All items tagged with Amazon Alexa (131)
Amazon Implements Multi-Room Music with Alexa Control and Announces New Alexa Developer Tools for Third-Party Alexa-Enabled Systems
August 30, 2017 by audioXpress Staff

Amazon Implements Multi-Room Music with Alexa Control and Announces New Alexa Developer Tools for Third-Party Alexa-Enabled Systems

Amazon announced an all-new Alexa feature that allows users to control and synchronize music streaming across multiple Amazon Echo devices in the home. Not only target music to a specific Amazon device or a group of devices - such as the Dot, Echo Show, and regular Echo speaker - but also reach third-party AVS devices. New Alexa Developer Tools to extend the ability to control multi-room music on other connected audio systems using voice commands will be available in 2018.
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Voice Application Opportunities for the Audio Industry
July 20, 2017 by Joao Martins

Voice Application Opportunities for the Audio Industry

In previous editorials, I have highlighted the important role of smart speakers in promoting the user case for voice personal assistants (VPAs) and voice recognition applications - given the ideal combination of far-field microphone arrays with a complete audio ecosystem that encompasses digital signal processing, acoustic echo cancelation, noise cancellation, and many other technologies. This opens significant opportunities for the audio industry, given we understand the challenges.
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"Alexa Play... on SiriusXM!": SiriusXM Now Available to Trial and Paid Subscribers with Amazon Alexa
June 21, 2017 by audioXpress Staff

"Alexa Play... on SiriusXM!": SiriusXM Now Available to Trial and Paid Subscribers with Amazon Alexa

SiriusXM announced that its 200+ channels – featuring Howard Stern, commercial-free music, plus live sports, news, entertainment, comedy, and more – are now available to SiriusXM subscribers in the US with Amazon Alexa. Users can simply ask Alexa to play SiriusXM channels by saying, for example, "Alexa, play… …Howard Stern… Alt Nation… The Beatles Channel… SiriusXM Progress… E Street Radio… Real Jazz… (and much more) …on SiriusXM"
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Qualcomm Announces Multiple New Audio Platforms to Support New Use Cases for Next Generation of Wireless Speakers, Headphones and Hearables
June 21, 2017 by audioXpress Staff

Qualcomm Announces Multiple New Audio Platforms to Support New Use Cases for Next Generation of Wireless Speakers, Headphones and Hearables

During its voice and music developer conference held recently in Shenzhen, China, Qualcomm made two exciting audio announcements. The company announced its new Smart Audio Platform to help manufacturers accelerate the development and commercialization of smart and networked speakers. Qualcomm also announced multiple new audio platforms for next-gen wireless speakers, headphones and hearables, each one uniquely tailored to support new market demands, particularly as consumers rapidly adopt wireless audio devices.
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Vesper VM1010 MEMS Microphones Save Over 10x More Battery for Voice-Activated Systems
May 25, 2017 by audioXpress Staff

Vesper VM1010 MEMS Microphones Save Over 10x More Battery for Voice-Activated Systems

Vesper has launched VM1010, the first wake-on-sound MEMS microphone that consumes nearly zero power — allowing consumers to voice-activate battery-powered smart speakers, smart earbuds and TV remotes without draining the battery. The inaugural member of Vesper’s ZeroPower Listening MEMS microphone product line, VM1010 is a tiny, ultra-rugged piezoelectric MEMS microphone.
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miniDSP Introduces UMA-8 USB Microphone Array for Voice-Activated Applications
May 18, 2017 by audioXpress Staff

miniDSP Introduces UMA-8 USB Microphone Array for Voice-Activated Applications

The new miniDSP UMA-8 is a high-performance yet low cost multichannel USB microphone array built around XMOS multicore technology, designed for voice-recognition application development. Seven high-performance MEMS microphones are configured in a circular arrangement to provide high-quality voice capture for a wide range of applications. Leveraging the onboard DSP processing, the UMA-8 supports voice algorithms including beamforming, noise reduction, acoustic echo cancellation and de-reverb.
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VoiceLabs Announces new Sponsored Messages to Interact with Amazon Echo Consumers
May 18, 2017 by audioXpress Staff

VoiceLabs Announces new Sponsored Messages to Interact with Amazon Echo Consumers

VoiceLabs’ new Sponsored Messages service is the first native solution to help Amazon Alexa developers monetize, and invest in the voice-first evolution. Specializing in analytics for emerging applications such as voice personal assistants, VoiceLabs wants to provide brands with the ability to reach and interact with Amazon Echo consumers. The platform will also allow Alexa skill developers to monetize their work, VoiceLabs explains.
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Amazon Makes the High-Performance 7-Mic Voice Processing Technology from Amazon Echo Available to Third-Party Device Makers
April 14, 2017 by audioXpress Staff

Amazon Makes the High-Performance 7-Mic Voice Processing Technology from Amazon Echo Available to Third-Party Device Makers

Amazon announced that for the first time it is making the high-performance far-field microphone array and voice processing technology found in Amazon Echo available to hardware makers who want to build the Alexa experience into their products. With the Amazon Alexa 7-Mic Far-Field Development Kit, Amazon is making it easier for commercial developers to build and launch far-field voice-initiated products with Alexa by reducing development time and cost.
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ANAM Electronics Announces Strategic Partnership with Linkplay Technology To Deliver Voice Recognition WiFi Audio Products
March 13, 2017 by audioXpress Staff

ANAM Electronics Announces Strategic Partnership with Linkplay Technology To Deliver Voice Recognition WiFi Audio Products

ANAM Electronics, a division of ANAM Group, manufacturer of premium quality A/V receiver and speaker products, announced a strategic partnership with turnkey WiFi audio solution provider Linkplay Technology. Linkplay is one of the first audio speaker platforms approved for integration with Amazon Alexa Voice Service (AVS). The partnership enables ANAM to bring these capabilities to its portfolio of A/V receiver, audio speaker, amplifier and smart home electronics customers.
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Sonos Introduces PLAYBASE Home Theater Sound Solution
March 7, 2017 by audioXpress Staff

Sonos Introduces PLAYBASE Home Theater Sound Solution

Sonos announced PLAYBASE, the latest addition to its wireless home sound system and the newest speaker in their home theater lineup. Inspired by the simple insight that up to 70% of all TVs stand on furniture and are not mounted to the wall, PLAYBASE is a thin, yet powerful speaker that sits discreetly under the TV. Priced at $699 US and available in both black and white, PLAYBASE will be available globally starting on April 4, 2017.
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