Amazon dips into wearables with smart ring and glasses

On top of introducing the Echo Buds, Amazon ventures further into the realm of wearables with new experimental, limited-volume hardware. There's the Echo Frames and the Echo Loop. The Frames are Alexa-enabled glasses that will not have a camera or smart display but will feature microphones and a speaker. Meanwhile, the Loop is an Alexa-enabled ring that has two built-in mics and a tiny speaker as well. Both products will be released in the US on an invite-only basis later in the year. 

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Amazon introduces Echo Buds

Amazon takes a stab at creating its AirPods competitor with the Echo Buds. Announced at its event in Seattle, the wireless earbuds feature dual drivers and offer active noise cancellation thanks to the help of Bose. You just need to double-tap the earbuds to activate the noise cancellation. Like regular Bose headphones equipped with noise cancellation, the Echo Buds feature a Passthrough mode, allowing you to hear the outside world. 

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Amazon Echo Show helps identify household pantry items in the US

Accessibility is one of the areas technology companies have been focusing on and improving in the past few years. The new feature available on the Amazon Echo Show helps the blind or low-vision customers to identify everyday household pantry items that are difficult to distinguish by touch. The feature makes use of computer vision and machine learning to recognize what item is placed before it. It'll be available on the first- and second-generation versions of this device. This Alexa-powered smart speaker is geared towards kitchens as it helps out with kitchen-related tasks, such as setting timers and watching recipe videos.

Users simply need to say things like "Alexa, what am I holding?" or "Alexa, what's in my hand?" And then the Echo Show will give verbal cues to inform the users what the product is. Amazon worked with blind Amazon employees, including its principal accessibility engineer, Josh Miele. They got feedback from both blind and low-vision customers and collaborated with the Vista Center for the Blind in Santa Cruz. It's currently only available in the US, but we're hoping it gets a broader rollout in the future.

Source: TechCrunch

Review: Amazon Kindle Oasis

I brought the newest version of the Amazon Kindle Oasis (3rd generation) on my most recent getaway. A family member had questioned why I would bring another device when I could bring my phone and pretty much do everything on it. While I can add the Kindle app onto my iPhone and take it on the go, the truth is, I like to separate my enjoyment of reading from any tasks I do on my phone. This also means I less distractions and I can stay more focused on the book. I'm too easily tempted to check my emails or Instagram or Telegram on a whim. There. I admit it. Houston, we have a problem, that's a post for another time. 

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