Amazon has encountered problems as it began broadcasting the US Open tennis tournament. Premier League fans will be worried.
Amazon
HomePod's Limited Market Share, Netflix vs In-app Subscriptions - TMO Daily Observations 2018-08-22
John Martellaro and Kelly Guimont join Jeff Gamet to discuss HomePod’s lack of growth in the smart speaker market, plus they look at Netflix’s plan to cut off Apple from in-app subscription purchases.
Walmart and Kobo Partner to Launch Walmart eBooks
Walmart is desperate to compete with Amazon, and this new service is another volley in the battle. It offers both eBooks and audiobooks.
AI Limitations, iMac Pro Kernel Panic Problem, Bryan’s HomePod Experiment - ACM 472
In this episode, Bryan Chaffin and Jeff Gamet discuss the current limitations of AI, and what real AI in the future might be like. They also talk about Apple’s T2 kernel panic issue and follow up on Bryan’s dual-HomePod TV experiment.
Apple Interface Consistency, Storage Permutations, Walmart Streaming Video - ACM 471
In this age of different devices and platforms, Bryan Chaffin and Jeff Gamet talk about the lack of consistency in Apple’s interfaces compared to the days when “Apple” meant “Mac.” They also go over some listener feedback (read criticism) about their rant last week on Apple’s storage pricing for new MacBook Pro models. Lastly, they discuss whether not Walmart can make a go in the streaming video market, and how that might actually work.
Amazon Stumbles with Prime Day Server Problems
Amazon Prime Day didn’t go as smoothly as customers hoped thanks to server headaches.
Amazon Slashes Echo Smart Speaker Prices for Amazon Prime Day
It’s Amazon Prime Day, so that means you can get deals on tons of products, including the company’s own Echo product line.
Amazon Prime Day Coming on July 16th and 17th, Includes Whole Foods
Amazon Prime Day is coming on July 16th and 17th and this year includes Whole Foods so you can take advantage of in-store discounts, too.
DOJ Approves Disney Acquisition of Fox, Requires Regional Sports Channel Sale
The U.S. Department of Justice approved more media consolidation on Wednesday, as it signed off on Disney acquiring most of Fox Entertainment.
Amazon Brings Voice Controls to Alexa App on iOS
Users who have trained themselves on Alexa Skills can now use that same self-training on their iPhones and iPads to access the Alexa ecosystem.
Apple and Other Tech Companies Meeting in San Francisco to Chat about Privacy
The trade group organizing the meeting includes Apple, Google, Amazon, Adobe, Ebay, Facebook, HP, Twitter, Salesforce, IBM, Microsoft, Intel, Qualcomm, Samsung, Dropbox, and many others, though it’s not clear how high up the org chart this meet-up will go.
How Many Songs Are Available on the Top Streaming Music Services?
We did some research and figured out how many songs are in each of the big music streaming service libraries such as Apple Music, Spotify, annd Amazon Prime Music.
Apple May Be Ready to Unleash a Slew of New Macs
Events and portents suggest that Apple may be finally ready to refresh a good part of its Mac lineup.
The AR Demo and the Benefits of Surveillance Capitalism - ACM 466
If you’ve been wondering what all the fuss was about augmented reality, Bryan Chaffin and Jeff Gamet have an AR Demo for you to see. They also take time out from ranting about being the product to talk frankly about the benefits of surveillance capitalism.
Ring Alarm Home Security System Available for Pre-order
The Ring Alarm DIY home security system is available for pre-order now and ships at the beginning of July.
Alexa's Eavesdropping Incident, Doppler Music Player - TMO Daily Observations 2018-05-25
Bryan Chaffin and Andrew Orr join Jeff Gamet to share their thoughts on Amazon’s Alexa inadvertently recording a conversation and sending it to someone as a message, plus Andrew has a tip on a Music app alternative for the iPhone and iPad.
Twitter Insanity, Apple's AI Showdown, FBI Exaggeration, Apple's HQ Hunt - ACM 463
Twitter has lost its corporate mind, Bryan Chaffin and Jeff Gamet argue in this episode of ACM. They also weigh the importance of WWDC 2018 in terms of Siri, and discuss whether or not Apple has to announce significant improvements to remain competitive in AI. Then there’s the revelation that the FBI exaggerated the number of locked iPhones it couldn’t get into, and they squeeze in a fourth topic, too: Apple’s hunt for a new campus, and how it contrasts with Amazon.
This Amazon Doorbell Let a Man Spy on His Ex-Boyfriend [Update]
Ring—which Amazon acquired in February—makes a smart doorbell that has a camera connected to Wi-Fi.
Catalyst Waterproof Case for AirPods
Check out Catalyst’s Waterproof Case for AirPods, a protective cover for your AirPods case that is both waterproof (IP67, up to 33 feet) and offers 40 feet of drop protection. The video below shows how that works, and I think it’s pretty cool, especially for active folks. They’re available in multiple colors, including Frost White, Blueridge/Sunset, Slate Gray, Deep Plum, Army Green, and Glow-in-the-Dark. The company announced Tuesday that these cases will be available in Best Buy stores and the BestBuy.com, and you can find them on the Catalyst website, as well as Amazon, and they’re priced at $24.99 at all three locations. [Edit: Dave Hamilton also thought this case was cool, as he wrote about them in January. Check out his personal video in that piece. – Bryan]
Alexa's Lead in the Voice Assistant Market - TMO Daily Observations 2018-05-03
John Martellaro and Andrew Orr join Jeff Gamet to discuss Amazon Alexa’s apparent lead in the voice control platform game and how Apple’s Siri on HomePod fits in.
Here's How to Make Alexa Remember Things for You
Amazon Alexa has a new feature called Remember This to help you keep track of whatever it is you need to remember. Read on to learn how.
Amazon Increasing Prime Subscriptions to $119 in May
Annual Amazon Prime subscriptions are increasing from $99 to $119 in May for new customers, and in June for current subscribers.
It's Shortsighted for Apple to Discontinue AirPort Products
For two decades, Apple has been there for its customers who want a great, easy-to-understand, easy-to-set-up, Wi-Fi system. Why give that up?
Amazon's Kid-friendly Echo Dot, Crowdfense Zero Day Exploit Bounties - TMO Daily Observations 2018-04-26
Bryan Chaffin and Andrew Orr join Jeff Gamet to share their thoughts on Amazon’s new kid-focused Echo Dot, plus they discuss Crowdfense and the state of zero day exploit bounties.