GoKawiil
Tech News
Amazon has introduced a new version of its Echo Studio smart speaker that includes a built-in camera, enabling Alexa to visually perceive its surroundings. This marks a shift from Amazon's previous audio-only Echo Studio design toward a device with visual sensing capability.
Amazon has released an updated Echo Studio speaker that includes an integrated camera, priced at $250 and available now. The camera lets Alexa+ visually identify objects in view, assist with tasks like explaining a board game or reordering a product, and will later support video calls cast to Fire TVs. The speaker also features new room-adapting audio, a faster AZ3 chip for voice processing, and Omnisense sensing for adjusting lighting and temperature.
Google Home Speaker owners reported their devices consuming unusually large amounts of Wi-Fi data, with one user citing three terabytes over two weeks and a WIRED writer finding her own speaker had used 487 GB in ten days. Google told WIRED a server misconfiguration caused some speakers to repeatedly re-download a software update, and said the issue has now been fixed.
Amazon has discounted its Echo Dot Max smart speaker by 25%, bringing the price down to $89.99. The device is pitched as a compact Alexa speaker with stronger bass and fuller sound compared to earlier Dot models.
A troubleshooting guide offers practical steps to improve smart speaker accuracy, including cleaning the device, repositioning it away from walls and noise sources like fans, and adjusting sensitivity or wake-word settings on multi-speaker setups. It also recommends giving connected smart home devices and rooms unique, distinct names to avoid confusion.
Some Google Home speaker owners are reporting that the devices' LED lights stay on and pulsate continuously, only pausing briefly after a voice command before resuming. One user found the behavior tied to a notification about Hispanic Heritage Month, but the pattern has appeared across multiple Reddit reports without a clear common trigger. Google has not yet confirmed a cause.
Wireless congestion from accumulated smart devices is often blamed on Bluetooth interference with Wi-Fi networks. In reality, most modern routers and devices use frequency management techniques that keep Bluetooth and Wi-Fi signals from significantly interfering with each other, except in specific overlapping scenarios.
Google confirmed via its Nest Community account that it has resolved a bug causing Google Home devices to play unrelated songs, albums, or playlists instead of the ones users requested. The issue had been reported by multiple users on Reddit's r/googlehome, with some saying it persisted for months across services like Spotify. Google has not detailed the cause of the bug or what specifically was changed to fix it.