Voice assistants like Siri and Google Assistant haven’t been created equal, with each has its own strengths and weaknesses. Amazon and Microsoft seemed to have recognized this when they announced a unique partnership last year that would combine the resources of Alexa and Cortana, respectively, across the two voice platforms. Nearly a year later, that collaboration is being put on display for the public for the first time, according to CNET.
Alexa
Siri comes out ahead of Alexa in new digital assistants survey
Loup Ventures has published the results of a new survey that looks at the intelligence of the smart assistants currently on the market. The study asked Apple's Siri, Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and Microsoft's Cortana the same 800 questions. The results were somewhat surprising.
Amazon working on a power-sipping Alexa chip
California-based chipmaker DSP Group today confirmed it's partnered up with Amazon on a low-power Alexa chip that's smaller than a 10-cent coin, which third-party vendors will be able to take advantage of to embed the smart assistant in their own portable accessories.
Alexa for iPhone picks up voice controls
Alexa for iPhone now lets you check the weather, get sports scores, control smart home accessories, ask questions and more—all by using just your voice.
Bring Amazon Alexa to Apple Watch with Voice in a Can app
Tired of using Siri on your Apple Watch? Is Amazon Alexa your preferred voice assistant? Now you can use Alexa on your wearable device, courtesy of the new Voice in a can app.
Smart home builders increasingly picking Alexa accessories over HomeKit products
Many smart home vendors are reportedly building homes that prioritize accessories that work with the smartphone assistant Alexa while deemphasizing accessories that are compatible with Apple's HomeKit framework for the connect home.
Teaser for Amazon’s Super Bowl LII commercial hints at new Alexa voices
“Alexa lost her voice! How's that even possible?” a puzzled Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos asks an engineer in a new 30-second teaser advertisement released ahead of Super Bowl LII.
Hands-on with the iDevice Instinct HomeKit wall switch with built-in Amazon Echo speaker
iDevices built an Amazon Alexa speaker right into their upcoming Instinct wall switch, and while we didn't get to try it, we did get to check it out, as well as iDevices other new products, at CES 2018.
Hands-on with Kohler’s HomeKit shower and faucet
Kohler has launched their Konnect program that includes toilets, showers, sinks, faucets, mirrors, and more. We went hands on with their first two HomeKit-equipped products at CES 2018.
Kohler introduces new HomeKit connected faucet and shower at CES
At CES this week, Kohler took the wraps off a collection of new smart kitchen and bath products that utilize its Microsoft Azure-based Kohler Konnect platform. They will also support Apple's HomeKit and Siri when they launch.
Canary launches an inexpensive home security camera at CES, but without HomeKit support
Available for under a hundred bucks, the new Canary View is an affordable home security camera that has many of the features found in the pricier Canary All-In-One range.
iDevices launches new HomeKit light switch with Amazon Alexa integration
Popular home accessory maker iDevices at CES 2018 launched its latest product, the Instinct smart wall switch that, aside from working with Apple's HomeKit system, features what amounts to a tiny Amazon Echo smart assistant built into the front.