On episode 9 of Smart Tech Today, Mikah and I talked about:
- Smart tech news:
- Amazon:
- Decorating your smart home:
- Mikah’s pick of the week: Eve Energy Strip
- Matthew’s pick of the week: Enable seasonal doorbell chimes on your Google Nest Hello
Tag: Offsite
On episode 8 of Smart Tech Today, Mikah and I talked about:
- Amazon Music now free for Android, iOS, and Fire TV
- Amazon expands its free, ad-supported streaming music service to iOS
- The Verge Guide to Amazon Alexa
- Spotify adds recommended commands on Google Assistant
- Google Assistant’s latest feature is a personalized audio news feed
- Spotify adds recommended commands on Google Assistant
- Google Assistant Launches ‘My Storytime’ Feature for Families to Read Together When Apart
- Google Assistant uses ‘Duplex on the Web’ to buy your movie tickets
- The new Apple Maps is now available in more than half of the U.S.
- HomeKit Secure Video is a privacy win, but expect some missing features for now
- Abode delivers promised HomeKit support for its Iota DIY home security system
- Sonos acquires voice assistant startup, says not building Siri competitor
- Sonos Acquires Voice Assistant Startup Snips for $37 Million
- Shortcuts User Guide
- Logitech POP Smart Button
- Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box
- Philips Hue Play White & Color Smart Light
- Mikah’s pick of the week: Philips Hue for Android
- Matthew’s pick of the week: OneCast for Mac, iOS, and Android
On episode 7 of Smart Tech Today, Mikah and I talked about the following:
- Smart wearables can both improve and save lives
- Apple Watch calls cops for unconscious driver after a car crash
- Texas Dad Says Apple Watch Changed the Life of His Son with Autism
- Amazon and Google double down on hands-free recipes to help sell their smart displays
- Google Assistant smart speaker shipments drop by 40%
- Google Assistant Ambient Mode rolling out to more phones
- Xbox One November 2019 update arrives with Google Assistant and more
- Xbox Adaptive Controller
- Logitech G Adaptive Gaming Kit for the Xbox Adaptive Controller
- Siri will announce weather temperature units (F° or C°) based on the preference of who is asking
- Walmart Voice Order is now compatible with Siri, it even has its own Shortcut
- Logitech’s Circle 2 camera gets support for Apple HomeKit Secure Video
- Feedback & Questions: Dave writes in with a tip for using the Due app and iOS’s Reminders app in concert.
- Dictate Reminder
- Bulk-add Reminders
- Mikah’s pick of the week: MyQ Smart Garage Door Opener
- Matthew’s pick of the week: HomeRun
We’ll be live each Monday at 4pm PST / 7PM EST – thanks for listening!
Links for the show:
Shortcuts for the show:
On this episode of Smart Tech Today, Mikah and I talk about:
- Smart home news: the Ember Mug 2, LIFX’s new candelabra bulb, Cortana reads emails now, the Tile tracker works with the Google Assistant and Alexa, and Samsung’s SmartThing’s platform gets offline automation support and a new Rules API.
- Google news: Google (Alphabet) has officially acquired FitBit, the Google Home app gets a visual overhaul, and the Google Assistant gets Sirius XM support.
- Security & privacy: Researchers used lasers to “speak” to Amazon Echo and Google Home devices from a distance.
- Hearables: Matthew and Mikah review Amazon’s new Echo Buds and Apple’s new AirPods Pro.
- Multi-voice recognition: Developers can now leverage Alexa Voice Profiles when developing Skills for Alexa-enabled devices. Matthew troubleshoots and explains HomePod’s new Handoff, Ambient Noise, and automation features.
- Projects: Matthew dives deep into Shortcuts on HomePod and AirPods 2; Mikah waxes ecstatic about using motion sensors as part of his smart home setup.
- Matthew’s pick: Mr. Christmas 7′ Alexa Compatible RGB LED Christmas Tree
- Mikah’s pick: Beddr SleepTuner Sleep Monitor
Plus, here’s a set of Siri Shortcuts I created last week for subscribing and listening to the show:
- Open Smart Tech Today website
- Subscribe to Smart Tech Today
- Tune in to Smart Tech Today live on Twitch
- AirPlay Smart Tech Today
- Rate Smart Tech Today in Podcasts
We’ll be live next Monday at our usual 4pm PST – thanks for listening along so far!
Links for the show:
Last fall, I made a simple video for YouTube but never posted it here on my website – it’s a quick tutorial on making GIFs using Shortcuts, where I start from scratch and finish with a usable shortcut:
I’d make some improvements to the shortcut now like adding a Quick Look at the end so users can view it when running from the My Shortcuts view and maybe adjusting the speed slightly.
Plus since then I’ve moved my desk, improved my audio editing skills, and don’t feel nearly as awkward.
Question for any readers: do you like this style of video? I haven’t done other top-down shots like this and want to know what people think – tweet me or send me an email with your thoughts and any other helpful feedback.
Watch the full video on YouTube or in the embed above.
Yours truly, writing for iMore:
For this update, Apple reworked some the fundamentals of Siri Shortcuts, taking the Shortcuts app’s powerful actions and offering those capabilities to other apps on the App Store. Plus, they all work fully in Siri, marking another step forward in Apple’s voice strategy.
The Shortcuts app has been redesigned, making it easier to understand and get started with, there’s powerful new Automation capabilities that let you run your Siri Shortcuts based on a series of triggers, and the Gallery now has new automatic recommendations based on your personal usage.
With about 2,500 words and 24 screenshots, I covered everything that’s new in the betas so far. I’ll be revisiting each topic over time, but this is the best way to get all the news in one place.