Latest news with #AmazonAlexa
CNET
a day ago
- Business
- CNET
Don't Overspend on Your Smart TV Upgrade. This 55-Inch Samsung 4K HDR TV Is Now Just $398
Upgrading your TV is always an exciting time, especially if you're getting a bigger one. A big-screen TV can really upgrade your home entertainment experience, and you don't have to spend the Earth to get one. This deal slashes the price of the Samsung 55-inch DU8000 TV to just $398, down from the usual $498. Like all the best TVs, this one does more than just show you pictures, too. This model includes features that add value, such as the built-in Amazon Alexa support. That feature means you can talk to your TV and interact with your smart home, all without ever leaving your comfy couch. This TV supports 4K and HDR images so you can get the best experience when watching movies and TV shows, not to mention playing your favorite games. The TV can also upscale older content to a 4K resolution so it doesn't look out of place on your big screen. Other image-enhancing features include the TV's ability to automatically adjust the brightness and contrast of the image, as well as support for a billion different shades of color. Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money. Powered by the Samsung Tizen software, this TV's smart features mean that you can watch all of your favorite streaming services without having to plug any boxes or streaming sticks in. There's even a gaming hub feature that offers you the option to stream games from supported services, too. You won't struggle plugging other devices into your new TV, though. This model has two USB ports and an Ethernet port for network connectivity. Getting content onto the TV is easy thanks to the inclusion of three HDMI ports. Why this deal matters This TV would be great in a bedroom or den, and at this price, it's a real steal. Support for advanced features and plenty of connectivity really rounds things out nicely, but we suggest that you act soon -- we don't expect this limited-time deal to last for long.
NBC News
2 days ago
- Business
- NBC News
Deal of the day: The Shark AI Ultra robot vacuum is 50% off at Amazon right now
Some people simply don't like having to vacuum their homes. Cleaning your space doesn't have to feel like such a chore, especially when there are robot vacuums that can do a much better job of frequently cleaning your space. One of Shark's robot vacuums is a staff-favorite in our robot vacuum guide, and one of its more advanced models, the Shark AI Ultra, is currently on sale for 50% off on Amazon. Deal of the day: Shark AI Ultra robot vacuum deal The Shark AI Ultra has many great features that make this current deal worth it. The AI Ultra has precision mapping, which quickly scans your home while avoiding objects and adapting to the layout of your rooms. It's also able to clean both hardwood floors and carpet. If you have a pet, the AI Ultra has powerful suction that easily gathers up your pet's hair, debris and dirt. The beauty of the Shark AI Ultra is that it can be controlled completely hands-free using Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. This allows you to set a schedule or wake the vacuum up to clean specific areas on a whim. If you also don't want to bother emptying the robot vacuum, it has a self-emptying base, which can hold up to 60 days of dirt. The Robot vacuum also has an auto recharge and resume setting, so if it loses battery in the middle of a cleaning session, it will return to the base, recharge and then resume cleaning. Why trust NBC Select? I am an editor at NBC Select who has been writing and editing stories on various topics including tech, fitness, apparel and more, for over five years. For this piece, I checked Shark robot vacuum prices across multiple retailers to find the best deal.
CNET
3 days ago
- Business
- CNET
Let Shark's AI Ultra Robot Vacuum Take Over Your Floor Cleaning for Under $300
Cleaning is a hassle, but adding a robot vacuum to your home can overhaul how you tackle your chores. Letting a little robot friend help out can save you time and effort, and not all models cost a small fortune. We've found a great Amazon deal on the Shark AI Ultra robot vacuum right now, saving you 50% off its list price. It's been knocked down to $298 from its retail price of $599, which is a heck of a discount. Act quickly though, as a deal this good likely won't last long. The Shark AI Ultra robot vacuum includes voice command, a 60-day capacity, object detection, lidar precision home mapping and 360-degree sensors. It also has HEPA filtration, which captures and traps 99.97% of dust and allergens. It's suitable for carpets or hard floor surfaces. It also has a feature called "Matrix Clean Navigation," which enables the robot vacuum to make multiple passes in a grid so no spots are left behind. When the vacuum's battery runs low it returns to the dock for a recharge and then it'll pick up where it left off. You can also set schedules so that it cleans automatically when it's most convenient for you. Plus, you can initiate on-demand cleaning, including targeted deep cleaning of high-traffic areas whenever you need to and you can do it all with voice control via Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money. Because the included XL self-emptying base holds up to 60 days of dirt, dust and debris, you'll only need to empty it every two months on average, taking a little bit more off your plate. If you're looking for a cordless vac or a stick vac, take a look at the other best vacuum deals on the market right now. Why this deal matters This robot vacuum has only gone lower than this during last July's Prime Day sale when it hit $295. At just $3 more, this is a fantastic deal. Since this robot vacuum doesn't go on sale often and it's currently only $3 more than the all-time low, it's definitely a deal worth taking advantage of.
Digital Trends
4 days ago
- Business
- Digital Trends
This 55-inch Amazon Fire TV is 40% off as an early Prime Day deal
While Prime Day 2025 isn't going to officially launch until July 8, Amazon is already giving you the chance at a head start with your shopping. In one of its early Prime Day deals, the 55-inch Amazon Fire TV 4-Series 4K TV is on sale at 40% off, slashing its price from $520 to just $310. That $210 discount is extremely tempting, and if you're interested, we highly recommend proceeding with your purchase right away, as there's no assurance that stocks of the TV will still be available when Prime Day 2025 arrives. Why you should buy the 55-inch Amazon Fire TV 4-Series 4K TV The 55-inch Amazon Fire TV 4-Series 4K TV is relatively affordable compared to the premium models of the best TVs, but it checks most of the boxes that you should be looking for in your next TV, according to our 4K TV buying guide. In addition to 4K Ultra HD resolution for sharp details and vivid colors, it also supports HDR 10, HLG, and Dolby Digital Plus for a fantastic visual experience. The 55-inch screen is a nice size for the living room or bedroom, though you should consult our guide on what size TV to buy to make sure you have enough space for it. Amazon's Fire TV powers the 55-inch Amazon Fire TV 4-Series 4K TV. The platform not only grants access to all of the popular streaming services, but it also enables voice commands through Amazon's Alexa and the included Alexa Voice Remote. You'll be able to use the digital assistant for a wide range of functions, including searching for new content to watch, adjusting playback, and controlling your other smart home devices. You don't need to wait for Prime Day 2025 to start your shopping, as Amazon has already launched TV deals like this one — the 55-inch Amazon Fire TV 4-Series 4K TV for only $310, following a 40% discount on its original price of $520. This early Prime Day deal gives you savings of $210, but possibly not for much longer because stocks may already be running low. You're going to have to complete your purchase of the 55-inch Amazon Fire TV 4-Series 4K TV immediately if you don't want to miss out on this bargain.
Miami Herald
4 days ago
- Miami Herald
Amazon's Alexa AI upgrade is even worse than expected
I can't remember a time when I didn't have an Amazon Alexa device. When it first came out, I hopped right on the train. I pretty much have one in every room. I still use it every day to turn on the lights, adjust the thermostat, and play music. But let's be hasn't really gotten any smarter over the years. For every time Alexa gets something right, there's another moment of, "Sorry, I don't have an answer for that," which usually makes me reach for my phone instead. Related: Amazon's latest products go after a new type of customer So when I got the chance to test out Amazon's new Alexa+, I was genuinely excited. This was supposed to be the big leap: the AI glow-up, the smart home savior, the moment Alexa finally stopped acting like that stubborn parent who clearly needs hearing aids but insists they can hear "just fine." But after a few days of living with Alexa+, I started to wonder who greenlit this thing and said, "Yes, this is ready for the public." Responses took longer, she got confused more easily, and at one point she responded to a weather question by playing a Pitbull song. If this is Amazon's version of "intelligent," I'm low-key scared for the future. Alexa+ was supposed to be Amazon's big comeback moment. The company teased a generative AI assistant that could finally go beyond timers and more conversational, more intuitive. One that might actually keep up with ChatGPT or Google's Gemini. But that's not what users are experiencing. Not even close. Reddit users have been quick to call it out. One post summed up the general vibe: "With all totally insane AI advancement the past few years, how come Alexa is still as dumb as 10 years ago?" wrote u/MarinatedP. That earned a pitch-perfect comeback from u/holdmypurse: "Sorry. I don't have an answer for that." Another commenter, u/deicist, speculated that the problems might be by design: "They've deliberately been removing features from Alexa for the past couple of years so that Alexa+ seems like a massive upgrade worth paying for." Related: Amazon and Walmart are pushing for even faster deliveries To be fair, this is still in the early access phase and is technically a beta. But when Amazon promotes something as the future of voice, users expect more than slower responses and recycled features. Some users are cautiously optimistic. As u/southernhope1 put it, the new experience "feels better." But others, like u/Rattus-Norvegicus1, weren't as kind: "Alexa got dumber, if that is possible." The backlash and mixed reactions raise a bigger question: what does this mean for Amazon's long-term AI strategy? Smart assistants aren't just a convenience. They serve as a gateway to Amazon's entire ecosystem. When Alexa works, she powers shopping, streaming, and smart home habits that keep people locked into the brand. But when she stumbles, users take notice. Voice assistant usage in the U.S. continues to grow, with projections estimating 154.3 million users in 2025 and 170.3 million by 2028. Despite that growth, Amazon is no longer leading the pack. According to eMarketer, Alexa has about 77.6 million U.S. users in 2025 so far, trailing behind Google Assistant (92.4 million) and Apple's Siri (87 million). If Alexa+ can't shift momentum, Amazon risks more than just falling behind in AI. It could lose its role in how people interact with technology altogether. While competitors are finding ways to weave AI into nearly everything they do, Amazon is still struggling to make Alexa sound competent. And that's what makes this so surprising. This isn't a scrappy startup. This is Amazon: a trillion-dollar company with endless resources and a multibillion-dollar stake in Anthropic, the company behind Claude. Yet Alexa+ still feels like it's stuck in 2016. If this is what Amazon came up with after years of development, it feels more laughable than alarming. All we can do now is hope the official version is better. And in the meantime, I'll be over here asking Alexa to set a timer - just for fun, since it probably won't go off. Related: Beloved cereal goes 'serial killer dark' for new ad The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
