Smart Tech Today (Video)

Amazon's Alexa voice assistant is happy to announce package updates, but that's a bit of an issue around the holidays. Meta (Facebook) has opened up Horizon Worlds to adults in the U.S. and Canada. DARPA is funding research from a company that makes a device to charge a swarm of drones.

• Sonos plans to improve its mixed environmental track record
• How to keep Alexa from ruining your Christmas surprises
• Kobo's Elipsa and Sage e-readers are better for reading than writing
• Meta opens up access to its VR social platform Horizon Worlds
• DARPA Is Exploring Ways to Wirelessly Charge Drone Swarms
• Drop a Magnet on This Map and a Fake Window Provides Live Views From Around the World
• Razer's New MagSafe Cooling Fan Brings RGB to Your iPhone, Because Why Not
• A New Tesla Safety Concern: Drivers Can Play Video Games in Moving Cars
• The Popular Family Safety App Life360 Is Selling Precise Location Data on Its Tens of Millions of Users
• Apple and Hyatt begin rolling out hotel keys in Apple Wallet
• Kuo: Apple AR Headset to Feature Advanced Hand Gesture Controls and Object Detection

Picks of the week

• Dan: Lutron Aurora Smart Bulb Dimmer Switch
• Mikah: Anker 637 Magnetic Charging Station

Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Dan Moren

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Show notes and links for this episode are available at: https://twit.tv/shows/smart-tech-today/episodes/107

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Alexa's adaptive volume, Philips Hue's Spotify sync, HOOBS 4

• Amazon's new 'adaptive volume' will make Alexa speak louder when it's noisy
• Amazon taps its SocialBot challenge to boost conversational AI
• Amazon may soon stream live performances to Echo speakers
• Philips Hue partners with Spotify to turn all your lights into a music visualizer
• Philips Hue Wants to Put a Smart Light in Every Room in Your House
• Home Depot releases its own smart home app
• SimpliSafe finally adds an outdoor camera to its 'whole home' security
• Assistant 'Quick phrases' will let you skip 'Hey Google'
• Google Assistant adds support for Daylong Routines
• New Nest Cam will get a web portal, manual clips eventually
• Level & Rocky Mountain Hardware, VOCOlinc gone
• Eve Thermo updated to support Thread
• Spigen AirPods Pro AirTag case arrives with item finder
• A cheap, reliable remote for Apple TV
• Nanoleaf Essentials Lightstrip review: Bright, colorful, and Thread-enabled
• HOOBS 4 levels up Homebridge with new features
• Electrify America Announces New 'One Stop' Mobile Solution for Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
• Samsung Can Remotely Disable Any of Its TVs Worldwide
• You can watch loads of classic Pokemon shows for free on the Switch
• Movies Anywhere is using AI to create lists of the movies you own

Picks of the week

• Matthew: Weather on the Way: Road Trip
• Mikah: Mack's Foam Earplugs

Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Matthew Cassinelli

Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/smart-tech-today

Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit

Show notes and links for this episode are available at: https://twit.tv/shows/smart-tech-today/episodes/94

Sponsor:

• udacity.com/TWiT code TWIT75