Recent Smart Home Stories

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Amazon today announced that its Alexa customers now have access to a free, ad-supported version of Amazon Music.

Google announced a free, ad-supported version of YouTube Music to all users of Google Home and other Google-powered speakers.

The market researchers at Canalys claim that the smart speaker installed base will top 200 million globally by the end of 2019.

Billboard reports that Amazon plans to launch a free, ad-supported music streaming service similar to Spotify’s base offering.

Cord-cutting isn’t about saving money, though that’s still very much the case despite recent price increases. It’s about freedom.

Roku’s latest system software begins a not-so-subtle shift towards pushing the firm’s own streaming service.

Quirky Swedish furniture retailer IKEA has announced a range of Sonos-powered smart home devices that it will begin selling in late 2019.

According to a new report, Amazon plans to ship Alexa-powered wireless earbuds in late 2019 to take on Apple’s AirPods.

In memory of the beloved Microsoft consumer products and services that have been ripped from our cold, dead hands.

The BBC has admitted that it is blocking all of its podcasts from appearing in Google Podcasts, Search, and Assistant. For some reason.

Don’t get too distracted by Apple’s coming video and news services. The firm’s services ambitions are much, much bigger than that.

Brad, Mary Jo, and I will be appearing live in New York City on Tuesday, March 26, 2019 for our first-ever discussion about the Health Of Tech, or H.O.T.

The latest Deloitte Digital Media Trends report claims that the average American subscribes to three streaming video services.

No surprise here, but Netflix confirmed last night that it will not participate in Apple’s coming video service.

Sony’s cord-cutting solution now lets you view four different channels at the same time on Apple TV.

I’ve long used and recommended Pocket Casts, but it’s become a confusing and complex mess. I need something better. And simpler.

Sonos is trying to keep this one quiet for some reason, but the firm has quietly updated its entry-level Sonos One smart speaker.

A new report claims that usage of Hulu’s Live TV service is double that of YouTube TV, and well ahead of other competing services.

A new report says that smart speaker sales hit a new record in the holiday quarter of 2018, with 86.2 million units sold.

Alphabet’s most recent annual report dropped Microsoft from a list of competitors in the digital assistant market.

OK, you’ve scanned in your old paper-based photos. Now what?

Amazon announced today that it is now possible for anyone to create new Alexa skills with no programming required using Alexa Skills Blueprints.

Google is discovering what Microsoft did about 15 years ago: Just making a platform isn’t enough to guarantee success.

I knew I’d provide an update about my experience using a high-speed photo scanner. I just didn’t think it was going to be this successful.

Google announced this week that its Nest Secure smart alarm system now offers Google Assistant capabilities via its Nest Guard base station.

Apple’s products and services tend to sell better in the home market than elsewhere in the world. But the HomePod is an exception.

Thanks to a reader suggestion, digitizing my mountain of paper-based photos suddenly seems a lot less daunting.