Podcast #959: Alexa Live 2020

On today’s show we ask the question whether a $300 toaster with a touchscreen is worth buying. We take a look at Klipsch’s Soundbar killer the Fives and we give you a rundown of the Alexa Live 2020 conference. All that plus your emails and news!

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Today's Show:

News:

• Plex launches free Live TV on iPhone, Apple TV, web without a tuner or antenna
• LG to soon launch its first tiled microLED TV
• Verizon Loses 81,000 Pay TV Subscribers, Media Unit Revenue Hit by Pandemic
• Google will swap out faulty Nest thermostats

Other:

• Sonos Move
• #SaveYourCinema - Demand Action To Save Local Movie Theaters
• Ara's Woodworking 
• Join the Flaviar Whisky Club and get a free bottle

The Revolution R180 Toaster has a touchscreen. It's ridiculous and I love it

Refrigerators, countertop ovens, microwaves and even multicookers all adopted touchscreen displays in the wake of the birth of the smart home. Now there's a toaster with a touchscreen. This won't be the first time I question the idea of putting a touchscreen on an appliance, and it likely won't be the last. Full article here... 

LIKE

•  Fast toasting
  
•  Sleek design
  
•  East to customize cooking

DON'T LIKE

•  No Wi-Fi or connected smarts
  
•  Expensive

Bill S - I see no reason to have a screen on a toaster at all 🍞

Aaron - Only if it’s connected to a Panera

Micky A - Nope!

Klipsch’s ‘The Fives’ are stunning TV speakers that challenge soundbar trends

Klipsch talks a big game when it comes to its new bookshelf-style powered TV monitors called The Fives. Claiming to be the first powered monitors to feature HDMI-ARC, which allows them to communicate directly with a television, Klipsch promises The Fives will provide a big and bold sound experience that will outperform the soundbars most people currently rely on. Full article here...

At $799 are they worth it?

Audio Advice video review

HDMI ARC - Using HDMI-ARC, enjoy The Fives with your TV with no additional cables or remotes using the included HDMI cable

HIGH EFFICIENCY AMPLIFICATION - The Fives incorporate individual ultra-low noise amplifiers that are custom designed to maximize system performance and eliminate the need for external amplification. World- class Klipsch engineers picked and tuned the components to be an absolute perfect match throughout, making the system sound incredibly immersive and complete. The Fives are also bi-amped resulting in improved clarity and output

PRECISE, CLEAR & HIGHLY EFFICIENT SOUND, PROPRIETARY TO KLIPSCH - The Fives feature 1” titanium tweeters on Tractrix® horns, a proprietary technology that has been the driving force behind the stunningly precise Klipsch acoustics. Each powered monitor also features a 4.5” long-throw woofer and is ported to provide enhanced bass.

THE MOST VERSATILE SPEAKERS ON THE PLANET - Whether you are connecting to a turntable, television, computer, or smart phone, The Fives provide the solution. The Fives come equipped with an integrated phono pre-amp, Bluetooth® 5, HDMI-ARC, digital optical, analog RCA and USB inputs, allowing you to enjoy superior stereo sound from a beautifully crafted tabletop stereo system.

DYNAMIC BASS EQ - As the human ear perceives frequencies differently with variations in output, The Fives will dynamically match the ear’s ability to hear lower frequencies. Typically, only available with audio/video receivers, dynamic volume is a first for Klipsch powered monitors. What you get is powerful bass whether the listening volume is low, cranked up or somewhere in between.

192KHZ / 24-BIT DECODING TO SUPPORT HIGH RESOLUTION AUDIO TRACKS - The Fives powered monitors also feature 192kHz / 24-bit decoding for flawless reproduction of high-resolution audio tracks from your PC or streaming source.

ADD A SUBWOOFER - The Fives include a subwoofer output so you can easily add a powered subwoofer.

Alexa Live 2020 Release Roundup

Below are all features Amazon launched at Alexa Live 2020.

Full List here (this is from a developer’s point of view)

Introducing Alexa Conversations (beta), a New AI-Driven Approach to Providing Conversational Experiences That Feel More Natural. Alexa Conversations is a new AI-driven approach to dialog management that enables developers to create skills that customers can interact with in a natural, less constrained way - using the phrases they prefer, in the order they prefer. 

Deep neural networks (DNNs) models can help improve Alexa's natural language understanding

Multi-Value Slots (beta) Receive multiple slot values and respond to more complex utterances. The best way to describe this is with an example:

User: Add apples to my shopping cart

Alexa: How many apples should I add?

User: Actually, add three bananas

Alexa: Added three bananas. Would you like to add more items?

User: Remove bananas from my cart

Person Profile API Skills incorporating Alexa voice profiles can now create even more personalized experiences

Example interactions:

Mom: Alexa, order cauliflower and Brussels sprouts.

Alexa: You got it, but I need to verify your identity first.

Alexa: What’s your personal passcode?

Mom: Two, four, eight, six.

Alexa: Thank you, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts are added to your grocery order.

Teenager: Alexa, order ten microwave pizzas.

Alexa: I need to verify your identity first.

Alexa: What’s your personal passcode?

Teenager: Uh-oh.

Alexa: I’m sorry, that passcode is incorrect.

APL for audio (beta) Mix Alexa speech, sound effects, music, and other audio at runtime with APL for audio so you can easily deliver exciting and immersive audio experiences, without the time, effort, and cost required for pre-mixing.

Skill Resumption (preview) Allow customers to easily return to your skill after using Alexa accomplish another task. Example:

Customer: “Alexa, get me a ride home.”

Alexa: “Ok, an UberX from your current location at Sixth Avenue and Blanchard Street, to home, right?” 

Customer: “Yes” 

Alexa: “Looking for a driver. I’ll let you know when I have a match.”

Alexa: “Your driver, Sven, will arrive in seven minutes. Look for a black Prius with license plate ending in 9794.”

Customer: “Alexa, what’s the weather right now?”

Alexa: “It’s currently 60 degrees with showers in Seattle.”

or

Customer: “Alexa, what’s my flash briefing?”

Alexa: <plays customer’s flash briefing>

5 minutes later.

Customer: Alexa, where is my ride?

Alexa: Sven is 2 minutes away.

Alexa for Apps (preview) You Can Now Seamlessly Connect Alexa Skills to Mobile Apps. Now customers can use their voice as a shortcut into any activity that can be opened with a deep link in your app. And because Alexa for Apps extends the functionality of custom skills, it can support a wide variety of use cases including: Search, View more information, or Access functionality

Many many more

Download Episode #959