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CES, New Alexa-Powered Products Are Everywhere: Here's The Full List
Amazon's Alexa
natural language assistant is showing up in all kinds of products at the
Consumer Electronics Show.
In 2016, the general public developed an appetite for controlling
their technology with voice commands. Amazon has emerged as the central player
in this movement after it released its voice-controlled home assistant Echo.
And the tech giant made another very smart strategic move: It made the brains
behind Echo—the natural-language AI Alexa— available to other companies to
build into their products. At this year's CES, those devices and gadgets are
everywhere.
Here’s the full list of Alexa-powered products announced at CES
2017 so far, by category.
Lenovo Smart Assistant Speaker
This is Lenovo’s version of
Amazon’s Echo. Users will be able to use all the commands Echo users do.
However, the Lenovo device comes in various colors and features a different
microphone array design. Lenovo’s Smart Assistant has eight far-field
microphones, compared to the Echo’s seven.
LG Appliances
LG said it’s put the Alexa brain
inside its new InstaView smart refrigerator. While all Alexa functions will be
enabled, users will also be able to use voice commands to re-order foods that
are running low in the fridge.
Belkin’s Wemo Dimmer Switch
Belkin says users will be able
to sync the Wemo Dimmer
switch up with Alexa, as well as IFTTT, the Nest Learning Thermostat, and the Google
Home smart speaker at its launch later this year. Same goes for the company's
new, smaller, switch, the WeMo Mini.
Incipio CommandKit Wi-Fi Light
Switch
Incipio released a $60
Wi-Fi-enabled light switch that customers can control
using Alexa or Siri.
Whirlpool Appliances
Whirlpool said many of its smart
appliances will respond to Alexa commands starting in
"early 2017."
Mattel's Aristotle
Mattel introduced Aristotle, a voice-activated baby monitor that
answers both parents’ and kids’ questions. The speaker also comes with a
wireless camera that streams 256-bit encrypted video to users’ phones.
Coway Airmega Smart Air Purifier
Coway has created an Alexa "skill" that allows users to
tell the Airmega purifier to turn on, adjust temperature, or announce the air
quality in the home.
Linksys Velop
Velop is integrating with Alexa to let
basic router functions be completed by voice currently limited to turning the
guest network on and off. Owners will also be able to ask Alexa to read their
Wi-Fi password aloud.
Nightingale
Nightingale said its smart sleep-aid system will work with Alexa
once it starts shipping in February. Users will be able to tell Alexa to launch
a goodnight scene, or adjust the brightness of the built-in nightlight.
Mattel's Aristotle
Mattel introduced Aristotle, a voice-activated baby monitor that
answers both parents’ and kids’ questions. The speaker also comes with a
wireless camera that streams 256-bit encrypted video to users’ phones.
Coway Airmega Smart Air Purifier
Coway has created an Alexa "skill" that allows users to
tell the Airmega purifier to turn on, adjust temperature, or announce the air
quality in the home.
Ford Motor Co.
Ford is incorporating Alexa into
its Ford Sync 3 service, which will allow Echo users to turn on their car with
a voice command. They’ll also be able to lock or unlock doors, check fuel
levels, and control IoT-enabled devices, such as home lights or a garage door.
Volkswagen
Volkswagen said it’s integrating Alexa with its Car-Net connected
telematics services. So drivers will be able to speak commands like
"Alexa, ask Volkswagen the way to the nearest flower shop" or
"Alexa, ask Volkswagen how much gas is left in the tank" so users can
determine if they’ll also need to fuel up along the way.
INRIX
The connected car analytics company
INRIX said it will be integrating Alexa into
its OpenCar platform.
Huawei
Huawei unveiled its Mate 9
smartphone, which it says is the the first to come with Alexa pre-installed.
Sensory
Sensory, the developer behind
always-listening tech in devices like Samsung's Galaxy phones, says it’s bringing a new feature to
Bluetooth headphones that will allow users to put Alexa in the ear (similar to
how Apple has enabled Siri in its AirPod earphones). So users will be able to
speak to their earphones to set alarms, make to-do lists, and get news and
weather.
Dish
Dish said its customers will soon be able to control
their TV with voice after pairing a Hopper DVR with the Amazon Echo or Echo Dot.
DISH is the first pay TV provider to announce direct compatibility with Alexa.
Jam Audio
Jam Audio’s $250 Jam Session speaker will understand Alexa
commands.
Play-Fi
Play-Fi technology announced it
will be integrated into several models of Thiel’s new Aurora LifeStream
wireless speaker system. The products will be compatible with
Alexa with the DTS Play-Fi firmware update.
iHome
iHome said it’ll be selling an Alexa-powered bedside
speaker.
Monster’s Soundstage Home Speaker
Monster, the original audio company behind Beats headphones,
announced that it’s bringing Alexa to its line of Soundstage home speakers.
UBTech Robotics's Lynx
The Lynx humanoid robot will use Alexa's brains to play
music and control smart home devices, based on voice commands. Lynx also
recognizes users’ faces and can change its responses accordingly.
LG Hub Robot
LG’s new robot contains the Alexa brain and responds to various
commands with body language, like nodding its head when answering a question.
Hub Robot can also identify family members through facial recognition.
Samsung Powerbot VR7000
Samsung says its new smart vacuum
will have a companion app and Alexa
compatibility when it launches this year.
And that may be just the start. As we move into the new year other
companies and products are likely to announce Alexa integration.
MARK SULLIVAN
https://www.fastcompany.com/3067039/robot-revolution/at-ces-new-alexa-powered-products-are-everywhere-heres-the-full-list
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