Amazon Echo can now read you audiobooks

Looking to indulge your inner child with a bedtime story, Amazon updated its Echo speaker to add support for Audible files. The voice-guided speaker can now read to you the title of your choice when you ask it. It can even pick up where it left off with Whispersync for Voice, which is perfect not just when you’re calling it a night but even when you’re puttering around the house doing chores.

Source: Amazon | Via: Engadget

Canadian Reviewer Weekly Roundup 5/31-6/6

NVIDIA to help create games for all Android devices with AndroidWorks

BlackBerry settles case with iPhone keyboard maker Typo

Microsoft entices more Android tablet makers to pre-load Office, Skype and OneDrive Apps

Windows 10 is coming on July 29, are you ready?

The Apple Beat: Gearing up for WWDC 2015

Microsoft Cloud touches down in Canada, services to be delivered from Toronto and Quebec City

Thermador showcases virtual reality cooking demos at Canadian Furniture Show

TELUS extends appointment service to the entire country

Apple TV revealed as central control hub for HomeKit accessories

Skype update fixes app-crashing messaging bug

Apple Watch gets to-do and list app with latest Fantastical update

ARTIC's 5-in-1 smart USB charger is designed for gadget freaks

Pre ordered Pebble Time smartwatches begin arriving

Review: ASUS ZenFone 2

Tumblr takes on Reddit’s AMA with Answer Time Q&A

Chrome on Android lets you search more info on any word with Tap to Search

SoundCloud signs royalty agreement with Merlin to gain access to 20,000 indie labels

SwiftKey adds a slew of new emojis for iOS

Third-party keyboard SwiftKey is making it easier to communicate via emojis with its latest update. Version 1.3.3 adds support for iOS 8.3 emojis. You can change the skin tone of the human emojis, and add new flag and family emojis. You can also choose to display the emoji or globe key to the left of the space bar.

Aside from that, the app is also getting general performance boost and will reportedly reduce the number of crashes.

Source: 9to5Mac | Download: Apple App Store (Free)

SoundCloud signs royalty agreement with Merlin to gain access to 20,000 indie labels

SoundCloud you probably heard of or are already using but we’re sure Merlin might be a new name to you. Merlin works with 20,000 indie labels and distributors to work out licensing and loyalty deals, which is what they’ve done with SoundCloud. This will bring labels like Beggars Group (Vampire Weekend), Domino (Animal Collective), Secretly Group (Bon Iver), Kontor Records (Tiësto), and a lot more to SoundCloud’s streaming service. These musicians will also be offered compensation when you play their music.

SoundCloud already has a deal with Warner Music Group and is rumoured to unveil its own streaming service this year. They‘re still, however, having a tough time convincing Sony and Universal to join because the site also hosts copyrighted material without permission. We’re going to have to watch and see if this plan will push through and if they can provide a better alternative to streaming options we have out at the moment.

Source: SoundCloud | Via: Engadget