Smart home
Amazon Great Indian Festival Sale: Top Deals on Amazon Devices
![Amazon Great Indian Festival Sale: Top Deals on Amazon Devices](https://i.gadgets360cdn.com/large/amazon_great_indian_festival_extra_happiness_days_1665236926748.jpg)
The third-generation Echo Dot smart speaker is currently available for purchase at Rs. 1,749 (MRP Rs. 4,499). You can use this voice activated speaker to stream music, check the news, access trivia, check sports scores, and the weather. The Echo Dot also allows you to control various smart home devices such as smart lights, air conditioners, smart TVs, and smart plugs. Amazon is also offering “combo” offers with smart bulbs and smart plugs during the ongoing Amazon Great Indian Festival sale.
Buy now at: Rs. 1,749 (MRP Rs. 4,499)
If you’d prefer a smart speaker with a display, the second-generation Echo Show 8 is now on sale at Rs. 7,499 (MRP Rs. 13,999) for the duration of the sale. It sports an 8-inch HD display with stereo speakers and comes with inbuilt Alexa support. The smart display is also equipped with a 13-megapixel camera for video calls. You can also watch content from Netflix and Amazon Prime Video on the display, or monitor your smart home devices remotely. It comes with a physical microphone mute button and an inbuilt camera cover.
Buy now at: Rs. 1,749 (MRP Rs. 4,499)
Amazon’s cheapest Fire TV streaming dongle brings smart TV features to any full HD TV with an HDMI port. It ships with the Alexa Voice Remote Lite, which comes with app control, according to the company. Like other devices in the Fire TV portfolio, you can use the Fire TV Stick Lite to access shows on a wide range of subscription-based platforms, from Amazon Prime Video to Zee5. The Fire TV Stick Lite can be moved between TVs, which can come in handy when traveling.
Buy now at: Rs. 1,899 (MRP Rs. 3,999)
If you have an older 4K television that you want to turn into a smart TV, the Fire TV Stick 4K is worth your consideration at Rs. 2,999 (MRP Rs. 5,999). This smart dongle from Amazon also comes with a smart remote with dedicated buttons for some streaming services. You can also take advantage of Dolby Atmos audio on compatible home audio systems, and access Dolby Vision, HDR, and HDR 10+ content on compatible TV models. You can also stream content from several supported streaming services, control smart home devices, and move the Fire TV Stick 4K between TVs, like its more affordable sibling, the Fire TV Stick Lite.
Buy now at: Rs. 2,999 (MRP Rs. 5,999)
The Kindle Paperwhite sports a 6.8-inch display with a 330ppi glare-free panel that is claimed to look like real paper in various lighting conditions, including direct sunlight. Amazon says the Kindle Paperwhite can offer up to 10 weeks of battery life, and charges over a USB Type-C port. It is also said to bring 20 percent faster page turns than its predecessor, and is waterproof, with protection from accidental immersion in water. You can also adjust the screen’s temperature from white to amber, to prevent eye strain.
Buy now at: Rs. 11,099 (MRP Rs. 13,999)
With a 7-inch display and a 300ppi resolution, the Kindle Oasis is the largest e-book reader from Amazon, and features an adjustable warm light. It is equipped with a dedicated page turn button, and is claimed to offer faster page turns compared to the 9th generation Kindle Oasis model. Like the Paperwhite model, the Kindle Oasis also has a waterproof design with an IPX8 rating. It comes with Wi-Fi or cellular connectivity, and can be charged in three hours via a 5W USB power adapter.
Buy now at: Rs. 17,999 (MRP Rs. 21,999)
Smart home
Apple May Bring Out a Touchscreen HomePod with AI Features
![Apple May Bring Out a Touchscreen HomePod with AI Features](https://i.gadgets360cdn.com/large/homepod_unsplash_1720157159867.jpg)
New HomePod
In a report, MacRumors revealed that it had discovered a code in Apple’s backend that references a new identifier category “HomeAccessory17,1”, which is speculated to be a HomePod with a touchscreen display. This suggests that the device may be powered by the A18 chip – the same SoC which is also rumoured to power the entire upcoming iPhone 16 lineup.
Courtesy of this chipset, the device may get Apple Intelligence features. As per the report, this “home accessory” is speculated to run on a variant of tvOS, the operating system of Apple TV. The new OS may be named homeOS, the reference of which was previously said to be discovered in a tvOS 17.4 beta which was released in January.
In April, a tipster with the username Kosutami (@Kosutami_Ito) leaked an image of the display cover of the rumoured upcoming HomePod, suggesting that the device may have a touchscreen LCD screen surrounded by the speaker. It is speculated to display information – such as media playback controls and incoming notifications.
This development builds upon the prediction by TF Securities International analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who suggested that the Cupertino-based tech giant may launch a HomePod with a 7-inch touchscreen display in 2024. It was theorised to compete against devices such as Amazon’s Echo Show and Google’s Nest Hub. At the time, Kuo said that Tianma would be the sole supplier of the purported HomePod. While it was speculated to come out in H1 2024, Apple has not released any similar device so far.
However, there are two Apple events still planned for the year, and the rumoured touchscreen HomePod may yet still launch this year.
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Smart home
Samsung’s Flex Connect Programme Aims to Reduce Load on Power Grids
![Samsung’s Flex Connect Programme Aims to Reduce Load on Power Grids](https://i.gadgets360cdn.com/large/samsung_smartthings_1719902963487.jpg)
Samsung’s SmartThings Energy Flex Connect
The South Korean firm said in a newsroom post that the SmartThings app can be used to enrol energy-intensive devices such as thermostats, plugs, air conditioners, lights, TVs and other appliances through SmartThings Energy – the company’s energy management solution. This enables users to monitor devices for power consumption, courtesy of a partnership with utility providers and grid-service programs.
Samsung says that Flex Connect is capable of automatically toggling the AI Energy Mode on compatible appliances which claims to reduce energy consumption by up to 70 percent. It can enable and disable the following modes: Maximum saving, Carbon Intensity and Custom. Samsung says devices with Flex Connect support will automatically limit their power consumption when a Demand Response signal is received.
It also offers a power off function, automatically turning off devices when not in use. According to Samsung, it also supports third-party lights and plugs. Furthermore, Flex Connect is also claimed to be capable of smart temperature adjustment for thermostats.
If users do not have compatible appliances whose power consumption can be tweaked automatically, the SmartThings app will send alerts to the user for manual intervention during peak hours.
The initiative has been launched in California and New York, allowing users to not only save energy, reduce their bills and limit their carbon footprint, but also earn Samsung Reward Points along the way – an incentive to use Flex Connect.
“SmartThings Energy empowers our users with tools and information to monitor their energy consumption and save money, and launching Flex Connect is a crucial step in creating a greener and smarter world.” Chanwoo Park, Executive VP, Samsung Electronics, said in a prepared statement.
Smart home
Moto Tag Bluetooth Tracker With Find My Device Network Support Launched
![Moto Tag Bluetooth Tracker With Find My Device Network Support Launched](https://i.gadgets360cdn.com/large/moto_tag_1719399915618.jpg)
Moto Tag price
Moto Tag is priced at $29 (roughly Rs. 2,423) while a pack of four will be available for $99 (roughly Rs. 8,273) in the US starting on August 2, according to The Verge. The company is yet to update its website with the price of the tracker, and it is currently unclear whether it will be introduced in other markets, including India.
Moto Tag specifications, features
The newly announced Moto Tag offers support for Google’s Find My Device network, which was recently launched by the search giant. Motorola claims that the tracker will provide precise location-tracking capabilities when paired with a UWB-supported smartphone such as the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra or the Google Pixel 8.
The device also features a dedicated multi-function button, which Motorola says can ping the smartphone to locate it. Furthermore, it can also be used as a remote capture button when taking photos on any Android smartphone. It also supports Google Fast Pair to simplify the setup process. With the standalone Moto Tag app, users can also change the name of the tag, adjust the alert volume, and check battery life.
The company says its Bluetooth tracker protects the user’s privacy by offering end-to-end encryption of their location. This means only the owner of the Moto Tag as well as those its location is shared with, can locate it.
Motorola says the device supports automatic unknown tracker alerts on both Android and iOS platforms, meaning users will be alerted if an unknown party attempts to track their location. Additionally, they can also run a manual scan to check for unwanted trackers following them.
Moto Tag is claimed to be compatible with third-party accessories and can be attached to valuables. For durability, it is IP67-rated, allowing it to withstand immersion in water for up to 1 metre for up to 30 minutes. It is equipped with a CR2032 battery which is said to last a year on a single charge.
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