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I’m a smart home expert. Writing about smart home technology, smart devices, and voice assistants is my job. Yet, I don’t remember the last time I actually spoke with Alexa.  Just to be clear, I don’t mean to pick on Alexa per se. I rarely speak to Google Assistant or Apple’s Siri, either. The reason? It’s way easier to haul out my phone and use an app than it is to get a supposedly “smart” voice assistant to do what I want.  As it stands, there’s a Google Nest Hub Max sitting in our kitchen that acts as a glorified photo frame, and it occasionally interrupts with a random answer to a question nobody asked. A few HomePod minis are scattered around our home, but they’re really just for playing music (which I mainly control on my iPhone). And a lone Alexa speaker in our daughter’s room is merely an alarm clock.  Now Amazon is promising a grand rebirth for Alexa. Slated to roll out as a public preview later this month, Alexa+ will harness the power of generative AI to hold flowing conversations, understand our intentions, take actions on our behalf, and—hopefully—be so helpful that we’ll keep our phones in our pockets.  Alexa+ will be free during its preview period, and it will remain free for Amazon Prime members; non-Prime folks will need to cough up $19.99 a month for Alexa+ access, equivalent to the entry-level subscription tiers for ChatGPT, Gemini, and Anthropic’s Claude (the latter of which is among Alexa+’s under-the-hood LLM models).  But cost was never the issue with Alexa (the “classic” Alexa will remain free for everyone, by the way). Instead, it was that Alexa became more annoying than useful.   Here’s what the new AI Alexa needs to do to get us back on speaking terms.  Make it easy to control my smart home devices  Getting the old Alexa to reliably control anything in my smart home is a royal pain. Unless I know the exact name of the device, the name of the room it’s in, and the precise command for making it do what I want it to do, Alexa will frequently come back with “Sorry, I don’t understand” or the equivalent. (Again, Google Assistant and Siri are guilty of this, too.)  As a result, I don’t ask Alexa or any of my other smart speakers to adjust my lights, turn fans on, or switch the TV to the correct input. Instead, I use my phone. What I want from the new Alexa is simple: to get what I mean when I say, “turn the lights up in here” or “turn on the TV,” and not just because I’ve hard-coded those phrases in an Alexa routine. I want Alexa+ to intuit my intentions—and if it can’t, to ask clear follow-up questions that don’t require me to fall back into “Alexa-speak.” Amazon is promising this exact type of smart home performance with Alexa+, and if it delivers, I might start using Alexa to control my smart gadgets again.  Make playing tunes a breeze  We use our HomePod mini speakers for music on a daily basis, teeing up tracks by Steely Dan, Miles Davis, and (more often than not) Taylor Swift. But my family struggles to get Siri to play the right tunes (“No, play the album called Lover, not the song”), so I generally queue playlists using my phone. It’s just easier than arguing with a voice assistant.  The same goes for Alexa, which is partly why there’s only one Echo speaker left in our house (the others are in a cardboard box somewhere.) But what if Alexa+ could make it easier to ask for music rather than searching for it on an app? What if we could just say, “Alexa, play that song from The Hills” and it would know we meant “Unwritten” by Natasha Bendingfield? (That’s an actual question that came up the other night—and naturally, Siri played “The Hills” by the Weeknd instead.)  If Alexa+ could really make it easier to play the music we want, and where we want (don’t get me started about trying to get Alexa or Siri to move tunes from one room to another), then our exiled Echo speakers might come out of hiding to replace our HomePods.  Be truly helpful in the kitchen  Yes, Alexa can display recipes on an Echo Show display (Google Assistant can do something similar on a Nest Hub screen), but more often than not, I just print out the recipe for whatever I’m cooking and bring it to the kitchen. It’s just easier. Put another way, Alexa has never played a meaningful role as a cook’s companion, or at least not for me.  Now, I have had success using ChatGPT to help in the kitchen (“What can I substitute for sesame oil?”). but that requires pulling out a phone when I have sticky or raw-meat hands. I would really love the ability to say “Hey Alexa, I need a quick recipe for a vinaigrette dressing, can you whip one up for me? Give me the steps one at a time, and I don’t have red wine vinegar, but I do have mustard, olive oil, and balsamic,” and Alexa would just talk me through it.  Again, Amazon demonstrated this very capability during its Alexa+ presentation last month, even going further to show how Alexa could order groceries with a partnered retailer like Whole Foods. But to just have a conversation with Alexa about general cooking questions (“what’s the safe internal temperature for pork?”) without it saying “I don’t know the answer, but I can show you search results from the web” would be a major win. Heck, I might even leave my printer alone the next time I’m about to cook.  Answer my random questions  We’re a family with lots of questions about, well, everything (it’s the byproduct of having a 13-year-old daughter), but I always groan when someone asks, for example, “Alexa, what’s something cool to do in Baltimore?” Why? Because Alexa won’t know, or it will come up with a random answer, and then someone will inevitably tell Alexa to “shut up,” and it won’t, and then things get ugly.  A more conversational Alexa+ could help keep such random questions from devolving into shouting matches, with the ability to go back and forth, ask follow-ups for clarity, and deliver organized responses that are actually relevant and interesting. The advanced voice modes for the ChatGPT and Google Gemini apps can already do this, and summoning Alexa+ on an Echo speaker for such general questions would be even easier.  Of course, if Alexa+ could go ahead and do something based on our conversation—say, book one of those interesting activities it found in Baltimore—we’d really have something. And that leads me to my next point… Take action on my behalf  One of the big points Amazon made during its big Alexa+ reveal is that unlike ChatGPT and Gemini, the new Alexa won’t just be stuck in a chatbox. Instead, it will actually be able to do things for you.  An example demonstrated during Amazon’s event was how Alexa+ could help find a nearby carpet cleaner who uses organic materials, book an appointment, and put it in your calendar. Done and done. Here’s another example from real life: I’m using ChatGPT to help me find affordable real estate in New York City. (Cue the laughter.) But while ChatGPT has been reasonably effective at zeroing in on listings that fit our criteria, it’s useless when it comes to proactively scouting for and notifying me about new properties on the market, and it can’t do squat about booking viewings.  But if I could have a daily chat with Alexa+ about my real estate ambitions, or if it could chime in when it learns of an enticing open house and put it on my calendar, or even fill in a real estate agent’s web form, that would be cool.  Amazon has been touting Alexa+’s skills as an AI agent, and it can supposedly fill in web forms on its own, so the kind of functionality I’m talking about here is theoretically possible. I’m eager to see it in practice.  Stop interrupting me How many times has Alexa, or Google Assistant, or Siri just started talking out of nowhere? Sometimes I’ll just be sitting in the kitchen and I’ll hear Alexa nattering away in my daughter’s empty bedroom, or Siri will jump in with an “mmm hmm?” because it thought it heard someone say “Siri.”  Part of the reason we tucked away most of our Alexa speakers (and I’m tempted to mute the microphones on our remaining Google Assistant and Siri devices) is that they’re constantly talking out of turn, butting in on conversations, and replying to phantom queries.   What I’m hoping is that the new AI Alexa is smart enough not to jump in every time it thinks it hears the “Alexa” wake word—or if it does accidentally speak up, that it gracefully cedes the floor when we say, “Not talking to you, Alexa.” Read...

The morning after I’d spent $120 on a Logitech PowerPlay mousepad, I felt like an idiot — and rightly so. That’s a lot of cash that could’ve gone towards other things. More important things. Life things. But it’s now five years later and the Logitech PowerPlay mousepad is one of my favorite PC accessories. It blurs into the background and I never have to think about charging my Logitech G Pro mouse anymore. Honestly, the PowerPlay wireless charging system is a stroke of genius. A mousepad that includes a wireless receiver and wireless charging coil? So smart, so useful, so convenient. Let me explain why I love it so much and why I think it’s worth every penny. How all wireless charging should be Wireless charging isn’t a new concept. Indeed, the original PowerPlay mousepad debuted in 2017 and we loved it. We even said it’d make you a believer — if you could pony up the cash for it. One reason we gave it such a high rating? Because we’ve seen numerous wireless charging pads over the years and few (if any) were so good. That’s still true to this day. For example, Corsair has their own wireless charging mousepad, and there are some other third-party solutions that work with any Qi-compatible device, but those all have a wireless charger at a specific point on the mousepad. You have to place the mouse in a specific location and leave it there to charge. The Logitech PowerPlay mousepad comes with hard and cloth surface options, so you get your preferred tactile feel and you can replace them as they age.Logitech With PowerPlay, it’s different. The charging coil covers nearly the entire surface, not just a small corner, so I don’t have to leave my mouse in the “right spot” for it to energize. In fact, it means the mouse constantly charges as I use it (unless it’s already fully charged), so it’s charging even while I game, while I work, and while I’m away. I’ve never had to think about charging my mouse. It’s completely effortless. A mousepad has the advantage of being the primary home for a mouse, so it’s easy to predict where it’ll be and put the charging coil in the perfect spot to make the most of it. But this really feels like how all wireless charging should be — a technology that blurs into the background, one you never have to think about. Solving the most minor of problems Even with hindsight and my enduring love of this mousepad’s capabilities, I can’t deny that it’s an overpriced and over-engineered solution for the one drawback of modern wireless gaming mice: they need to be recharged occasionally. In most cases, that means using it down to around 10% battery (which could take a few weeks or even months), then plugging it in for a few hours overnight while you sleep. That’s what I have to do with my Logitech G915 TKL keyboard, for example. It’s small, but it’s annoying. The main reason I wanted a wireless keyboard was so I didn’t have cables draped across my desk. Also because I wanted to be able to move it wherever I wanted and to use it on different systems at the touch of a button. I only have to charge it about once every two weeks, but when I do it’s a royal pain — because I have to fetch the charging cable that’s tucked away. Ugh! I’m exaggerating, of course, but it’s true that I hate having to charge my keyboard. Not so much that I’ll switch to a wired alternative, but enough that I wish for a solution. On the other hand, my Logitech G Pro wireless mouse has never annoyed me like that because my PowerPlay mousepad keeps it charged at all times. It’s seamless. The old remains better than the new As of this writing, my Logitech PowerPlay mousepad is five years old and the model is even older still. Yet, Logitech hasn’t rested on their laurels. A new version — the PowerPlay 2 — released last month with a thinner design, larger charging area, and more affordable price. But I think my first-gen model is better. Why? Because the new version, though cheaper, doesn’t include a wireless receiver. That’s the other over-the-top luxury of the original PowerPlay mousepad: it’s how my mouse connects to my PC. Since the mousepad itself connects to the PC via USB charging cable, it might as well act as the wireless receiver, too. No need to take up an additional USB port on my PC with a wireless dongle. Unfortunately, Logitech dropped that feature from the newer PowerPlay 2. It has surprisingly few flaws If I had one complaint about the Logitech PowerPlay mousepad, it’s that there are no official cloth mat replacement surfaces for it. When I wore through the first one, I had to replace it with a generic Logitech cloth mat. It lacked underside grip, so I had to glue it to the charge pad underneath. That’s probably going to bite me in the butt when I change that surface again in the future, but for now it’s given my PowerPlay mousepad a few extra years of use and it’s holding up well enough. I’ll run this thing into the ground, too, as the thought of spending another $100 on a new PowerPlay system feels like a big ask, even if I do love it. Further reading: The best wireless gaming mice Read...

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Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chips have helped lead the market for laptops with epically long battery life, but they’ve had a key weakness: games. To help address this, Qualcomm said Thursday that it will enable the hit multiplayer game Fortnite to run on Snapdragon, as well as Epic’s Easy Anti-Cheat software. The latter service is probably the more important of the two. Epic, as well as many other multiplayer games, requires that anti-cheat software be added to prevent cheating. But it doesn’t have to be just present — it should run at the kernel level to minimize the CPU consumption such services provide. Qualcomm says that it has done just that. Fortnite should be available to Windows on Arm devices later this year that are powered by Snapdragon chips, and Qualcomm said that it was “working” with Epic to bring Easy Anti-Cheat to the platform as well. To date, the vast majority of games run on X86 CPUs, rather than Windows on Arm. Qualcomm is obviously looking to change that. A few games do work — Control, for example — and Qualcomm has said that it is continually working on ensuring compatibility between popular games and its processors. Qualcomm, though, hasn’t really supported its aggressive position from a year ago that most games should run on the Snapdragon X Elite. Now, its stance is more that the optimization process will never really be completed. Compatibility with fundamental “platform” services like Easy Anti-Cheat will help that, however. “Hundreds of today’s multiplayer games—including Fortnite—rely on Easy Anti-Cheat to counter hacking and cheating in multiplayer PC games,” Qualcomm said. “In addition to releasing Windows on Snapdragon anti-cheat support for Fortnite we will bring this support to developers through an Epic Online Services SDK release. This will enable developers using Easy Anti-Cheat to bring this compatibility to their own games. “ To its credit, Qualcomm has quickly moved to address areas where third-party software didn’t run on its own processors, such as app like Google Drive and some VPNs. Dave Durnil, the global head of gaming and Snapdragon Studios, told reporters on a call Thursday that the company has worked with other anti-cheat services like BattleEye and the anticheat technology built into Roblox. “We’re all in on gaming — PC gaming.” Durnil said, Read...

If your devices aren’t charging fast enough, it might be due to the wall plug (also known as a power adapter) you’re using. Getting ultra-fast charge times could be as simple as upgrading yours to this 100W Anker Prime wall plug that’s now on sale for $55 on Amazon. This Anker Prime GaN charger features three ports: two USB-C and a USB-A. The USB-C ports can hit 100W when used solo, while the USB-A maxes out at 22.5W alone. (With multiple ports in use, the 100W total output gets split up. For example, with all three plugged in, it can deliver 46W + 30W + 22.5W, respectively.) You can connect your laptop, phone, and earbuds to keep them all charged in a jiffy. And with this wall charger using GaN technology, it’s way smaller than your usual power adapter and generates less heat. That makes it great for travel in conjunction with its foldable prongs, protecting it from breakage and preventing it from scratching your other valuables. You can tuck this away in any bag and not worry about it at all. Get your own Anker Prime 100W wall charger for $55 on Amazon while you can! It’s a fantastic price for an ultra-fast 3-device power adapter. And don’t forget about Amazon’s Spring Sale coming up! There are already lots of great early deals worth jumping on. Save 37% on Anker`s tiny yet powerful wall chargerBuy now at Amazon Read...

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An Australian company called Cortical Labs has developed a computer powered by lab-grown human brain cells, Gizmodo reports. The computer, known as CL1, is described as the world’s first “code deployable biological computer” and is now available for pre-order — for a price in the $35,000 range. Don’t want to buy your own device? The company also offers “Wetware-as-a-Service” via which you can rent bio-computer processing power via the cloud. CL1 consists of lab-grown neurons grown on a glass-and-metal electrode array. They’re connected to 59 electrodes, creating a stable neural network. The system is encased in a life support unit that keeps the neurons alive by mimicking the body’s organ functions, including heart pumping, kidney-like waste filtration, and gas mixing of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen. According to Cortical Labs, the neurons are placed in a nutrient solution and receive their information from the company’s Biological Intelligence Operating System (biOS), which creates a simulated world in which the neurons receive sensory input and produce responses that affect the environment. CL1 is designed as a high-performance closed loop, where neurons interact with software in real time. The system can stay alive for up to six months and is compatible with USB devices. Cortical Labs demonstrated an early version of the technology by teaching the system to play Pong. They claim that biological computers can rival or surpass digital AI systems, especially when it comes to understanding the basic mechanisms of intelligence. According to the company’s Chief Scientific Officer, Brett Kagan, a network of 120 CL1 devices could give researchers insight into how genes and proteins affect learning. The technology can also be used in drug development and disease modeling by simulating neurological processes at the molecular level. Read...