*By Carlo Versano*
At a previously-unannounced event, Amazon debuted a slew of new Alexa-based products Thursday, including a re-designed Echo Dot, a smart plug, and an Alexa-enabled microwave.
As Google quietly steals market share from Amazon in the smart speaker space ー the Home Mini [outsold] (https://techcrunch.com/2018/09/19/google-home-mini-was-the-best-selling-smart-speaker-in-q2/) the Echo Dot in the second quarter ー the e-commerce giant is refocusing some attention on its "smart" product line, which it sees as a crucial entryway for consumers into the wildly profitable Amazon ecosystem.
The new Echo Dot, Amazon's bestselling smart product, features a fabric design that is similar to the Google Home Mini. It will come in new colors and offer better audio quality; the item's price will remain $50. The Echo Plus is also also getting a fabric refresh, a temperature sensor, and will keep its price tag of $150.
Amazon is also introducing the Echo Input ー which can attach to a "dumb" speaker to make it "smart" ー and a smart plug that can convert certain appliances into smart devices.
The Echo Show also gets a new design treatment. The company is hoping the $230 video speaker becomes a hub for voice shopping and video calls.
For the kitchen, Amazon is introducing its first appliance: a $60 microwave with Alexa integration for those too lazy to hit the "reheat" button and even a Dash feature to quickly reorder popcorn ー and only popcorn.
With the hardware, came an announcement of several new software features and upgrades intended to extend Alexa's reach further in the home.
The voice assistant will now recognize a whisper and respond in kind, arm an internet-connected security system, and remind you to lock the door before bed.
Disney content has gone dark on YouTube TV, leaving subscribers of the Google-owned live streaming platform without access to major networks like ESPN and ABC. That’s because the companies have failed to reach a new licensing deal to keep Disney channels on YouTube TV. Depending on how long it lasts, the dispute could particularly impact coverage of U.S. college football matchups over the weekend — on top of other news and entertainment disruptions that have already arrived. In the meantime, YouTube TV subscribers who want to watch Disney channels could have little choice other than turning to the company’s own platforms, which come with their own price tags.
President Donald Trump said he has decided to lower his combined tariff rates on imports of Chinese goods to 47% after talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on curbing fentanyl trafficking.
Universal Music Group and AI platform Udio have settled a copyright lawsuit and will collaborate on a new music creation and streaming platform. The companies announced on Wednesday that they reached a compensatory legal settlement and new licensing agreements. These agreements aim to provide more revenue opportunities for Universal's artists and songwriters. The rise of AI song generation tools like Udio has disrupted the music streaming industry, leading to accusations from record labels. This deal marks the first since Universal and others sued Udio and Suno last year. Financial terms of the settlement weren't disclosed.
