Articles by Ben Patterson
Can Microsoft's Panos Panay right the Alexa ship at Amazon?
A 19-year Microsoft veteran who ran the company's Windows and Surface divisions, Panay comes to Amazon at a challenging time for its Alexa group.
Eufy’s X8 Pro robot vacuum cleans the hair off its own brush
Got pets? If so, the detangling brush on Eufy’s new Clean X8 Pro can keep pet hair from robbing the vacuum of suction power.
Eufy's latest cams boast dual lenses, cross-camera tracking
Eufy's security cameras will soon be able to track you from one cam to another, and then splice the footage into a single video.
When is Spotify HiFi coming? Here's what we know
Spotify's promised lossless audio tier is more than two years late, but there’s mounting evidence that Spotify HiFi is still coming. Here’s what we know.
One of Alexa’s best free features is going behind a paywall
If you want Alexa to keep listening for smoke alarms and breaking glass, you’re going to have to pay up. Here’s how much it will cost.
Bose’s new Smart Ultra Soundbar delivers AI-boosted dialogue
Virtually identical to its predecessor, Bose’s revamped high-end soundbar uses machine learning to enhance hard-to-hear voices.
Amazon’s new Echo Frames offer better battery life, more styles
The third-generation Echo Frames come with battery battery life, improved audio, and seven new frame designs.
Amazon gives us a peek at a generative AI-fueled Alexa
Alexa sounds much more natural with the backing of Amazon’s new LLM, although it also gives off some serious HAL vibes.
Amazon updates its Fire TV sticks, dials up LLM-aided search
Alexa, what’s the name of the comedy show with that guy from “Breaking Bad”?
Amazon’s new Echo Show 8 gets spatial audio, smart home hub
The third-gen Echo Show 8 will sound better and control Matter devices, as well as adjust its interface depending on how far away you are.
Max is rolling out a live sports add-on tier for $10 a month
The new Max tier will offer a menu of MLB, NHL, NBA, NCAA March Madness, and U.S. Soccer action, provided you’re willing to pay extra.
Arlo’s latest security cams aim for lower price points
With its new generation of Essential security cameras and doorbells, Arlo looks to compete with the likes of affordable cam makers Wyze and Blink.
Google Nest Hub Max losing support for joining Meet and Zoom calls
If you've been using Google's largest Nest Hub display to join Zoom and Google Meet video calls, you'll need a new option by the end of the month.
October Prime Day 2023: What we know so far
Amazon has finally revealed the dates for Prime Big Day Deals, better known as October Prime Day 2023. Here's the latest.
iOS 17 StandBy mode adds smarts to an iPhone's locked display
The new StandBy mode in iOS 17 brings cool interactive widgets to your iPhone's locked screen, including smart home controls.
Ring’s new Pet Tag can help lost furry friends find home
A QR-stamped Pet Tag can make it easier for good samaritans to guide wayward dogs and cats back home.
Apple snuck some smart home news into its iPhone event
The Apple Home app is getting a handy clean-energy feature, while Thread on the iPhone could lead to some intriguing possibilities.
Google Pixel Tablet vs Google Nest Hub: Smart home dust-up
The dockable Google Pixel Tablet has a speedy CPU and an arsenal of smart home features, but is it really a Nest Hub killer?