant , according to Mojo's chart, lost almost 71 percent in grosses from its opening last weekend.

Aaron Judge is 'the scariest thing I've ever seen,' says David Ortiz Next weekend against the Houston Astros there will be two familiar faces in the media section in Houston for the Boston Red Sox . David Ortiz (left), CC Sabathia (center) and Aaron Judge at Sabathia's charity event Monday in Times Square.N.Y.

Elina Svitolina ends Petra Martic dream run to reach French Open quarters Argentina's Paola Suarez was the last South American woman to reach a quarterfinal at a Slam at Wimbledon in 2004. The 26-year-old started the second set where she'd left off, breaking an error-strewn Svitolina to love.

Harvard rescinds offers to incoming freshmen over hateful memes Many will agree these students crossed a line and forfeited the right to engage in unfettered debate, at least at Harvard . But with this action, Harvard is sending a message with a classic free-speech chill: You can say anything - but not here.

England, New Zealand Seek Tightened Security Ahead Of Match SPORT360 MATCH PREDICTION: England go into the match as favourites, but you can not rule out New Zealand from any contest. This England team have grown up in the intervening months. "So I think they've contributed to it as a whole".

Venus Williams exits French Open after Bacsinszky defeat How old is she? 36? 36? Venus Williams wasn't in the most talkative of moods Sunday after a three-set loss at the French Open . With losses on Sunday by defending champion Garbine Muguruza , seven-time major victor Venus Williams and 2011 U.S.

UN Population Fund chief dies He was married, had five children and several grandchildren. " Funeral Arrangements will be announced by the family ". He had extensive knowledge of the global and national frameworks and processes that are critical to UNFPA's work.

Thad Matta out as basketball coach at Ohio State The Buckeyes said a national search for a new coach would begin right away. When asked if he was finished coaching, Matta said, "Never say never.

Putin: 'I didn't even really talk' to Flynn during dinner The dinner Putin referred to was a gala for the Russian state news agency, RT. "I made my speech". As far as the findings of US intelligence agencies, Putin said, "They have been misled".

Trump's tweeted typo covfefe becoming vanity license plates He deleted it at 5.50 a.m., and by then, it was re-tweeted more than 100,000 times, making it the career best for Mr. Trump who routinely announces policy and snipes at critics at home and overseas in fewer than 140 characters.

Pro-Trump rally, counter protests draw thousands in downtown Portland The free-speech rally organized by a conservative group called Patriot Prayer drew hundreds to a plaza near City Hall . Another wearing a "Police Lives Matter" T-shirt said she wanted to "reverse the lies" surrounding Trump supporters.

Zidane can stay at Real Madrid for life, says Perez In the run-up to the final, it sounded like Juventus were favourites and were playing a team who'd reached the final by chance. We pressed a lot more and physically we won the game there too, so I'm very happy".

When is Game 3 of the NBA Finals? With a crushing defeat behind them, the Cavs will attempt to even the series when the game tips off at 8:00 PM ET on ABC tonight. Steve Kerr was back on the bench for the Warriors in this one, which was great to see and gave the Warriors and emotional boost.

Goldman Vilified by Venezuelan Opposition Over Alleged Bond Deal Since April 1, Venezuela has been beset by near daily protests and violent clashes with government forces that have left 59 dead. Julio Borges , the opposition lawmaker who heads the National Assembly, wrote a letter of protest to Lloyd C.

Murray confident ahead of Del Potro clash And now I know his game a lot, but I need to be in good shape and physically be stronger if we play a long match, long rallies. The world No 1 came through an absorbing contest on a sweltering Court Suzanne Lenglen 6-7 (3-7 ) 6-2 6-2 7-6 (7-3).

Australian killed during altercation in San Francisco Fox 2 News reported that investigators are reviewing CCTV footage from a nearby security camera. Andrew Borden, of Wisconsin, was also a guest at the hotel early Friday.

New smart speaker expected as Apple kicks off conference

Recommended