Amazon's Alexa cloud-based voice service and Echo devices available in Canada

 The voice-assistant space in Canada is about to get more interesting. Amazon has finally brought its Alexa-powered Echo smart speakers and service to Canada which means it is now competing directly with Google Home.

It’s official, Amazon’s cloud-based voice service, Alexa, is now available in Canada along with three Alexa-enabled devices: Echo, Echo Dot, and Echo Plus. The lineup of innovative voice-controlled speakers allows users to experience a new level of convenience and intelligence.

From simply asking Alexa for the temperature, or the news of the day, to controlling your entire home’s lights and locks, Alexa’s capabilities are endless and ever-expanding. You can pre-order your Echo device today at www.amazon.ca/echo. Shipping is expected by December 5, just in time for the Holiday season.

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Disney CEO says streaming service will be priced ‘substantially below’ Netflix when it launches

Some of the current Disney offerings on Netflix

We know that Disney plans to pull out its titles from Netflix when it launches its own service in 2019. What we don’t know is what pricing will be like. Now, we get a bit of an idea straight from the company’s chairman and CEO. Bob Iger mentioned at Disney’s latest quarterly earnings call that the monthly subscription cost for Disney’s streaming service will be “substantially below” Netflix’s price because they have “substantially less volume” in terms of the amount of content they will have as compared to Netflix. Although we don’t know which tier of Netflix is referring to as there are a number of them. But we have a bit of a wait before we find out.

Source: MacRumors

Essential outs beta build of Android Oreo for the Essential Phone

It seems we might be well on our way to getting Android Oreo on the Essential Phone. The startup did promise to release update for the latest Android operating system soon and it looks like we’re well on the way to that. Essential just made a beta version of the update available through its developer portal. You don’t have to be a developer to access it. It’s available to anyone who’s interested to try out the pre-release software. To get it, you’ll need to sign up for beta builds and grab the update as a download and sideload it to your device. You would also need the latest ADB tool and a bit of technical know-how to get this going though. So it’s not exactly for newbies. Plus, pre-release builds are not stable so if this is your main phone, you will need to proceed with caution.

Source: TechCrunch

Volvo’s parent company acquires flying car startup

Are flying cars going to finally make a leap from sci-fi fantasy to our reality? Volvo’s parent company Geely just completed its acquisition of Terrafugia, making the US-based company a fully-owned subsidiary of the Chinese automotive giant. Terrafugia under Geely will continue to work on flying cars in the US but will bring in both the deep pockets of Geely and their automotive experience. The company will take on a new board of directors that will have a mix of veteran Terrafugia backers, Geely execs, and Bell Helicopter’s managing director for China.

When it comes to concerns of the acquisition hurting the US economy, Terrafugia says it has received green light from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the country and it has supposedly “tripled” its engineer count to almost 100 in anticipation of the acquisition. So while the company isn’t US-owned anymore, it’ll contribute to the country’s workforce. It aims to release its first flying car in 2019 and the electric TF-X car you see above by 2023. The company seems to have been stuck in limbo when it comes to the development of these cars but perhaps the extra boost of cash and experience will help propel them forward. Of course, what we don’t know is whether the development of flying cars would see a need for them.

Source: Engadget