Online shopping can be extremely convenient, but then you have to deal with the small issue of actually receiving the goods. In the US, Amazon is testing a new system that snaps a photo of the packages left at the customer's door to prove they have been delivered.
In an unexpected turn of events, but one that can be a glimpse of things to come, Microsoft and Amazon are going to partner up and allow Alexa to be called from Cortana and vice versa.
All the big players - Amazon, Google, Apple, Microsoft and Samsung - have been working on their smart devices, it's no surprise Facebook wants to jump in on the action as well, and we might get to see the results early next year.
Amazon continues to expand its "Echo" family of devices, and we now get a new Echo Show which arrives on time to make the most out of the new Alexa Calling service.
Voice synthesis has come a long way since those days when computers sounded like robots, but there's still a long way to go and Amazon takes another step forward by teaching Alexa to speak with added emotions and human-like characteristics.
Buying stuff on Amazon is one of the most simple things ever... provided you have a debit or credit card associated with your account. Now, Amazon wants to open its doors to those who may not have one (or don't want to use it) by allowing you to top off your account using cash.
An accidental purchase made by a girl when talking to Alexa via Amazon Echo had some unintended consequences when the TV report about it triggered dozens of identical purchases at countless residences with a Amazon Echo listening to it.
What began like a seemingly funny joke is becoming a reality far sooner than expected, as Amazon is already making deliveries via drones in the UK - though for now limited to only two customers serving as beta testers.
Amazon has optimized the purchasing procedure over the years, easing it with things like one-click shopping and same day deliver; and it's now doing the same for physical stores with its Amazon Go.
If you though having unlimited cloud storage for your photos for just $11.99 per year was too good to be true, it seems Amazon thinks the same, as it has terminated this option for the public and made it a Amazon Prime exclusive.
As if there weren't enough issues already regarding the potential bad configuration of surveillance cameras that might let the entire world see what's happening in your home (or office), now there's a chance you might be getting a surveillance system with malware already included in it.
Kodi (ex-XBMC) has just recently became available on Google Play, but it seems other app stores, like Amazon's, have a completely opposite view of this popular media center software,
Data, data and more data. No matter how big our hard drives get, we always seem to be able to find a way to fill them - and in big part thanks to the high megapixel cameras and HD video (soon to be Ultra HD 4K). Thankfully, Amazon now was an unlimited cloud storage plan for us.
With Christmas just around the corner, we need to make sure we're getting the best deals when we buy online. And with Camelizer, you'll be able to see the price history on Amazon and other online stores.
Amazon has finally unveilled its Fire smartphone with the "dynamic perspective" tech that uses 4 front facing cameras to track you and create an holographic 3D effect as you move your head, and a Firefly button that can instantly scan all sorts of objects and direct you to Amazon (or other services) where you can get more info and buy it. But among these and other features, there is one that might force Apple and Google to revise their plans: unlimited photo storage.
We live in a era where we can send a data packet all the way across the world in a few milliseconds. We can call anyone and expect them to pick up immediately, or answer a text in the next couple of seconds. However, when you press the "buy" button on the online shop, you still have to wait days (or more) to get the delivery at your door. Amazon wants to change all that... with its sci-fi sounding: Amazon Prime Air.
Amazon has been pushing for faster delivery of items to your door. First with 1 day delivery, and then with the same-day delivery in certain areas. But this Amazon Prime Air takes it even further, by using flying autonomous drones to deliver packagers up to 5 pounds to a radius of 10 miles in under 30 minutes. Just imagine it... you click "buy now"... and in less than half an hour it might be right at your doorstep - or not, with such a system, one can envision items being delivered to wherever you are - even if you're at the beach or at the park.
But for now, this project is still in its infancy and there's a lot to be done to make that future come true. But dreaming is always the first step, and then it's just a matter of time for it to become science reality rather than fiction. Anyway... just keep in mind there are bound to be more UFO sighting over the next couple of years, as drones cross our skies ever more frequently - which, on the other hand, will also educate people to better identify them and perhaps... make UFO sighting less "unidentifiable".
Amazon has finally revealed its new Kindles and its first step to grab a hold in the growing tablet market. A step that is strategically done without confronting the current market leader... Apple's iPad.
But first: there are new Kindles coming. The basic Kindle model will now be available for just $79 (ads included, I'm sure - though I don't think you won't mind much)!
Next up the line, a more interesting new model pops up: the new Kindle Touch, which keeps using the same eInk display we all known and love, but adds a IR touchscreen frame (unlike resistive/capacitive layers, this method won't "interfere" with the eInk pearly paper look).
Starting at $99, and being just $20 more than the "basic" model, I'm guessing this will be the one most people will choose! (There's also a Kindle Touch 3G model, for $149.)
But, the one everyone was curious to see it the new Kindle Fire.
With a price of $199.99, this is the one Amazon will use to cleverly position itself in the tablet market.
Being a 7" tablet, and having no camera nor microphone, it can't be compared to the iPad, and that's exactly how Amazon wants it. Its simply a "new kind" of Kindle that gives you instant access to the entire Amazon platform in a very attractive and useful way.
Contrary to what you'd might expect at this price range, you'll find the Kindle Fire to have a high-quality IPS LCD 7" screen (although its multitouch screen can only detect 2 touch points), 8GB memory, and it's WiFi only. Inside, there's a dual-core CPU that makes its completely revamped interface (it's based on Android, but you won't really notice it) fly around without any lag or hesitation whatsoever. Amazon really made its point in creating a pixel-perfect user experience rivaling the iPad's smoothness, as you can see in the following video... [via This is my next]
Unfortunately, you'll only get a 30-day free trial for Amazon Prime - not the 1 year some rumors talked about...
To make it's user experience even faster, the Kindle Fire uses a new Amazon developed browser called Silk. This Silk uses Amazon's own EC2 cloud to speed up the browsing process, letting the immensely powerful cloud to do most of the work and leaving the Fire to just "show" the results.
Opera Mini and SkyFire already use a similar concept, but this Silk seems to push it to the next level, and it will certainly be something to keep an eye on - although, as expected, there are already those that remind us that could potentially become a huge privacy risk, as Amazon will be able to log (and even interfere) what you're doing around the web.
... And let's not forget that a Kindle Fire XL, with iPad like dimensions is expected to pop up soon!
The eBook market has been growing at an ever faster rate, just look at the iPhone eBook category. The recent lauch of the second generation of Amazon's eBook reader, the Kindle 2, has also relaunched the public interest in these novel devices.
Though you may miss the physical contact with the paper texture and the physical satisfaction of turning the pages, you must admit that an eBook is often more convenient to carry around. How else could you carry your entire book collection with you, in your pocket or backpack, at all times?
That's why I'm not surprised to see Amazon launching the Kindle for iPhone App.
This free App allows you to read ebooks on your iPhone, and even keep it in sync with your Kindle (should you have one.)
Of course, an iPhone is no substitute for a better, larger eBook reader... but I think it's how it really should be done. They should provide ways to reach you content, in as many platforms as possible - and leave the choice to us. If you don't feel comfortable reading in such a small screen, no harm done - just go ahead and keep reading it in your Kindle. But for a whole lot of people, this iPhone App will be extremely useful, allowing them to keep reading their book whenever and wherever they want.
Just one last critic to the unexplainable Apple's App Store rules. Just like my friend Bruno Figueiredo said: Why shouldn't european customers be allowed to download this app? Just the same as, why can't american users download the Sapo News iPhone App (showing portuguese news.)
Aren't there thousands of Portuguese living in America that would appreciate reading news from their country?
Aren't there thousands of European customers buying Kindles?
