Latest news with #AmazonEcho
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Amazon launches new R&D group focused on agentic AI and robotics
Tech giant Amazon plans to launch a new group within its consumer product division that will focus on agentic AI. Amazon announced this new research and development group at an event on Wednesday, according to reporting from CNBC. This group will be based out of Lab126, Amazon's hardware R&D division that is behind tech including the Amazon Echo and the Kindle. The reason this agentic AI group is likely based at a hardware R&D center is that Amazon hopes this group will develop an agentic AI framework to use in the company's robotics efforts and to give the company's warehouse robots more skills. TechCrunch reached out to Amazon for more information. This article originally appeared on TechCrunch at
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Amazon launches new R&D group focused on agentic AI and robotics
Tech giant Amazon plans to launch a new group within its consumer product division that will focus on agentic AI. Amazon announced this new research and development group at an event on Wednesday, according to reporting from CNBC. This group will be based out of Lab126, Amazon's hardware R&D division that is behind tech including the Amazon Echo and the Kindle. The reason this agentic AI group is likely based at a hardware R&D center is that Amazon hopes this group will develop an agentic AI framework to use in the company's robotics efforts and to give the company's warehouse robots more skills. TechCrunch reached out to Amazon for more information. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Smart homes, silent spies: 6 ways to safeguard your privacy
Did you know the number of smart devices worldwide has surged from 10 billion in 2019 to nearly 18.8 billion by the end of 2024! Now, with this rapid growth in smart device usage, there's a fair chance we all have at least one smart home device in our home, starting from robot vacuum cleaners to security cameras, AI refrigerators, smart cooking appliances and more. While these gadgets bring incredible convenience, they also come with a hidden risk of exposing your personal data. Here's how some most common smart home devices store the data Robot vacuum cleaners Robot vacuums are equipped with advanced mapping technology. They use cameras and sensors to scan your home's layout, every corner, furniture placement, and obstacles that are digitally recorded. While this helps with cleaning efficiency, much of that data is stored in the cloud and shared with third parties to improve AI or form partnerships, raising privacy concerns. Smart TVs Remember how you watch a TV show or a movie, and it starts suggesting similar content? Smart TVs track your viewing habits through Automated Content Recognition (ACR), identifying everything from live TV to streaming. This data is sent to manufacturers and often sold to advertisers to create detailed viewer profiles for personalised recommendations. Voice Assistants Alexa, 'how's the weather today?' Makes your life easier, doesn't it? Devices like Amazon Echo, Google Nest, or Apple HomePod are designed to listen for wake words like "Alexa" or "Hey Google." But privacy researchers warn that these assistants can sometimes misinterpret background noises or conversations, inadvertently recording audio clips. These snippets are stored on cloud servers, and in many cases, reviewed by human contractors for quality control, raising serious concerns about what private moments are being overheard and stored. Security cameras Perhaps the most privacy-invasive of them all, smart security cameras often operate on continuous recording modes. For both indoor cameras and video doorbells, footage is typically stored on company servers, and in some cases, accessible to law enforcement upon request. Smart home appliances AI-powered refrigerators, ovens, and dishwashers track how often and when you use them. Some appliances even send alerts when you're low on items or suggest recipes, all based on your usage behaviour. This means your lifestyle habits are being constantly analysed and monetised. 1. Secure your Wi-Fi network: Use strong, unique passwords for your Wi-Fi and enable WPA3 encryption. 2. Use strong, unique passwords for devices: Make sure to change the default passwords set by the brand when you purchased them and set strong, unique passwords for each smart device. 3. Regularly update device firmware: Keep all your smart devices updated with the latest firmware and software patches. 4. Limit data sharing settings: Adjust and restrict unnecessary data collection. Disable features like voice recordings, storage or location tracking when not essential. 5. Disable unused features and voice activation: Turn off features you don't use, especially always-on listening modes or remote access. 6. Choose trusted brands: Opt for reputable brands with a strong security track record. They're more likely to offer regular updates and robust data protection.
Buzz Feed
3 days ago
- Health
- Buzz Feed
Reviewers Say These Items Help Them Remember Things
If forgetting things was an Olympic sport, I'd be a gold medalist. (That is, if I remembered the date and time of the competition.) While some people may struggle with their memory as they age, others (like me), never had strong short-term memory in the first place. Meetings, important dates, grocery lists, charging devices and taking medication — it's a lot to keep track of. So, as an adult with an apartment and a job, I've needed to find all sorts of visual cues, reminders and general memory problem-solving to keep my life afloat. To help you remember all the things that need remembering, I rounded up some of my favorite reminder tools and other highly-rated options that reviewers love for daily organization. We have notepads, digital trackers and handy interactive signs to help you be where you need to be and have what you need to have at any given time. My beloved Amazon Echo pop Last year, an ADHD content creator finally convinced me to get an Echo dot, and it's truly the best thing I've ever used for remembering all the things I need to do. Every Monday, I look at my calendar and just shout out when all my meetings are and Echo automatically reminds me of them throughout the week. I have it remind me of birthdays, dinners, random errands I need to run or calls I need to make. I resisted this purchase for so long and I wish I hadn't. Promising review: "With ADHD and now physical illness it is really hard to keep track of appointments and basically remember things I have to do, dates etc. I have a much better chance of remembering things if I have a voice pop up and remind me instead of just relying on things written down. It's great to have it when something pops into my head at night and I just yell out to Alexa to remind me instead of getting out of bed to look for my glasses, pen and paper. Besides turning on and off lamps, alarms, checking the weather and more I'm sure I'm forgetting. It's Affordable and works great." —susan l. sediaGet it from Amazon for $39.99 (available in four colors). Or a visual Amazon Echo show Kind of like an Alexa and a tablet combined, this interactive touch-screen Alexa Echo show device works as a smart hub in your house, linking all your smart home devices and giving you a screen to see your calendar, the weather and even your security cameras. Use voice control to turn off your connected lights or to make a running grocery list through the week. Enjoy Netflix and other streaming channels, music and podcasts, video chatting and even use it as a digital picture frame to show off family memories. Promising review: "I don't think I could live without my echo show. So easy to find out anything and timer and reminders are priceless. Highly recommend especially for gifts." —LilyGet it from Amazon for $149.99 (available in two colors). A set of four Apple AirTags An ever-best-selling item here, the genius Apple AirTag is like a tiny tracker you can put almost anywhere. It can ping its own location, so when you attach it to one of your belongings, you can track it via Apple's Find My app. You can even tell your AirTag to play a sound when you're looking for it so it's easier to find. Forgot where you put your keys? Have a dog or cat that likes to escape? Do you always put your bag down somewhere weird and then never can find it when you're already running late? Good thing this comes with four tags. Promising review: "Apple Airtags are a must-have if you're prone to misplacing things or just want extra peace of mind. They work exactly as advertised, providing accurate tracking and making it so much easier to keep tabs on your belongings. I've used them in my luggage, backpack, and even on my keys, and they've been incredibly reliable every time. Setting them up is a breeze—just a quick tap with your iPhone, and you're good to go. I also love the precision finding feature, which makes locating items a snap. If you're on the fence about Airtags, I'd say go for it. They're one of those small investments that pay off big!" —Rebecca KruchtenGet a four-pack from Amazon for $74.99. The Cube GPS car tracker I don't even have to tell you about the sheer panic and stress of going into a parking lot and realizing you have no idea where the frick your car is. This Cube GPS tracker easily sticks onto your car and works with an app to let you find your vehicle with ease. Reviewers also like it for runaway dogs, to stick on their collars so you can always find review: "I literally lose cats, its not attached to me its of my biggest issues is my car in parking lots. If I get distracted by the kids walking into the mall, then I spend hours trying to find the blasted thing. It was too pricey to paint my car neon yellow so I tried leaving a cube tracker in the care and more lost hours wandering parking lots looking like a lost senior citizen. Best gift my brother ever gave me." —Twin4meGet it from Lowe's for $99.95. A stick-on medicine tracker Did I take my meds? It's an all too familiar question that I ask myself many times a day. This ingenious pair of trackers sticks onto your bottle to let you mark if you've taken your meds for the day. They're reusable and simply stick onto the review: "I have a problem remembering if I took a pill or not. This is very helpful!" —PlaceholderGet them from Amazon for $12.99 (available in two colors). An Alexa-controlled light bulb Lights are a pretty classic forgetting hot spot. You forget to turn them off. Or you forget to keep them on when you know you're coming home late. Whatever the case, this smart bulb connects with your Alexa and the Alexa app, letting you use voice control to turn lights on and off or control them with the app to ensure your lights are how you want them even when you're not home. You can even set them on timers so you don't have to remember anything at all. Promising review: "I've resisted implementing 'smart home' things for years now, but the absolute convenience can't be denied. Long story short: I work nights and having this as my front porch light is so nice. Everything can be controlled from the app and it's no big deal if I forget to turn it off. Won't be getting all the smart home stuff, but a few lightbulbs to make my life easier can't hurt in my opinion. And the best part is being able to turn it on and off even if I'm not at home. Just get it. Setup is SO EASY and took me longer to screw in the lightbulb than it did for my Alexa app to recognize that there was a new device lol" —DanniGet it from Amazon for $11.99+ (available in three styles and as a four-pack). A set of Kasa smart plugs Speaking of turning things off and on, another top-seller here, Kasa smart plugs feel like another no-brainer for helpful reminder tools. Simply plug them into any outlet in your home and transform that into a "smart" outlet that you can control via your phone or voice and even set to turn on and off at specific times. Never stress about if you turned off your lights or hair straightener again or have to run back to your house to be sure your space heater is off. Promising review: "I use these for my lights and wax warmers. I love that my warmers are on a timer so I don't have to remember to go and turn them on and off every day." —GinaGet a four-pack from Amazon for $23.99. A visual Time Timer Another fav of mine to remember when I have to leave for stuff, when something is cooking, if I have a time constraint or really anything regarding tasks and staying on time is a visual timer. I have tried other, cheaper, timers and have always been sourly disappointed. The real deal Time Timer is easy to use, isn't an eyesore, is so clear to read and gives an effective visual of time passing. I don't have kids myself, but I imagine it's also a great tool for little ones who can't tell time yet. "The Time Timer allows you to see time passing,' Liz Lewis, ADHD coach and founder of Healthy ADHD previously told us. "You're more likely to start and then persist when you have a very obvious time constraint." The Time Timer is silent as it passes time (i.e. no annoying tick) and can be set up to ring when time is up or remain review: "I love this thing so much I ended up with 3 in my house and 1 at work. There is no ticking until the alarm goes off (which you can switch off so it doesn't beep, if needed) so it doesn't drive me absolutely bonkers. It's easy to set in 1-minute increments all the way up to an hour (but there is a 120 minute version available) just by turning a dial. Best of all, it's visual. You can just glance at it and see how much time is left without having to do the math or remember what time you were supposed to stop/switch tasks/leave or whatever. And, if you're in the zone, the alarm reminds you." —Jessie MGet it from Amazon for $19.95 (available in six colors). A three-in-one charging station Perhaps the best way to remember to charge all your devices is to have a convenient spot where they can all juice up at once. This handy Apple device charging stand gives you a spot to charge your iPhone, AirPods and Apple Watch at the same time. How's that for easy?Promising review: "I recently got an Apple Watch and was having trouble remembering to charge it every night. Getting this and keeping it next to my bed had completely changed that and my phone, watch and AirPods always get charged. Works great. I got the white and I think it's pretty!" —MikaylaGet it from Amazon for $17.99+ (available in six colors). A sliding dishwasher reminder sign I know what you're thinking, you could just open the door of the dishwasher to see if the dishes are clean are not. But let's be honest, sometimes it's hard to tell, and sometimes some of us need more of a visual reminder. This sliding sign lets you show the whole house when it's time to put the dishes review: "This little sign makes life a little easier. We mark the dishes as clean as soon as we turn the dish washer on so we don't have to remember if they are or not." —Dee Dee SmithGet it from Amazon for $6.64+ (available in six styles). Or an encouraging water bottle Remembering to drink water can be another eternal struggle. This handy water bottle comes in a bunch of fun colors and gives you encouragement and a little visual help to continue to get your H2O fill through the review: "I am really bad at remembering to drink water in the day and this water bottle has easily gotten me in the habit of drinking water throughout the day! I use it every day, it's easy to clean and comfortable to drink with!" —Brandy FosterGet it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in eight styles). A to-do list with all the lists In writing this story, I found this many-list list pad and was so charmed I added it to my own cart and needed to put it here. If you too have a busy brain, this sheet so perfectly lets you jot down all the different things going on through a single day from appointments to review: "I have a hard time keeping track of multiple to-dos and appointments and such. I've tried keeping planners and every other organizational system a 'normal' person could come up with, and I always end up losing something important in the jumble. I realized I was basically keeping multiple lists because they felt like 'different categories,' but juggling multiple lists can get confusing/overwhelming and it's easy to forget something. This puts them all in one place, categorized, and it's right out in the open (a common thing with ADHD is 'out of sight, out of mind' and planners are difficult because once they're closed it's like the stuff you wrote inside doesn't exist and you forget to open it and things get forgotten). TLDR; definitely recommend if you're a *multiple lists* type of person." — MileenaGet it from Amazon for $5.53. Or a set of eight magnetic note pads Old-school notepads are another classic. For anyone who remembers things better by writing them down or seeing notes around, this set gives you eight magnetic pads that can stick to your fridge, making them perfect for grocery shopping, taking massages or other small review: "In my house these are an absolute must-have. With my busy life the last thing I need is to remember every little thing. I use these notepads for everything. To-do lists, grocery lists, notes to self, etc. The quality is super nice. Cute patterns, thick paper and full back magnets hold super strong. They aren't huge so not a ton or writing space but it's perfect for small notes." —SarahBeeHappyGet them from Amazon for $6.90+ (available in five styles). A futuristic Rocketbook notebook Or, if you like a little mix of analog and digital, Rocketbook reusable notebooks let you take notes by hand, scan them on your phone with the app and then turn them into digital files that you can access review: "Super impressed with this notebook! I was tired of putting notes in my phone because I hand write faster and hand writing helps me remember things better, but love having the digital access to notes. This solved my problem! I've wiped and reused several times with the included microfiber cloth and it looks like new after. Sometimes when you erase the Frixion pens the eraser leave behind a residue and the pen has trouble writing over that but after wiping with water the paper is fine and the pen writes perfectly. I love the Executive size (PERFECT to carry in a purse) but I love this so much that I want to get the larger size for at home too. I bought the turquoise color and it's really pretty. The app is really easy to use too, and the scans turn out great! I love this notebook and I'm so happy I don't need to spend all the money on sticky notes and traditional notebooks anymore or use all that paper for notes I don't need a hard copy of. I've recommended this to everybody I know and my sister bought one the day after I showed her mine. I'm a forever fan of the Rocketbook now!" —EmilyGet it from Amazon for $28.58+ (available in two styles and 13 colors). A clear, acrylic calendar A calendar is another pretty classic item that still feels worthwhile to put on this list. This clear option is good-looking and unobtrusive and can go on your fridge without making it look too busy to the eye. Use different colors for each of your family members to keep track of everyone's review: "This is a great addition. Clean looking. Family all onboard for weekly meals and any important things to remember!" —The Cfam ClanGet it from Amazon for $13.99 (also available in eight other styles and a smaller size).
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
5 gadgets to make your home smart without the hassle of complex setups or expensive systems
Making a home 'smart' often sounds more complicated than it needs to be. The thought of tangled wires, clunky apps, and gadgets that seem harder to manage than the problems they're supposed to solve is enough to put anyone off. But it doesn't have to be that way. With the right approach, smart home tech can be simple and surprisingly helpful. No massive setup. No steep learning curve or hours lost down a YouTube rabbit hole. Just a few well chosen devices that quietly make everyday life a little easier. These five gadgets are a great place to start. Smart plugs are one of the easiest ways to begin your smart home journey. Plug them into a standard wall socket, then connect a basic device like a lamp or a fan. After that, you can switch it on or off using your phone or even with your voice. Want your coffee maker to start brewing before you get up? Set a schedule. Forgot to turn off a lamp before heading out? Do it from wherever you are. It's simple, and it just works. Smart bulbs do more than just illuminate a room. You can dim the brightness, change the colour temperature from warm to cool, or set them to switch off automatically at a certain time. No special tools or confusing setup required. Just screw them in like any regular bulb and connect them via an app. They're especially handy when you're in bed and don't want to get up to flick the switch. Smart speakers are the unsung heroes of smart homes. Devices like the Amazon Echo or Google Nest can play music, read out the news, check the weather, and control other connected gadgets, all through simple voice commands. They quietly become part of your routine. Saying things like 'turn off the lights' or 'set a 10 minute timer' quickly starts to feel completely normal. If you're not always at home or receive a lot of deliveries, a video doorbell is a no-brainer. It lets you see who's at your door right from your phone, wherever you are. You can even speak to visitors through the device. It's especially useful if you're waiting for a package or simply don't want to answer the door. Some models also notify you when there's movement nearby or record short video clips—so you're never left guessing who popped round. Smart thermostats offer effortless comfort and efficiency. They learn your daily routine and adjust the heating or cooling accordingly. You can also control them remotely through your phone. Leaving the house? It can turn itself down. Heading home early? Warm things up before you arrive. Not only does it make your space more comfortable, but it also helps reduce energy consumption.
