Smart Tech Today (Audio)

STT 109: Smart Tech Trends of 2021 - A look back at the year's smart home happenings.

Matthew Cassinelli and Mikah Sargent announce the sunsetting of Smart Tech Today and look back at the year's smart home trends. Amazon's Alexa Stalled With Users as Interest Faded, Documents Show Matthew's Airtable list of Smart Tech Today stories Matthew's Airtable list of Smart Tech Today's most-covered topics Ember Mug HomePod Eve Motion Sensor Awair Eve Door and Window Sensor Hue Motion Sensor Nanoleaf Canvas Picks of the week Matthew: Focused 2022 Calendar Mikah: Beyerdynamic MMX 150 Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Matthew Cassinelli Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/smart-tech-today Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Show notes and links for this episode are available at: https://twit.tv/shows/smart-tech-today/episodes/109 Sponsors: betterhelp.com/stt UserWay.org/twit

STT 108: Matter Sets Sights on Universal Casting - Opal C1 webcam, Intel is bearish about the Metaverse, Matter

The upcoming universal language for smart home devices, Matter, has revealed a TV spec that will theoretically allow for universal media casting. The Opal C1 webcam aims to be a DSLR camera packed into a webcam frame. Intel thinks it's going to be awhile before the Metaverse really kicks off due to technological constraints it feels its chips can help surpass. Matter could bring universal casting that actually works Smart home company Eve plans to use Matter to move beyond Apple's HomeKit Opal's C1 offers DSLR-rivaling video quality in a small form factor Dell's wireless webcam prototype uses magnets to stick to a screen Google Home update makes it easier to review Nest camera footage MGM Resorts is letting job seekers try out roles using virtual reality as it looks to reduce employee churn Intel Throws Cold Water on the Metaverse Happening Any Time Soon Meta adds sign language interpreters for Portal video calls LG's StanbyME is a wireless TV on wheels Alexa's latest celebrity voice is Santa Claus himself Enhanced Sleep Sensing in Nest Hub Picks of the week Matthew: Grovemade Wool Felt Desk Pad Mikah: Eve Room (with Thread) Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Matthew Cassinelli Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/smart-tech-today Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Show notes and links for this episode are available at: https://twit.tv/shows/smart-tech-today/episodes/108 Sponsors: UserWay.org/twit betterhelp.com/stt

STT 107: DARPA Drone Charging - Alexa ruins the surprise, Meta opens Horizon Worlds, DARPA funds drone charging

Amazon's Alexa voice assistant is happy to announce package updates, but that's a bit of an issue around the holidays. Meta (Facebook) has opened up Horizon Worlds to adults in the U.S. and Canada. DARPA is funding research from a company that makes a device to charge a swarm of drones. Sonos plans to improve its mixed environmental track record How to keep Alexa from ruining your Christmas surprises Kobo's Elipsa and Sage e-readers are better for reading than writing Meta opens up access to its VR social platform Horizon Worlds DARPA Is Exploring Ways to Wirelessly Charge Drone Swarms Drop a Magnet on This Map and a Fake Window Provides Live Views From Around the World Razer's New MagSafe Cooling Fan Brings RGB to Your iPhone, Because Why Not A New Tesla Safety Concern: Drivers Can Play Video Games in Moving Cars The Popular Family Safety App Life360 Is Selling Precise Location Data on Its Tens of Millions of Users Apple and Hyatt begin rolling out hotel keys in Apple Wallet Kuo: Apple AR Headset to Feature Advanced Hand Gesture Controls and Object Detection Picks of the week Dan: Lutron Aurora Smart Bulb Dimmer Switch Mikah: Anker 637 Magnetic Charging Station Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Dan Moren Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/smart-tech-today Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Show notes and links for this episode are available at: https://twit.tv/shows/smart-tech-today/episodes/107 Sponsors: betterhelp.com/stt UserWay.org/twit

STT 106: Google Pixel Watch? - Google's rumored smartwatch, Alexa warns of running water, autonomous 7-Eleven

Google is rumored to be working on its first smartwatch that will reportedly debut in 2022. Some of Amazon's Alexa-enabled devices will be able to listen for the sound of running water or appliances beeping in order to alert you or trigger a routine. 7-Eleven partners with Nuro for autonomous vehicle deliveries. New Google Maps Features Will Help You Navigate the Holiday Shopping Shitshow Healthcare providers in Google Search, Maps can now list which insurance they accept Google announces grab bag of new Android features for the end of 2021 Google is making its first in-house smartwatch that could launch in 2022 Google's 'Look to Speak' accessibility app now works in 17 more languages Spotify Pulls Plug on Car View Feature, Offers Users No Alternative Amazon Alexa can now respond to running water and bleeping appliances Twinkly smart holiday lights gain HomeKit support via new firmware update Honeywell Home's T9 smart thermostat gets HomeKit support, finally 7-Eleven and Nuro begin autonomous vehicle deliveries in California Uber's audio recording safety feature is coming to the US Microsoft Makes Breakthrough in the Quest to Use DNA as Data Storage Twenty percent of Xbox Cloud Gaming players only use touch controls Holiday IoT Ugly Sweater Workshop Picks of the week Matthew: Mozy Stadium Blanket Mikah: Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Matthew Cassinelli Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/smart-tech-today Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Show notes and links for this episode are available at: https://twit.tv/shows/smart-tech-today/episodes/106 Sponsors: hover.com/twit betterhelp.com/stt UserWay.org/twit

STT 105: Conversations With Amazon's Alexa - Conversation Mode, Amazon Smart Switches, Instagram 'Rage Shake'

Amazon has begun to roll out a new, smarter "Conversation Mode" to Echo Show 10 devices that helps Alexa take visual and audio cues from nearby users. The company has also introduced four new smart switches that work with Alexa. Instagram has a new bug-reporting feature called "Rage Shake" that lets you shake your phone to report a bug. Amazon starts rolling out Alexa's Conversation Mode on Echo Show 10 Some Echo speakers can now detect people What should you eat? Thanks to this Amazon employee, Alexa can help Amazon has four new smart switches Zipline starts first commercial US drone deliveries with Walmart partnership in Arkansas Starbucks Has Launched a Cafe in NYC That Uses Amazon's Cashierless Payment System FCC votes to let people text '988' to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline starting in July Instagram Has Announced a New Feature Called 'Rage Shake' Ring doorbells will be able to greet people with holiday cheer Upcoming smart home products wirelessly charge without cable or pad Picks of the week Dan: Level Bolt Mikah: Google Pixel Buds A-Series Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Dan Moren Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/smart-tech-today Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Show notes and links for this episode are available at: https://twit.tv/shows/smart-tech-today/episodes/105 Sponsor: UserWay.org/twit