Tag Archives: Alexa

Introducing the World’s first ‘out the box’ kettle with Alexa

PRESS_2.jpg

At the heart of any kitchen, the iconic kettle can now be controlled by voice, using any device, creating personalised commands and routines unique to the user. From the simple task of turning the kettle on, through to changing the temperature of the water, or simply asking Alexa to keep the water warm, this technological evolution and advancement in modernising this most traditional of routines, will be a total game changer for so many.

PRESS_3.jpg

Controlled by voice or the Alexa app
The kettle can be activated remotely to boil water to the desired temperature the moment a homeowner walks in the door and at any time, in any room, via the Alexa device.

Routines and personalised commands
Designed to fit with the users schedule, the kettle can be activated using favourite phrases and programmed to boil based on routine. A breakfast, mid-morning and afternoon routine could be programmed for example. These can also be duplicated and adjusted, so the weekend breakfast routine is set to go-live at a later time to the weekday settings.

Water levels and descaling
The Alexa app will also advise users when water is running low and a refill is required, plus highlight the number of boils left until the next descale is required.

Sync activation with phone alarms
The Swan Alexa Kettle delivers next generation convenience and can be set to boil automatically as part of the daily morning routine.

So easy to set up in 4 easy steps… 

PRESS_4.jpg

Once the water has reached the selected temperature, the kettle will bleep twice and then automatically keep the water warm for 2 hours… many consumers will simply love the technology and convenience the product delivers…

PRESS_6.jpg

For others, it will deliver a welcome practicality:

– For heating a baby’s bottle to a specific temperature and not having to wait for it to cool down

– To keep a full kettle heated for when guests are visiting to top-up drinks

– Preparing herbal teas and serving at a recommended temperature

– Avoiding the need to ‘switch on the kettle’ which may be useful for some users

PRESS_7.jpg

The energy efficient solution for the future of hot drinks… by programming the temperature ‘boil’, users are able to manage exacting amounts of energy usage: an 85 degree boil for a traditional cup of tea, a 90 degree boil recommended for a coffee and there is even the option to boil-up at 60 degrees (or less) to loosen a jar of honey.

The Alexa Swan Kettle comes with a 2 year Guarantee. 
SRP@ £99.99

swan-brand.co.uk

ezgif.com-gif-maker.gif

With its cordless base (including cord storage) and dry boil protection with automatic cut-off, there’s no need to worry about safety or cluttering in the kitchen. The Alexa kettle conveniently also has a removable, washable scale filter for easy cleaning, prolonging the kettle through a lifetime of daily use. Its stainless steel inner ensures durability and a 1.5L capacity makes 8-10 cups from just one boil.

Fashioned with a black gloss finish and digital touch panel controls, this stylish and effortless kettle will be a cool, sharp addition to any kitchen.

Amazon Echo Dot (3rd Gen) – Smart speaker with Alexa is currently under 20 quid with Prime on Primeday

Heads-up!  The Amazon Echo Dot (3rd Gen) is currently on special offer for Prime members on Prime day.

Amazon is stating this is a 62% saving on the RRP.  Which sounds like a great bargain.

Available in four colours, displayed below. Amazon has asked us to let you know that you can order via our links, when you do and you complete the purchase, we earn a very tiny amount of commission.

Echo Dot (3rd Gen) - Smart speaker with Alexa

Echo Dot (3rd Gen) - Smart speaker with Alexa

Echo Dot (3rd Gen) - Smart speaker with AlexaEcho Dot (3rd Gen) - Smart speaker with Alexa

 

  • Amazon’s most popular smart speaker a choice of 4 colours with a fabric design and improved speaker for richer and louder sound.
  • Voice control your music: stream songs from Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify, TuneIn and others. You can also listen to audiobooks from Audible.
  • Bigger, better sound: pair with a second Echo Dot for rich, stereo sound. Fill your home with music with compatible Echo devices in different rooms.
  • Ready to help: ask Alexa to play music, answer questions, read the news, check the weather, set alarms, control compatible smart home devices and more.
  • Connect with others: call almost anyone hands free including UK mobile and residential numbers (from UK only), other Echo devices, Alexa app and Skype. Link your Vodafone account to make and receive mobile calls. Instantly drop in on other rooms in your home or make an announcement to every room with a compatible Echo device.
  • Alexa has skills: with tens of thousands of skills, Alexa is always getting smarter and adding new skills like tracking fitness, playing games and more.
  • Voice control your smart home: turn on lights, adjust thermostats, lock doors and more, with compatible connected devices.
  • Designed to protect your privacy: built with multiple layers of privacy protection and control, including a Microphone Off button that electronically disconnects the microphones.

NextBase 422GW Dash Cam with Emergency Service Notification and Alexa

Dash Cams have become a hugely popular and important piece of in-car technology. Not only do they act as an independent witness in court by recording everything that happens both in front of your car as well as behind (if you have a rear-view camera), in fact, Tesla has recently updated their vehicles to support ‘Sentry’ mode to monitor all around the car using their multiple cameras.

422GW Dash Cam
422GW Dash Cam

The increase in Dash Cam use has by recognised by insurance companies and police as an extremely helpful accessory in the event of both accidents and other investigations where individuals have gone missing and have been picked up on dashcam.

In the UK, the law states that a Dash Cam must NOT distract the driver or obscure the view of the road. If you decide to share the footage, faces and number plates should be blurred and unrecognisable. so bear this in mind if you decide to upload some footage to Facebook or YouTube.

422GW Dash Cam
422GW Dash Cam

NextBase 422GW with the rear camera module.

I have spent the last couple of weeks reviewing the NextBase 422GW a dashcam bursting with so many features, it would be impossible to list everything here!

Out of the boxes, the main dashcam and the additional rear camera module are both solidly built devices with a comforting amount of weight about them that feels durable. I also had a NextBase MicroSD card to store my footage. You also receive a very long power cable with 12v connector and the option of using either suction or sticky mount to affix the camera to your windscreen.

422GW Dash Cam
Nextbase App connected to 422GW Dash Cam

The 422GW’s features rely heavily on the use of an iOS or Android App which connects over both Bluetooth for general communication and WiFi for downloading videos to your device. It also supports Alexa and Handsfree calling which was quite useful as it allows voice instructions to download the recorded video to your mobile device (if that’s your thing!). You can also enter emergency information into the app which allows the device to automatically contact the emergency services if it detects an accident. Don’t worry, it won’t do this immediately, you do get to intervene before Police or Ambulances are summoned.

The most obvious feature of a dashcam is the quality of the video that it takes. The 422GW packs a F1.3 sensor recording at 1440p at 30 FPS or 1080p at 60 FPS. The quality of the video is excellent even in low light and darkness, I was seriously impressed. If you (like I did) installed the additional rear camera, the unit records both videos at the same time and you can set the rear camera to either record inside the cockpit or the rear window. I was unsure how this would turn out, but again I was really impressed with the results.

422GW Dash Cam
422GW Dash Cam – what’s in the box

If you are looking for a dashcam with Crash Protection, Emergency Service Alert, Auto-Sync, Intelligent Parking Monitoring, Alexa and the tool for installing the cable in your vehicle, you won’t go far wrong with this device! At £129 it’s great value too.

Matt Porter
www.thegadgetman.org.uk

 

 

Gadget Man – Episode 141 – Amazon Alexa is now providing NHS Medical Advice

The UK Government’s ‘Department for Health and Social Care’ have today announced a collaboration between themselves and Multi-Billion Dollar tech firm Amazon to provide NHS website information via the popular Alexa platform.

Amazon Dot running Alexa next to a pill
Amazon Dot running Alexa can now assist with NHS based medical information

With immediate effect, UK owners of the Alexa based devices such as the Amazon Echo and Echo Dot will now be able to request medical information by asking their devices.

This morning, I spoke to Mark Murphy from BBC Radio Suffolk about the devices and their potential uses in health. You can listen in via the link about. Don’t forget to Like, Share, Subscribe and Comment!!

[videopress NgjTfiDu]

The press release is as follows:-

Press Release – 10 July 2019

The NHS is collaborating with Amazon to provide reliable health information from the NHS website through voice-assisted technology. 

The technology will help patients, especially the elderly, blind and those who cannot access the internet through traditional means, to get professional, NHS-verified health information in seconds, through simple voice commands.

Amazon’s algorithm uses information from the NHS website to provide answers to voice questions such as:

  • “Alexa, how do I treat a migraine?”
  • “Alexa, what are the symptoms of flu?”
  • “Alexa, what are the symptoms of chickenpox”

The technology has the potential to reduce the pressure on the NHS and GPs by providing information for common illnesses.

Voice search has been increasing rapidly. By 2020, half of all searches are expected to be made through voice-assisted technology.

NHSX will look at ways of making more NHS services available to all patients through digital technology. The announcement supports the commitment in the NHS Long Term Plan to make more NHS services available digitally.

Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Matt Hancock said:

We want to empower every patient to take better control of their healthcare and technology like this is a great example of how people can access reliable, world-leading NHS advice from the comfort of their home, reducing the pressure on our hardworking GPs and pharmacists.

Through the NHS Long Term Plan, we want to embrace the advances in technology to build a health and care system that is fit for the future and NHSX will drive this revolution to bring the benefits to every patient, clinician and carer.

Matthew Gould, Chief Executive of NHSX, said:

The public need to be able to get reliable information about their health easily and in ways they actually use. By working closely with Amazon and other tech companies, big and small, we can ensure that the millions of users looking for health information every day can get simple, validated advice at the touch of a button or voice command.

Part of our mission at NHSX is to give citizens the tools to access services and information directly, and partnerships such as this are an important part of achieving this.

Gadget Man – Episode 133 – Alexa is now reading Bedtime Stories

In this podcast episode, I speak to Mark Murphy at BBC Radio Suffolk about reports that Smart Speakers are now taking parents places by reading stories to children.

Intelligent Assistant Smart Speaker
Intelligent Smart Speakers are now taking over parental responsibilities in some cases.

BookTrust surveyed 1000 parents and discovered that 25% have used Alexa or Siri to read stories to their children.

Here I discuss the survey with Mark and how the changing face of parenting has lead to the use of smart speakers to step-in when parenting becomes too busy.

You can listen in to the episode by clicking on the play button above, or subscribe using your favourite podcast app by clicking the subscribe button.

Thanks for reading and listening in and see you next time.

Matt

Gadget Man – Episode 129 – Gadgets in the Home

It was great to be on BBC Radio Suffolk this morning, talking with Wayne Bavin about Gadgets used in the home.

Following the first episode of Hard to Please OAP’s on ITV1, I spoke to Wayne about Gadgets which are used regularly and less regularly in our homes.

It was fun to chat about Soda-Stream, Amazon Alexa, Sandwich Toasters, Waffle Irons and all the good and bad tech now found in our homes.

You can listen in to the latest podcast to hear what I had to say and also how I managed to link this to watching an old episode of Terry and June.

Enjoy listening and don’t forget to Like, Share, Subscribe and I will see you next time!

Matt

Gadgets Featured in this Podcast on Amazon
Gadgets Featured in this Podcast on Amazon

 

Gadget Man Episode 128 – The World Wide Web turns 30!!

It only seems like yesterday when I was talking about the World Wide Web turning 25 years old and now before we know it, it’s now 30 years since the first HTML web page was authored and published by Sir Tim Berners-Lee.

The Web is, without doubt, the greatest invention of all time. It has made our planet smaller, brought together people from all walks of life and from every corner of the globe. It has made the world a much more accessible place, we can reach out to our idols and they can communicate back to us. We can transverse the globe and watch sunrises on opposite sides of the planet as they happen.

It truly is a modern wonder of the world. Cheers, Sir Tim!!

Sir Tim arriving at the Guildhall to receive the Honorary Freedom of the City of London - Image Credit - Paul Clarke
Sir Tim arriving at the Guildhall to receive the Honorary Freedom of the City of London – Image Credit – Paul Clarke

To find out how Sir Tim Berners-Lee is working towards a better Internet, visit his website.

To find out how CERN is celebrating, visit the World Wide Web at 30.

With the wonders of the web brings ‘Smart Assistants’, they are on our phones, computers and now independently as ‘Smart Speakers’, another true wonder borne from the internet, serving our every need and answering the answerable. These ubiquitous electronic pucks offer a gateway to enormous artificial intelligence-driven knowledgebases that are themselves learning as well learn from us, Machine Learning is driven by millions of users.

Of course, every now and then our assistants flicker or make strange noises, we might wonder if these are simply glitches or the first sparks of self-awareness?

I spoke to Mark Murphy at BBC Radio Suffolk about both Smart Speakers and the 30th Anniversary of the Web. Listen in above and don’t forget to LIKE, SHARE and SUBSCRIBE. See you next time!!

[amazon_link asins=’B06Y5ZW72J,B0792KWK57,B07952VB6P,B01DFKBL68,B06Y65CLQY,B01J6RPH46,B0749YXKYZ,B01J2BK6CO’ template=’ProductCarousel’ store=’thgama03-21′ marketplace=’UK’ link_id=’d1d36517-30af-4bda-9899-f063f7011e7d’]