Virtual Assistant

by Steven Wong ·Posted 02/25/2022
With wildly fluctuating weather conditions across the northeast United States and other parts of the world, perhaps it is the best time to enhance your smart home with an intelligent heating and cooling system. That’s one the reasons I decided to install a Google Nest Thermostat in my home, which is more affordable than the
by Rich R ·Posted 11/17/2021
Lenovo’s new Smart Clock 2 helps you start and end your day the smart way. With the Google Assistant built in, you can set multiple alarms, view your day’s itinerary, check traffic and weather reports, and much more. To end your day, a “goodnight” routine can lock your doors, turn off the lights, play soothing music, and perform other tasks. A far-field microphone array helps the clock pick up your voice from across the room, even with music
by Rich R ·Posted 03/16/2021
Google has just announced the launch of the 2nd-generation Google Nest Hub 2, the newest in its Nest Hub series. Like the original Nest Hub, it has Wi-Fi and the Google Assistant built in, along with a 7" touchscreen for simple control of your compatible smart home devices. Onboard Bluetooth connectivity lets you stream music, audiobooks, podcasts, and more from your smartphone or tablet. Like most smart speakers and displays, the onboard
by Rich R ·Posted 03/09/2021
Fans of the Sonos Move who were hoping for a smaller version are now getting their wish. The new Sonos Roam portable speaker features a compact 6.6 x 2.3 x 2.4" and lightweight 0.9 lb design, so you can take your music, podcasts, and other audio virtually anywhere with ease. It’s available in black
by M. Brett Smith ·Posted 12/09/2020
Smart home products continued to sell at a blistering pace in 2020, surpassing last year’s gross revenue by more than 16 percent and driving household penetration up to 10 percent. Which products helped fuel those skyrocketing sales figures? Here’s a list of some of the most popular smart home products of the year. Facebook Portal Of all the smart home products on our list, the Facebook Portal is arguably the best for video conferencing. It
by Richard Stevens ·Posted 12/17/2019
My speaker system was a mess, but when Sonos released its portable Move speaker, I was comforted. You see, not only do I have some high-end legacy gear that I refuse to part with, but I was also an early smart-speaker adopter (perhaps too early) and most recently, a Sonos owner. I’ve adjusted and learned which system works best for certain situations. Of course, no one was happier than I was when Sonos rolled out Alexa- and
by jaime traba ·Posted 12/23/2019
There are few names in the music world that carry such weight and history as Marshall. If you’ve listened to any rock and roll music from the last 40 years or so, you’ve heard what this guitar amplifier and cabinet maker is known for. Marshall amplifiers have shaped the sound of many people’s youth, and if my current trajectory holds, my impending mid-life crisis. As if serving musicians and helping define the sound of entire genres isn’t enough for a company’s resume, Marshall has gotten into the home-audio game, and now makes a wide variety
by M. Brett Smith ·Posted 12/04/2019
The Lenovo Smart Display 7 is a device after my own heart. Its modern design, intuitive functionality, and practical application are the first qualities I look for in a good a piece of consumer tech. Recently, I got to spend a couple days with the Smart Display 7 and was thoroughly pleased with the entire experience—so much so, I’m picking the Smart Display 7 as one of my top tech gifts of the season. Here’s why.
by M. Brett Smith ·Posted 11/08/2019
Ah, Google. From its humble beginnings as an Internet search engine to its monumental metamorphosis into one of the biggest names in tech, Google’s impact on our lives cannot be overstated. And lately, that impact has grown, thanks to a slate of new products. Whether you need a laptop, smartphone, or anything in between, chances are there’s a Google product for you. With that in mind, we put together a holiday gift guide of our favorite Google products. Enjoy!
by Rich R ·Posted 11/01/2019
Lenovo added to its smart display family recently with the release of the Smart Display 7, which is on an exclusive run at B&H for the remainder of 2019. Sharing many of the same features of its 8" counterpart, but in a slimmer form factor, this Google Assistant-enabled 7" display features a 1024 x 600 IPS touchscreen display with dual 1.5" speakers that output up to 5W each and a passive bass radiator to help enhance low frequency
by Staff Writer ·Posted 10/15/2019
Today, at its Made by Google event, Google unveiled several new pieces of hardware, including brand-new Pixelbooks, the next-generation Nest Mini, Nest WiFi, and the much-hyped Pixel 4 smartphone. This tech trove of new hardware offers something for everyone, from a powerful new Wi-Fi system to arguably
by Staff Writer ·Posted 09/10/2019
Earlier this year, Bose® launched its Home Speaker™ 300—a splendid device for listening to music, streaming content from your favorite services, and telling Amazon Alexa what to do. If Bose® had rested on its laurels, that would be understandable, but instead it has outdone itself and released the Portable Home Speaker™.  Available in
by Rich R ·Posted 09/05/2019
Sonos users who have been waiting for a battery-powered speaker they could use outdoors with the rest of their system will be excited about the Sonos Move. The Move has a built-in battery and Bluetooth connectivity, enabling you to use it nearly anywhere. AirPlay 2 connectivity is also built in, making the Move Apple friendly. It can be controlled through the Sonos app or via Alexa or the Google Assistant, thanks to its
by Rich R ·Posted 09/19/2019
When I was asked recently if I wanted to do a hands-on review of a VIZIO Quantum Dot LED TV, I didn’t want to appear too eager. I am, after all, a professional… but it’s certainly not an everyday occurrence to be asked to take home such a lavish piece of equipment. VIZIO decided to let me try the P659-G1, and I was excited for the opportunity to upgrade from my plasma, at least temporarily. Going into my review process, I wanted to focus
by Staff Writer ·Posted 08/13/2019
Coming soon to B&H, the Nest Hub Max is Google’s most recent virtual assistant-enabled display. Available in both chalk or charcoal, the Nest Hub Max takes the features of the original Nest Hub to new dimensions