Amazon adds Alexa+ Greetings to Ring 2K/4K — what to expect At its Devices & Services event, Amazon revealed new Alexa+ features — including Alexa+ Greetings, which will roll out to Ring’s new 2K and 4K cameras this summer. Using Ring’s image recognition, Alexa+ will be able to: Greet recognized friends and family automatically. Ask questions of unknown visitors to determine the purpose of their visit. This update highlights both the promise and limits of generative AI in consumer devices: it can make home interactions more natural and helpful, but it also raises questions about accuracy, mistaken IDs, and privacy. Key points Rollout: Expected this summer for Ring 2K and 4K devices. How it works: Combines Alexa+ conversational AI with Ring image recognition to decide how to respond to visitors.…

Beats Powerbeats Fit — Slight upgrades, same price Beats has launched the Powerbeats Fit, the direct successor to the Beats Fit Pro. This new model keeps the core features but refines the fit and case: 20% more flexible wingtip for improved comfort and a secure fit 17% smaller charging case and added IPX4 moisture protection for the case Same price as before: $200; preorders available now, retail release on October 2 H1 chip with Personalized Spatial Audio, Adaptive EQ, Audio Sharing, hands-free Siri, automatic device switching IPX4-rated earbuds, extra small ear tip added (now 4 sizes) Battery: up to 7 hours on earbuds (ANC off), up to 30 hours total with case; with ANC on ~6h (24h with case) New colors include orange and pink in addition to black and…

Blink Mini 2 — 2 cameras for $35 (Prime Big Deal Days) Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days have a standout bargain: two Blink Mini 2 cameras for just $35 — 50% off and a record low. The deal is open to anyone (no Prime required). Why it’s a good buy 2024 Blink Mini 2 model — 1080p video, color night vision, LED spotlight and improved low-light sensor. Wider field of view than previous model. Designed for indoor use; outdoor use possible with a $10 weather-resistant adapter. Alexa integration and two-way audio. Person detection available with a Blink Subscription Plan (from $3/month or $30/year per device). Colors & availability Available in black or white at the $35 price (must buy separately to mix colors). Other Blink and Ring bundles are on…

Couch Control for HomeKit & HA — Apple TV smart‑home dashboard Developer: Lucas Franz Summary: Couch Control is an Apple TV app that brings HomeKit and Home Assistant controls to your TV. It provides a customizable, large‑screen dashboard to control devices, view sensor data and history, and operate scenes from the couch. Key features Integrates with Apple HomeKit and Home Assistant Customizable multi‑page layouts, widgets and themes Real‑time device status and historical sensor charts Guest mode with passcode and local credential storage — privacy focused Designed for Apple TV remote and big‑screen navigation Where to get it App Store (Apple TV): Couch Control on the App Store Source / project page: GitHub — Couch Control Notes The app supports Home Assistant via long‑lived tokens and local IP configuration. TestFlight/beta access…

Apple Watch Series 11 — Now on Amazon The Apple Watch Series 11 is already available on Amazon. Select color and case combinations are discounted by $10 off Apple's base price. Buy or search on Amazon: Apple Watch Series 11 on Amazon. Key new features 5G connectivity (cellular models) More scratch-resistant screen New sleep features Improved battery life Hypertension alert system with FDA clearance Our take In hands-on reviews the Series 11 scored highly for its thin, light design, excellent battery life, a new wrist-flick gesture and comprehensive health and fitness monitoring. It’s pricier than the Watch SE 3, which remains a great choice for most users. For buyers upgrading from older models or buying their first Apple Watch, Series 11 is a strong pick. If you have a Series…

Amazon Smart Plug: Record-low Early Prime Day Deals Amazon's Smart Plug is on sale for a record-low price right now: a single unit for $13 (regularly about $25), and a 2-pack for $24. These offers are part of early Prime Day deals and are a great opportunity to add smart control to lamps, fans, and other plugged-in devices without needing a hub. Why it’s worth it Alexa native: Works seamlessly with Alexa — voice control and schedule automations via the Alexa app. Simple setup: Plug in, connect through the Alexa app, and start automating. Wide compatibility: Good for lamps, fans, small appliances, and more. Great price: At $13 (single) or $24 (2-pack), it’s one of the cheapest ways to add smart controls to your home. How to buy Search on…

Google AI Mode improves visual search with "query fan-out" Google has updated AI Mode to better understand visual prompts by applying its "query fan-out" technique to images and videos. That means when you search something like "moody but maximalist bedrooms" or "barrel jeans that aren’t too baggy," AI Mode runs multiple background searches to better interpret the intent and return more relevant, visual answers. The feature is multimodal, so you can start a search with an image or video and then refine results with follow-up questions. Why it matters Richer visual results: Responses are now more image-forward rather than long blocks of text. Better shopping support: Google highlights shopping use cases — visually finding items and refining style/fit queries. Multimodal inputs: Start with images/videos and continue the conversation with text…

DoorDash introduces Dot: compact electric delivery robot for neighborhood tripsAt the Dash Forward keynote, DoorDash revealed Dot, a small electric delivery robot designed for short neighborhood trips. Built by DoorDash Labs to work with the company’s Autonomous Delivery Platform, Dot is roughly one-tenth the size of a car, can reach up to 20 mph, and is able to travel on sidewalks and bike lanes as well as roads. It’s small enough to fit through doorways and driveways, making it suited to local grocery and convenience deliveries.Key specsSize: ~1/10th of a car — fits through doorwaysTop speed: up to 20 mphNavigation: roads, bike lanes, sidewalksDeployment: early access in Tempe & Mesa, Arizona (expanding to more markets over time)How Dot fits DoorDash’s strategyDot is part of a multi-modal delivery approach that pairs…

Prime Day Early Deals: Shark Robot Vacuums Early Prime Day discounts are already appearing on Shark robot vacuums. Highlights from the current deals and product specs: Shark AV2501S AI Ultra — reported deal: $230 (record-low claim) Runtime: up to 120 minutes per charge Self-emptying, bagless base: holds up to 30 days of dirt Filtration: True HEPA, captures up to 99.97% of dust/allergens Navigation & app: AI/LiDAR mapping, Matrix Clean Navigation, Shark Clean app, and voice assistant support Note: some retailer listings and price trackers show the AV2501S at higher prices (often in the $350–$550 range). The $230 figure has been reported in early-sale coverage; availability and price may vary by retailer and Prime membership. Shark Matrix Plus 2‑in‑1 — vac + mop (reported sale ~ $300) Vacuum + mopping capability…

VR Banking App to add "meinKrypto" — Crypto trading coming to Volks‑ und Raiffeisenbanken The Volks‑ und Raiffeisenbank (VR) group plans to integrate cryptocurrency trading directly into its VR Banking App with a new feature called "meinKrypto". The function will let customers buy, sell and view crypto assets within the bank app, with custody and settlement handled in cooperation with Börse Stuttgart and its custody arm. Key points Feature name: meinKrypto Availability: Offered in the VR Banking App, rolled out step‑by‑step at participating VR institutes (targeted rollout from 2025) Partners: DZ BANK (orchestration), Atruvia (technical implementation), Börse Stuttgart / Boerse Stuttgart Digital Custody GmbH (trading venue & custody) Initial offering: Start with a limited set of crypto assets (reports mention about four tokens at launch) Regulation: Launch follows the EU…