Latest news with #home automation
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
First impressions of Alexa+, Amazon's upgraded, AI-powered digital assistant
I owned a lot of Alexa-powered devices in my former home: There were Amazon Echos in most rooms, including an older Echo Plus in the living room, a smattering of Dots, a Spot in a bedroom, and an Echo Show in the kitchen. A Fire TV ran in the bedroom. And, in a drawer, a rarely used Fire HD tablet sat collecting dust. With the total loss of the home due to a March 2024 house fire, there also came a new opportunity: We could now make a fresh start to create a more modernized smart home after rebuilding our house. But whether Alexa still deserves to be the center of our connected home remains to be seen. To find out whether Alexa is still the best smart assistant for my family, I'm going to test Amazon's AI-powered devices, experiment with AI queries, and write out my thoughts in a multi-part series. With this series, I hope to offer consumers insights as to how well Alexa works in various real-world situations, not company demos. Alexa needed to catch up Amazon's assistant, which once gave its users Star Trek vibes as they ordered their home computer to close the blinds or turn off the lights or order milk, no longer seemed as revolutionary in the ChatGPT era. Today, people can engage with AI via text and voice chat. Modern AI chatbots and AI-powered services can answer so many more questions, are imaginative, can reason, can create images and art, generate videos, and, with the agentic AI, they can even perform online tasks on your behalf. In February 2025, Amazon announced a complete makeover of its digital voice assistant with the arrival of Alexa+, powered by generative AI. That service began rolling out slowly to customers in March and is now available to 'many millions' of users, Amazon says. The system is also model-agnostic, meaning Alexa+ can use whatever it needs in the moment to answer the question or complete the task. Alexa+ is using models from Anthropic and Amazon Nova, among others. The company teased that this improved Alexa could do more than set timers and alarms, control smart home devices, and answer questions. It leverages generative AI to make sense of information stored in Amazon users' accounts, understand their schedules, and their preferences. It can remember things, process files, and summarize a Ring camera's footage. Notably, Amazon says it's been working with partners to allow it to take actions for people, like booking dinner reservations or Uber rides, or buying concert tickets. Integrations with Amazon's own grocery service could also have it make shopping lists by speaking to it, and then have those products delivered. Essentially, it's aiming to bring agentic AI into the home. But before we can get to that, let's see how Alexa+ handles the basics. In the first part of this series, I'm going to set up Alexa+, use the app, and ask the assistant some questions that only the new Alexa+ can do. Later, I'll test the agentic AI features and smart home integrations. Setting up Alexa+ on an Echo Spot Device: Echo SpotDefault music service: Spotify (Premium) Before moving to my new home, I put Alexa+ to the test on a brand-new Echo Spot after being accepted into the beta. Since I couldn't yet hook up smart home devices in the Airbnb that's served as a temporary residence for over a year, I initially tried to test the device's AI in other ways. Mainly, I wanted to know if Alexa+ was really all that smart and useful, and if she could do all the things Amazon promised. Setting up the Spot was easier than it was with past devices, as now you only needed to scan a QR code to get the process started in the Alexa app. The app connected automatically to the home's Wi-Fi; no more weird toggling between the device's network and your own Wi-Fi. On the next screen, I accepted the invite to upgrade to the new Alexa+ for free, knowing that it's still possible to downgrade to the old Alexa service at any time, if things go wrong. Onboarding included a short video that explained that Alexa would learn more as I use it, and instructed me on how to talk to Alexa. I then connected my Google account, giving Alexa access to my inbox and calendar. I ended up on a blank page after doing so, oddly, but after closing the window, the screen informed me that my 'Account Linked.' (Disclosure: I am running the iOS 26 developer beta on my iPhone, so maybe that's the problem?) On the following screen, I picked the services I wanted to use with Alexa+, which today include OpenTable, Ticketmaster, Uber, and Thumbtack. I checked all the boxes, then moved to the following screen to grant the necessary permissions, one by one. While it's a bit tedious to do so — and something that could be even more tedious in time as more services are added — I did appreciate that it felt like I was in control of the data sharing and could see exactly what each service was requesting before agreeing. The following screen confirmed that Fodor's travel planning service was already integrated with Alexa+, but it didn't require permissions. It also noted that services like Uber Eats, Grubhub, and Vagaro would be added later on. The Alexa app itself is still sorely lacking in user interface design. Despite many updates, the app still feels somehow both plain and too busy. It lacks color and traditional mobile app navigation patterns, and it tries to cram too many examples of 'things to do' on its home screen. Meanwhile, trying to locate how to do the necessary first steps — like linking my preferred music service — is buried in the interface. Nope, you don't tap on your profile icon, Settings, and then scroll down to 'Preferred service providers.' For some reason, that's where you set your preferred News, Calendar, and Email providers, but not your preferred Music service. Instead, you tap on the hamburger menu at the bottom of the screen. You then tap on the 'Music & More' screen. (What's the More? Podcasts? Audiobooks?) I set Spotify as my default music service, the default choice for artists and genre stations, and the default for podcasts. There was no option to set my default audiobooks service. In this section, there was also a list of services I had previously linked with Alexa. Here, Amazon's Audible — which I would prefer to set as the default for audiobooks — was listed alongside other streamers, like Pandora, Amazon Music, Apple Music, and others. But when I tapped on Audible, I simply got an error that says 'You've reached the end of Alexa's knowledge. Just kidding. This skill no longer exists. Click here to go back.' Uh, OK. I mean, would it not make sense to just remove the broken thing that no longer exists? In any event, I'm here to try Alexa+, not yell at a poorly designed mobile app. I'll figure out audiobooks later, I guess. Note for this series: In these tests, I may have shared personal information with Alexa that I will not be publishing. In those cases, I will put a description of the item — like 'child's school' — in [brackets]. I have also slightly changed some of the dates, times, and numbers to further obscure any personal information that could be used to develop an understanding of my accounts, meetings, or household routines. Can Alexa+ manage the family's schedule? Busy households, especially ones with kids, often use a family calendar to track activities, doctor's appointments, errands, meetings, classes, and more. Our family calendar is maintained in Google Calendar, accessed on our phones through the native Google Calendar app, and on Mac desktops via the calendar app Fantastical. Amazon suggests that Alexa+ can help summarize your day, add new events to your calendar, identify conflicts, and more. In practice, Alexa was fairly adept at letting me inquire about the schedule and various events, but it interrupted me when I was asking to add a new meeting to my calendar. I said, 'Can you add a meeting to my calendar on August 6 at 2 p.m. with [entity] about …' Here she cut me off to ask, 'What would you like to title this meeting?' Annoying, but not end-of-the-world terrible, I suppose. I was more easily able to ask things like 'What's on my calendar today?' and follow up to ask further questions — like if there were any meetings later in the week or to repeat one of the appointments. I didn't have to say 'Alexa' again to continue the conversation. It felt more natural, but there's a very slight lag with her responses at times. (As an aside, when I went to find the history of my voice chats for writing this post, I asked Alexa where they could be found. She told me to look in the app's Settings under the More menu, then look for Alexa Privacy or Review Voice History. She's wrong. Neither option was there. I did, however, find my history from the 'Recent Chats' link on the app's home screen. Alexa, c'mon! Know thyself.) Alexa, remember this Another thing Alexa+ is supposed to be able to do is store information on your behalf. To test this out, I asked her to remember my frequent flier number. This interaction went poorly. Me: Alexa, can you remember my Delta SkyMiles number? Alexa: Sure, I'd be happy to remember your Delta SkyMiles number for you. What's the number? Me: *opens mouth to speak* Alexa: I've added that to Remember This in the Alexa privacy section of the app. Also, keep in my that anyone who has access to any of your Alexa devices can use their voice to hear its contents. Um, what? I tried again. Me: Alexa, can you remember my SkyMiles number? Alexa: Certainly! I'd be happy to remember your SkyMiles number for you. What's the number? OK, saved it. She didn't even take a breath! Curious, I asked her what she thinks the number is. She responded, 'I don't have your SkyMiles number saved yet. Would you like to tell me your number now?' Me: Yes. Alexa: OK, go ahead and tell me your Delta SkyMiles number. Me: [says the 8-digit number] Alexa: OK, saved it. Me: What's my SkyMiles number? Alexa: 'Six hundred fifty-two million, four hundred eighty-six thousand…' (Note: I changed the number for the purpose of this post, but yes, Alexa read it out like a long numeral instead of just saying 6-5-2-4-8-6, etc. Not helpful!) Alexa, read my email Alexa+ can now supposedly understand documents you upload in the Alexa app or forward to her at alexa@ using the email address associated with your Amazon account. To try this, I forwarded an email from my child's school. These come frequently and have a lot of useful information in them, but are often lost in the inbox. Perhaps if Alexa can handle this task, a new Gmail forwarding filter is in order? Me: Alexa, summarize the recent email from school. Alexa: The recent email from [my child's school] is a welcome-back letter for the 2025-2026 school year. It announces an 'Early Start Day' orientation on August [date] for new students, with an information session for new parents that evening. Regular classes begin on August [date]. Me: Was there any information specifically for [grade] in that email? Alexa: I don't see any information specifically for [grade] in that email. The letter mainly covers general school information, orientation dates, and important deadlines for all students. Great, that worked, it seems. But here's where things got a little trickier. Me: Are there any important dates I should add to my calendar? Alexa: *repeats the important dates from above* Me: Can you add those to my calendar for me? Alexa: (Who must have misheard me?) Checking your calendar. Sarah, your calendar is looking busy. You have [activity] ongoing until August 16th, you have [activity]. On Thursday, … Me: (interrupting) I was asking if you could add the dates in the email to my calendar for me? Alexa: Certainly, I'll do that. (Pause) I've added the following dates to your calendar: Is there anything else you'd like me to add? While this process seems efficient and is certainly helpful in a pinch, you'll notice I left it up to Alexa to determine which dates were 'important.' As a result, she picked the three dates closest to today. The email itself, however, contained a list of 12 important school dates, including things like Meet the Teacher Night, Open House, Midyear Graduation, and more. All of them were formatted the same way in the email under the heading 'Important Dates.' Had I only relied on Alexa and had not read the email itself, I would have missed these. Oh, dear. Alexa, help me save money Another Alexa+ promise is that she can help you track prices on Amazon so you can save money when things go on sale. Alright, I'll bite! I like online shopping. I decided to try tracking a couple of things, including one skin care item and a Coach handbag. These are things I definitely don't need, but want — the kinds of things where a discount could prompt a purchase. Me: Alexa, I want to know when the Glow Recipe Plum Plumping and Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Skin Care Serum goes on sale. Alexa: Just a second … I've set up a deal tracker for the Glow Recipe Plum Plumping Serum. I'll notify you when it goes on sale. Me: How much is it right now? Alexa: *silence* Me: Did you hear me? Alexa: Checking on that. Yes, I heard you. I've already set up a deal tracker for the Glow Recipe Plum Plumping Serum. You'll get a notification when it goes on sale. Me: How much is it now? Alexa: *More silence.* OK, I guess we'll wait on that one. Next up, I tried the handbag. Me: Alexa, I want to know when the Coach Swinger handbag goes on sale. Alexa: Certainly, I'll check that. Got it! I set up a deal tracker for the Coach Swinger handbag. I'll let you know when it goes on sale. Me: Is it out of stock in blue? Alexa: *Silence* Me: Is the Coach handbag I just asked you about out of stock in blue? (Note: it was, per Amazon's website at the time of the request.) Alexa: Let me check that for you. (Long pause) I found the Coach Swinger handbag, but it's currently available in black. The blue option isn't showing up in the search results, which might mean it's out of stock. Would you like more details about the available options? Me: No. The Coach Swinger handbag in blue does show up on the product page on the web, for what it's worth; it's listed as 'temporarily out of stock.' The bag is also available in both black and red, but Alexa only mentioned the black option for some reason. Not super helpful. And we'll have to wait to see if it ever goes on sale. Off to a slow start With these first introductory tests, Alexa+ seems very much like a beta product. She's trying but is prone to making mistakes and not being thorough. Sometimes, she doesn't even seem to hear me or doesn't know what to do. Given that many of these are out-of-the-box features that don't require integrations, you have to wonder how well Alexa+ will do at navigating the web and taking action for you. In the next installment of this series, I'll continue testing the AI and will try some of the agentic AI features with Alexa+. Sign in to access your portfolio
The Sun
21-07-2025
- The Sun
4 Best video doorbell UK 2025
ONE of the easiest (and cheapest) ways to step up your home security is by adding a video doorbell. I've tested some of the best video doorbells out there, and these are the ones that deliver without the fuss. 5 Video doorbells are one of the easiest ways to add security and a bit of style to your front door. I've tested what's out there, from budget models, high-end picks, and everything in between. The best video doorbells deliver sharp video, fast alerts, and reliable performance, whether you're home or not. Some run on batteries, others are wired in, and a few soak up the sun with solar panels, so there's a setup for just about everyone. After spending plenty of time with all sorts of smart home devices, I've seen how well these doorbells play nicely with the rest of your gear. If you're ready to level up your entryway with something smart and reliable, these are the standouts. Read on for my top picks for the best video doorbells right now. How I tested Over the past few months, I've been putting these video doorbells through their paces to see how they hold up in the real world. Since I don't have a wired setup at home, I went with battery-powered and solar models. Using the batteries is easy and suits most homes, but wiring is included if you want a more permanent install. I paid close attention to how easy they are to install, how sharp the video is, whether the app behaves itself, and how smoothly they play with the rest of a smart home setup. After plenty of hands-on testing, these are the standouts worth checking out. Best video doorbells - tried and tested Ring Video Doorbell (2nd generation) 5 Ring Video Doorbell (2nd-Gen), £89.99 on Amazon Pros: Reliable, clear daytime video, works well with Alexa, easy to recharge Cons: Needs a subscription to save footage; night vision is basic Rating: 8.5/10 The Ring Video Doorbell (2nd Gen) has been around since 2020, and while it's a few years old now, it's held up well. The design's a bit chunky and the finish shows its age up close, but honestly, it still looks a lot like Ring's newer models; most people wouldn't spot the difference. Video during the day is clear and detailed, with 1080p easily good enough to recognise faces and keep an eye on goings on. At night, it switches to black-and-white night vision. It works fine, but you do lose a fair bit of detail compared to daytime footage. Battery life is solid, with around four to six weeks per charge depending on how much activity it picks up. You'll need to unscrew it from the mount to recharge via micro-USB, but it's less of a hassle than it sounds. It does take a fair amount of time to recharge, around seven to 10 hours, so it's offline for a bit, but with that much runtime, it's a fair trade-off. With the Ring Protect plan (£3.49/month), you get handy extras like person detection and cloud video history. Without it, you're limited to live view and instant alerts. Ring's strength is how smoothly it works with Amazon's ecosystem, so you can chat with visitors on Echo speakers or see the live feed on an Echo Show. It's not fancy, and it shows its age in places, but the 2nd Gen Ring is still a dependable, well-rounded doorbell that covers the basics well, and it's great value if you catch it on sale. It has been replaced by the Ring Battery Video Doorbell at £99, which brings a wider field of view and colour night vision. Video quality: 1080p HD video, Audio: Two-way talk, Power: Rechargeable battery or hardwired (mains), Storage: No internal storage; video is stored in the cloud (subscription required) Tapo D235 5 Tapo D235 Video Doorbell, £102.49 £89.99 on Amazon BUY HERE Pros: Crisp 2K video with wide-angle lens, colour night vision, no monthly fees with included microSD storage, reliable motion detection with smart alerts Cons: Needs a wired chime if you don't use the hub, audio quality is decent but not standout Rating: 8.5/10 The Tapo D235 might not be as widely recognised as some of the bigger names, but it delivers in ways that genuinely surprised me. At around £89 (or less if you catch it on offer), it ticks a lot of boxes right out of the gate. The 2K video resolution is clear and sharp, and the ultra-wide 180° field of view means you can see almost everything at your doorstep, top to bottom, edge to edge. One of the standout features here is the full-colour night vision. It switches automatically depending on the lighting, and in my tests, even late-night footage stayed impressively detailed. Storage-wise, the D235 keeps things simple with microSD support (up to 512GB), so there's no need to sign up for a subscription unless you really want to. That's a huge plus if you're trying to avoid monthly fees stacking up. The doorbell comes with a hub that acts as a chime and strengthens the signal to the camera. Setup is smooth, especially using the Tapo app, which is intuitive and quick to get up and running. Just be aware that if you're not using the hub, you'll need a wired chime setup for indoor alerts. Motion detection is another area where it shines. It uses AI to distinguish people from cars or pets, which really cuts down on false alarms. You can also customise detection zones, which I found useful for reducing unnecessary pings from passing traffic. On the downside, while the two-way audio is functional, it's not the clearest I've tried—it can sound a little tinny depending on background noise. All in all, the Tapo D235 is a capable, smartly priced doorbell camera that offers great peace of mind with minimal hassle or cost. If you're after sharp video, useful smart features, and zero subscriptions, this one's well worth considering. Eufy E340 5 Eufy E340, £159.99 £109.99 on Amazon BUY HERE Pros: Dual cameras give a great field of view, sharp 2K video, colour night vision. Rating: 9/10 The Eufy E340 doesn't mess around; it's a feature-packed doorbell that offers plenty of smart tech without locking you into a subscription. At around £160, it's pricier than some options, but you get a lot for your money. The standout feature for me was its two cameras: one faces forward, and the other points down, so you can see who's at your door and check if your parcel actually made it onto the mat. On that note, the video quality is excellent, delivering 2K footage with full-colour night vision. Even in low light, it captures plenty of detail, which really boosted peace of mind. If you want more than just alerts and two-way talk, but something that genuinely improves your home security, this doorbell is it. Motion detection worked well and was smart enough to distinguish people from general movement. I also found adjusting the detection zones helped cut down on false alarms from cars or trees. There's no subscription needed either; thanks to the HomeBase, footage is stored locally, so you're not hit with any hidden monthly fees. That said, the HomeBase S380 I tested can be a pricey add-on, coming in at around £160 when not on sale. It's a bit of an upfront investment, but it sets you up long-term with no ongoing costs, making it a smarter buy in the long run. The E340 is on the larger side, so it's not the most discreet doorbell, but with all the tech it packs in, that's a fair trade-off. After spending time with it, it's a highly capable doorbell that nails the essentials, offers strong security features, and won't tie you into a subscription. Video quality: Dual-cam 2K with colour night vision, Audio: Two-way talk works well, Power: Battery or wired, Storage: Local (via HomeBase or SD), no subscription needed Ezviz EP3x Pro 5 Ezviz EP3x Pro, £129.99 £94.99 on Amazon BUY HERE Pros: Straightforward installation, clear 2K video quality with colour night vision, free 32GB built-in storage (no subscription), solar-powered with USB-C backup Cons: Slightly bulky design, notifications can occasionally lag Rating: 9/10 The Ezviz EP3x Pro is a new name to me, but it's left quite an impression. This video doorbell doesn't just compete with household names like Ring, it challenges them in ways that make you wonder why you'd pay for subscriptions elsewhere. At £129.99 (or £99.99 during sales), it boasts an impressive 2K video quality, including colour night vision, which is ideal for capturing clear footage at any time of day. But what really sets it apart is the free 32GB built-in storage, meaning no subscription fees or ongoing costs to worry about. That's a breath of fresh air in a market where monthly fees are often the norm. Adding to its appeal, the EP3x Pro is solar-powered, which is brilliant for me as I don't have a wired set-up and means I can avoid constantly charging batteries. Though there is a USB-C backup option for cloudy days, in my experience, there's always enough battery in the tank. Installation is as simple as it gets, with options for adhesive strips or screws, and the Ezviz app walks you through the setup with ease. The two-way audio is another handy feature, letting you speak directly to visitors or delivery drivers. That said, the design might not be to everyone's taste; it's a bit on the bulky side, so it may not suit slimmer or more traditional doorframes. I also had the occasional delay in notifications, which could mean you're left hanging for a moment longer than expected. Still, for affordable home security without the hidden costs, the Ezviz EP3x Pro is a solid choice that's hard to beat. Video quality: 2K resolution and colour night vision, Audio: Two-way talk, Power: Solar-powered with USB-C backup, Storage: Free 32GB built-in storage (6 months of recordings) Best video doorbells FAQs What is the best video doorbell to buy? It depends on what you're after; Ring is one of the most popular choices and a reliable one, with a large ecosystem of devices to play with. For a budget-friendly option that still delivers, Tapo punches above its price, with AI integration and microSD storage options. If you prefer no monthly fees and local storage, Ezviz and Eufy offer some of the best options, and come with impressive 2K cameras and a two-way field of view. What doorbell camera has the best video quality? If crystal-clear video is your top priority, Eufy tends to stand out with its 2K resolution on some models, offering sharp and detailed footage. Ring's higher-end models also deliver crisp video, especially in various lighting conditions. Tapo and Ezviz do surprisingly well for their price, but if we're talking pure video quality, Eufy edges ahead. Where to buy video doorbells You can pick up video doorbells pretty much anywhere these days, with retailers like Amazon, Currys, and Argos usually stocking a good selection. You'll also find them directly from the brands' websites. How does a video doorbell work? A video doorbell replaces your regular doorbell but adds a camera, microphone, and speaker. When someone presses the button (or sometimes just approaches), the camera starts recording and sends an alert to your phone. You can see, hear, and talk to whoever's there, even if you're not. Most models connect via Wi-Fi and save footage either to the cloud or locally, depending on the brand. How long does the Ring video doorbell battery last? Ring's battery lasts anywhere from two to six months before needing a recharge, but varies based on how busy your door is. More motion alerts, cold weather, and frequent live viewing can drain it faster, but it'd be a doddle to pop the battery out and recharge it. Once you've got one, you're set for the long haul; Ring says most models last up to five years or around 500 charge cycles. Which is better, wired or wireless video doorbells? It really comes down to what works best for your home setup, as both have their perks. Wired doorbells mean no charging and quicker alerts, but installation can be fiddly or require an electrician. Wireless models are easier to set up (ideal for renters), but you'll need to recharge every few months, which means some downtime. Is it better to get a video doorbell or a security camera? They serve slightly different purposes; a video doorbell is perfect for keeping an eye on your front door, seeing packages arrive, and chatting with visitors. A security camera covers wider areas like your driveway, backyard, or side of the house, and having both is usually ideal for full home surveillance. But if you're starting with one, a video doorbell is a great first step. Are video doorbells waterproof? Mostly, yes. They're designed to handle rain, snow, and general UK weather. That said, they're water-resistant, not waterproof, so while they'll cope with the elements, don't go dunking one in a bucket.
