Latest news with #AmazonEcho
Daily Record
31-07-2025
- Daily Record
The chalet in Scotland's 'Jewel of the Highlands' you can rent out for holiday
"The property is just wonderful and in the most beautiful surroundings." A chalet in a picturesque Scottish village can currently be booked out for a staycation. The settlement is often referred to as the 'Jewel of the Highlands'. Cladaich Lodge is holiday accommodation that is situated in Plockton in the Wester Ross area of the Scottish Highlands. The village is home to a population of around just a few hundred people, and is renowned for its spectacular scenery. Currently, the chalet is available to book through Airbnb. The accommodation is priced at £120 per night, with additional cleaning and service fees. Cladaich Lodge is a 'Luxury Eco Lodge' looking out Loch Carron and Plockton 's Harbour Street. One of its highlights is its split-level decking that leads down to a quiet shore where guests can enjoy the water. Inside, the accommodation features a living room with large windows looking out over the water. There is also a kitchen with a freezer, blender, coffee maker, cooker, and more. The bedroom in the chalet features a king bed, as well as extra pillows and blankets and darkening blinds. Completing the accommodation is a dining room and a bathroom with a shower. According to the Airbnb listing, Cladaich Lodge has been "furnished to a high standard with high quality furniture". In addition to underfloor heating, extras include an Amazon Echo and a Smart TV. Cladaich Lodge has received a rating of 4.99 out of five on Airbnb, based on 182 reviews. The accommodation has not received a single negative review. But some people may prefer to stay somewhere more traditional. Plockton is home to a number of hotels and inns for those seeking a different type of accommodation in the village. Two of these are the Plockton Inn and The Plockton Hotel. The Plockton Inn features recently refurbished rooms, while it serves up fresh seafood in its restaurant. Elsewhere, The Plockton Hotel is a family-run hotel right on the seafront with its own beer garden. One Cladaich Lodge guest posted: "The property is just wonderful and in the most beautiful surroundings. Very private and the lodge has everything you need and feels so tranquil and spotless. "Amazing view which was captivating to watch in all weather's. Ian and Annes place was very clean and immediately felt right at home with easy check in." A second echoed: "Cladaich Lodge is a beautiful property in the most stunning location! Fantastic lodge which is so well equipped and styled. The views are amazing! "Anne and Ian and great hosts who are very responsive and accommodating. Would highly recommend a stay here and we also hope to come back one day."
CBS News
28-07-2025
- CBS News
Murder trial for Hallandale Beach man accused of killing wife with spear set to begin
A trial is set to get underway Monday for a Hallandale Beach man accused of killing his wife with a spear. According to the police arrest report, Adam Crespo, 49, and his wife Silvia Galva Crespo got into an argument on July 12, 2019, in their condominium. At one point, according to the report, he tried to pull her off a bed but she grabbed onto a nearby spear to keep herself in place. "At the corners of the foot of the is a spear approximately a five-foot spear with a 12" double sided metal blade. As the defendant was pulling the victim off the bed the victim grabbed onto the wooden shaft of the spear," the report said. According to the report, while Crespo was still pulling her from the bed he heard a snap. It said he turned around and saw that the blade had penetrated Galva's chest. "(Adam Crespo) pulled the blade out of the victim's chest 'hoping it was not too bad'," according to the report. A friend called 911 while Crespo put pressure on the wound. Galva died from her injury. Crespo was arrested and charged with second-degree murder. The arrest report says, "the actions of the defendant caused the victim to grab the spear to keep herself on the bed. The force used by the defendant to remove the victim caused the shaft to break and in an unknown way caused the blade to pierce the victim which caused the loss of life." Crespo has pleaded not guilty. Recordings from a pair of Amazon Echo devices inside the condo may be used as key evidence in the trial.
Tom's Guide
23-07-2025
- Tom's Guide
Want Alexa to do more? Here's how to make your own skills
Just picked up an Amazon Echo device? Then you'll be itching to discover what it can do. Play music? Check. Answer questions? Check. But as the 30 best Alexa skills (skills being similar to apps), there is so much more available. With Alexa, you can wind down for bed, get weather reports, discover deals and make donations. Just learn how to set up the Amazon Echo and discover how to use Alexa and you'll be well on your way. But did you know that you're not restricted to skills that others have made? With Skill Blueprints, you can create your very own bespoke, personalized skills and you don't need any programming knowledge or technical know-how to do it. The process is surprisingly simple. Amazon simply gets you to fill in forms which tailor a whole bunch of skills to your needs. There are loads of suggestions from countdowns and school schedules to activities for kids and games that can be tailored. You can even create quizzes and work on producing adventures that include the names of people you love. And, if you create something that you feel would be of wider benefit to the Alexa community, there's an option to publish the skill for all to use. Let's check it out. To create skills for your Amazon Echo, you need to visit Skill Blueprints and sign in using the account that's associated with the device. You can then browse the many Blueprints, whether that's the featured set or those separated into categories. It's simply a matter of looking for a skill that interests you — the idea is that you will be able to personalize it by making tweaks to a template. In our case, we're going to look at the Custom Chart skill. This allows you to schedule and track chores for each member of your household. You can select any skill, of course, but this is as good as any to demonstrate how the skills are set up. To get started, click the skill, check out the description which details how it works and the work involved, and select Make Your Own. The 4th Generation Echo is the latest entry in Amazon's mid-range speaker lineup. Its sphere shape houses a large woofer and two powerful tweeters to wrap your room with crisp audio. It's the ideal smart home hub because it has built-in Matter and Zigbee radios to connect to devices both locally and over Wi-Fi. You can now go through the screens that make up the skill — you are, in effect, going to be filling in a form. Change placeholder text, use dropdown menus and select the device that you wish to use if you're asked to choose one. Then select the button in the top-right corner to continue. In many cases, you will be able to change how you experience the skill — you may find you can customize the messages, sounds and responses, for example. You will also be given the opportunity to name your skill. You should choose something memorable and catchy, something that rolls off the tongue so that it's easy to say. The skill name has to be short so stick to two or three words, and they cannot be the same as other skills you use and make otherwise it will cause confusion. Skill Blueprints advises that you don't use Alexa, Echo, Amazon, skill, app or computer in the name. The Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen) is one of the best smart home devices you can get for under $50. Not only is it a speaker, but it has a built-in motion sensor, temperature reader and eero extender, too. When you have finished developing a skill, select Create Skill. Wait a couple of minutes then say: 'Alexa [skill name]' to try it out. You can select Skills You've Made if you wish to view and edit a skill. You can allow other people to use your skill. To send it to specific people, select Share With Others. You may be asked if the skill is intended for use by kids under the age of 16 and then you can share via email, Facebook, X, Pinterest or by copying the link and using your own method. You can also select Publish to Skills Store if you want all Alexa users to access your skill. You will be asked to fill in a form assigning the skill a category, describing the skill and the keywords that will help users to find it. You will be asked to add a skill icon too. When you're ready, review and submit it. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. And there you go. You now know how to create your own skills on your Amazon Echo device. But don't go just yet. There are other things you can do. Discover how to use Amazon Alexa to find your phone and find out how to make Amazon Alexa understand your voice if you're struggling to be heard. And if you're not a big fan of Alexa, no worries. You can learn how to replace Alexa with ChatGPT on your Amazon Echo.
Buzz Feed
19-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
30 Products If Your Favorite Pastime Is Couch Rotting
A snack bowl you can plop on top of your Stanley cup for enjoying some snackies while staying ~hydrated~. It's perfect for movie nights or mindless TikTok scrolling! And an eight-compartment snack box because movie night isn't complete without your favorite crackers, chips, and candy. You'll always have a variety of your fave snacks, because being limited to one is so (*yawn*) boooring. A blissfully plush checkered blanket that is EXTREMELY soft and fluffy, perfect for cozying up on the couch. Just imagine settling in for a Dance Moms marathon and throwing this baby on top of you — ahhh, pure bliss. Plus, reviewers say it's comparable to the pricier Barefoot Dreams throw! An acupressure mat and pillow, because after a long day of work, plopping down onto your couch just won't cut it. This set helps to relieve tension and stress with over *7,000* acupressure points — after 10–30 minutes of lying on it, you will probably arise as a new person. A cozy fleece loungewear set you can toss on as soon as you set foot inside your home. You can still look super chic while you're in full relaxation mode! And a Barefoot Dreams robe so you can lounge around all night feeling as cozy as can be. I dare you to not feel as relaxed as humanly possible in this. AND! A genius Comfy that'll give you both the comfort of a hoodie and the warmth of a blanket — who could possibly hate the epitome of coziness and relaxation? An Amazon Echo that lets you blast music throughout your house without having to move an inch. It's true what they say: Robots can do almost ANYTHING. Just say, "Alexa, play 'The Lazy Song' by Bruno Mars," then sit back and relax. A Cup Cozy so you won't have to get up for snacks or bevvies once you plop down on the couch. Let's be honest for a sec: Do you really want to reach alllll the way to your side table to sip your cup o' tea once you're cozied up? I didn't think so. A Govee smart floor lamp that'll add the perfect mood lighting to your home. Put it in a corner and watch it radiate gorgeous colors (it has 25 preset modes!) to create ~ambiance~. You can even control it with your phone *and* connect it to Alexa! *Plus* it comes with a music mode if you want the light to sync with your tunes. A 10-foot lightning cable if you don't have an outlet nearby and your phone's running on fumes, but you've made a "you-shaped" dent in your couch and can't be bothered to move. Now the TikTok scrolling can continue without interruption. An electric mug warmer so you don't have to constantly get up and put your mug in the microwave — especially if you're a sipper. After four hours it'll automatically shut off, so you don't have to worry if you walk away (or doze off) and forget it! A remote control page turner — you won't have to budge an inch from that perfect, comfy position you've set yourself in because this bb will tap your screen for you. Just attach the clip to your Kindle or tablet, and it will flip to the next page with the click of a button! And a TikTok remote control ring because some days you can't be bothered to move *at all*. With just a push of a button, you'll be able to scroll through TikTok without touching your phone. You can even use this to take pictures on your phone from up to 33 feet away! An Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K that allows you to download almost every streaming service, so you can park yourself in front of the TV for hours if that's the vibe for the day. Press the voice button and say, "Alexa, play Grey's Anatomy," then prepare to bawl your eyes out (even though you already know what happens). And a glow-in-the-dark Fire TV Stick remote case because you've been dreaming all day of rotting on the couch and rewatching New Girl — so don't let a missing remote ruin your plans. This nifty, grippy case helps prevent the remote from slipping between your couch cushions or falling to the floor, and if it *does* disappear, you'll locate it in mere seconds because it'll be ~glowing~. An Owala FreeSip tumbler so you can enjoy icy agua all evening instead of having to add more ice every hour. This godsend offers all the benefits of a Stanley without the spills, and its spout is a game changer — you can either drink through a built-in straw or tilt it back to chug. Plus, you'll never have to painfully sip on a lukewarm bev again because it keeps drinks cold for up to 24 hours with its triple-layer insulation! A Roomba robot vacuum if your floors are begging to be cleaned, but the couch is holding you hostage. Not to worry — this baby will do it all for you! It can navigate around furniture and even fit under tight spaces, so every nook and cranny of your home will be clean by the end of your Netflix session. Plus, you can use the app on your phone to give it a schedule! A SwitchBot Smart Switch button pusher because you don't have to get up from the couch to turn off the lights whenever you want to take a lil' nappy. Just attach the SwitchBot to any device with an on/off switch and download the app! From there, you can even set it on a timer — all you need is a Bluetooth connection. And an Alexa-compatible smart plug so you can verbally tell it to do anything you'd rather not get up and do yourself, from turning on your coffee machine to turning off the lights. Add voice control to ANY outlet with this *truly* smart plug. A pair of prism spectacles ideal for anyone in their "lazy gal" era (aka me). You can lie completely flat on your back to read or scroll through TikTok instead of doing an unintentional core workout and straining your neck just to prop your head up. An automatic pet feeder so you can schedule meals for your pets up to four times a day. It holds up to 6 liters of food, so you don't have to keep refilling it! Oh, Milo's hungry? Just open the app to give your furry friend a treat! A TikTok-famous 3-in-1 convertible "reading chair" that may just give Chandler and Joey's Barcaloungers a run for their money — you'll never want to get up from this bb. It has USB charging ports, a cup holder, and a side pocket to hold your remotes or books. Plus, you can pull it out and turn it into a sleeper chair or a full flat sleeper. Um, this is not a want but a NEED. A luxe candle so you can set the mood for your Toy Story marathon with just the right amount of lighting and a delightful scent. When you light this bad boy up, it'll give off a captivating aroma of jasmine, oud, and sandalwood. A tablet holder that holds any size iPad, Kindle, or other device, so you don't have to. Now you can enjoy a movie, book, or show without straining to balance your tablet on your body. A heating pad for your sore neck, back, and (honestly) entire body that has been working too hard. It heats up in just 20 seconds and will help relieve any tension that's been living within you. And a heated massager so you can release your stress when you come home from work. You can use it on your back, neck, legs, and even your feet to knead out all those knots while relaxing on the sofa. A cult-favorite movie theater popcorn salt because popcorn from the theater just ~hits different~. Reviewers say it tastes just like the real deal, so heat up some kernels, sprinkle some of this deliciousness on, and enjoy your at-home movie night! A lap desk if you insist on doing work *only* from the couch. This handy thing will save your poor thighs from burning when your laptop overheats, and it'll give you an even surface so you don't have to awkwardly balance your devices on your lap. Plus, it has a pillowy cushion and anti-slip wrist pad to take your comfort level to the max! Or a rolling C-shaped table with a base designed to slide under the couch so you'll have a perfectly placed mini table for your laptop and, of course, meals and snacks.
Gizmodo
15-07-2025
- Business
- Gizmodo
There Are Echo Dot Leftovers from Prime Day, Amazon Is Pairing Them with a Smart Bulb for Peanuts
Echo Dots were among the biggest Prime Day stars this year with massive bargains for both individual models and pack bundles. Great news, Amazon is looking to extend summer savings a bit longer perhaps to clear out the last of its seasonal inventory. The Echo Dot and Amazon Basics smart color bulb bundle costs $40, which is reduced from its regular price of $63. That's a saving of $22, and it's less than buying them individually. If you're interested in getting into home automation, this offer makes it easier than ever. See at Amazon Central to the bundle is Amazon Echo Dot which an extremely compact and most popular smart speaker around. It finds a snug fit on any bedside table or desk, and it possesses Alexa, Amazon's voice assistant functionality. Weather updates, alarms, control of smart home devices, playing music, keeping shopping lists and numerous other things can be asked for. It's a handy gadget that fits into any environment and brings convenience in small and discreet package. Included with the Echo Dot is the Amazon Basics Smart Color Bulb which is an LED full-spectrum bulb offering instant access to 16 million colors and brightness adjustment, all without an external smart home hub. Once the bulb has been screwed into a regular light socket, you simply instruct Alexa to discover devices. In seconds, voice control is operational. You simply say 'Alexa, make the light red' or 'Alexa, dim the light to 20%,' and watch your room transform. With the Alexa app, you're able to automate routines like having lights come on at sunrise or off at sunset. If you'd rather do something a bit more personalized, it's easy to yell out commands like 'Alexa, movie time' that dim the lights and queue up entertainment. And while you're away, you can automate your lights remotely or set random lighting schedules so it appears someone's home. Amazon may be leaving the offer open currently, but with stock presumably running out, it's one summer deal you won't want to miss. See at Amazon
