The BBC has continued to make updates and improvements to its Alexa skill. The biggest new development is the ability to seamlessly continue listening to a program between an Alexa-enabled device and the BBC Sounds app or website. Continue Reading
Amazon released its financial results for the second quarter. The company generated net sales of $63.4 billion in the period. Despite the eye-popping size of the totals, Amazon’s performance caused consternation in the market. Continue Reading
Voice assistants have been gaining in popularity, but many people are cautious about the technology for privacy reasons. When a microphone is constantly on and waiting to respond to a possible command, is it recording any and all other audio? And what happens with those recordings? Continue Reading
Amazon released a new version of its display smart speaker as well as new privacy updates to its Alexa voice assistant. On the hardware side, the company launched the Echo Show 5. Amazon Alexa has also received new updates to reflect other privacy concerns. Continue Reading
Live365 has launched its own skill for use with the Amazon Alexa voice assistant. This integration will allow listeners to access lean-back listening to hundreds of music genres and thousands of stations. Continue Reading
Amazon is rolling out a new use for Alexa for people using its Audible audiobook service. Beginning today, the voice assistant can be used to contact the customer support team for the Audible audiobook platform. We inadvertently tested it. Continue Reading
Brief news items and worthy reads from around the web: Alexa listens to you, and it’s not the only one. Digital distributors on the rise. Bandcamp to offer vinyl pressing. Continue Reading
Amazon has followed through on the launch of an ad-supported streaming music service, a move that was initially scouted by Billboard earlier this week. However, the early reports did not include one pertinent detail: the platform will only be available through the company’s Alexa voice assistant. Continue Reading
Sonos has added partial support for Apple Music to its smart speakers. For now, the streaming service is only accessible on Sonos One and Sonos Beam devices. This is a big move from two businesses that have been slow to adopt new partners in the smart speaker space. Continue Reading
Amazon has introduced a certification for developers building skills for its Alexa voice assistant. The certification is fittingly called AWS Certified Alexa Skill Builder – Specialty. Amazon said this marks the first time it has provided a certification for developers. Continue Reading
Hollywood has been turning to podcasts for creative inspiration, but major movie releases are also finding other ways to work with audio. An upcoming stop-motion animation movie titled Missing Link is being promoted with a new Alexa skill. Continue Reading
Brief news items and worthy reads from around the web: Voice assistants struggle with discovery. The new journey for indies. What if Google buys UMG? Continue Reading