eMarketer’s latest report offers a snapshot of the U.S. smart speaker market, and the outlook is still rosy for Amazon. The company’s Echo line is projected to be used by 69.7% of U.S. smart speaker users in 2020 and by 68.2% in 2021. Continue Reading
One of the more recent streaming service lawsuits is expanding its reach. In November, Sosa Entertainment and Pro Music Rights filed a suit against Spotify. Pro Music Rights has filed additional lawsuits against ten more streaming services. Continue Reading
Google has several options for audio playback on its Home collection of smart speakers, but one appears to have been axed. The absense is Guest Mode, which lets visitors use Chromecast to play their own content to smart devices without logging onto WiFi. Continue Reading
Sonos has filed a lawsuit against Google, alleging that the tech giant infringed on patents in developing its smart speakers. The suit claims that Google infringed on five patents and seeks both financial damages and a ban on the sale of Google’s speakers, smartphones, and laptops in the U.S. Continue Reading
Genius Media Group has filed a lawsuit against Google and LyricFind, alleging that the two parties have been unlawfully taking content from its online lyrics database. The suit seeks at least $50 million in damages, as well as injunctions against both companies to bar them from continuing the practice. Continue Reading
Google Assistant has been updated with a new news feature for listeners. The voice assistant is adding a tailored playlist of news stories called Your News Update. It can be started by asking Google to play the news. Continue Reading
Canalys shared its third-quarter statistics about global smart speaker shipments. Amazon continues to lead the pack, while Google has ceded second place to competitors from China. Amazon saw 65.9% annual growth, with worldwide shipments numbering 10.4 million. Continue Reading
Google and PRX have expanded their partnership centered on training and education for aspiring podcasters. The latest effort is a 10-part video series called Podcasting 101. The show will cover topics such as audio recording tips, script writing, interview skills, and monetization. Continue Reading
Google has introduced a new tool for transitioning media from one smart device to another. Its stream transfer feature can transition music, videos, and podcasts between compatible devices. Continue Reading
Google announced new privacy policies around how it handles recordings made with its voice AI platform. Under the new default for Google Assistant, the company will not retain user recordings. Customers can opt into Google’s Voice & Audio Activity program when they set up the AI. Continue Reading
Google is testing out a new effort to bring its voice assistant to cellphones without internet access. The India pilot program offers a 24/7 phone number that people can call to pose their questions to Google Assistant. Continue Reading
Canalys has been tracking shipments of smart speakers for the past several years, and its report on the second quarter of 2019 revealed a shakeup in leading brands. Amazon remained the top brand with 6.6 million units shipped for its Echo line securing 25.4% market share. Baidu, based in China, took over the second spot with 4.5 million units. Continue Reading