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Amazon redesigned Echo smart speaker with a spherical design

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If you are aware, Amazon is conducting its fall hardware annual event. The event is packed full of new gadget announcements. One among the many attractions is the all new amazon redesign echo smart speaker. Amazon Echo is now going to be available in a new spherical form.

This new redesigned echo smart speaker is completely redesigned to look like an orb.

If you stop and think that this design change is the only thing that Amazon has brought with the newly announced updated device, then you are completely mistaken. Amazon has fitted the 4th-gen Echo speaker with an all new AZ1 Neural Edge module. This new thing will help the speaker to process your voice commands before even sending them to the cloud, which in result will help you save hundreds of milliseconds and thus resulting in a much quicker response from the speaker.

Echo smart speaker (4th Gen) Pricing

The Echo Dot has been redesigned completely, so much so that it’s no longer a dot, it’s a sphere.

Amazon Echo (4th Gen) price in India has been set at Rs. 9,999, while the Echo Dot (4th Gen) comes at Rs. 4,499 and the Echo Dot (4th Gen) with clock is priced at Rs. 5,499. The prices of the entire new series of smart speakers are identical to the smart speakers launched last year.

The newly announced Echo smart speaker is available to preorder from today. The company will begin shipping from October 22. The Echo Dot with clock will ship from November 5th, and the Kids edition will ship from December 9th.

Zoom Android Now Supports Virtual Backgrounds

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Zoom’s virtual background option is not a newly introduced feature but it has been quite a long time since the feature was introduced in Windows, macOS, iOS, iPadOS. But the android users have been waiting for this feature to roll out for Android devices and the recent update has made their wish come true finally. Zoom android’s new update brings along the virtual background feature and many other features explained clearly in this piece of article.

Zoom users can now set up a virtual background from the backgrounds that Zoom will be offering or else you can also choose to set up a background by using an image from the gallery. Video calls won’t be embarrassing anymore.

You can enable virtual backgrounds on Zoom by tapping on the ‘More’ option and choosing ‘Virtual Background’.

This new update not just brought the virtual background feature to android devices but also come up with some additional features that makes the application a more interesting one for the users.

Here are the newly included features in the app.

WHAT’S NEW With RECENT ZOOM ANDROID UPDATE

General features
  • Calendar Integration sync improvement
  • Enhanced scheduling with default settings
  • Share Device Audio
  • Virtual Background support for Android
Meeting features
  • Self-select Breakout Room
Chat features
  • Hide chat bots in IM list
  • Enhanced Link Preview
  • Enhanced Search
  • Mark as Unread for images and files
Resolved Issues
  • Resolved issue with Breakout rooms not following main session’s settings/restrictions
  • Minor bug fixes

On Android, Zoom’s virtual background feature has only one restriction. For now, only images are supported, not videos like the desktop applications support.

Amazon India Launches Smart Plug, powered by Amazon Alexa

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Amazon India yesterday launched an Alexa-powered smart plug. The device which is originally announced in 2018, enables users to control compatible gadgets and appliances with the help of voice commands.

There are a huge range of devices which include lamps, table fans, electric kettles, mobile chargers, televisions, air coolers, air purifiers, and many that work with the Alexa smart plug.

There are currently various smart plugs available in the market that are enabled by Alexa. People are already using to smart power their appliances. But now, Amazon has launched its own smart plug.

Amazon Smart Plug

According to Amazon, the device has a 6A power rating and comes with a state retention feature that helps the devices go back to their last state in case of power outage.

The setup is pretty simple as the users just need to plug in a 3-pin standard electrical socket setup and connecting it with the Alexa app in your device. After setting up the connection with the device, users can recite the command to on it or off it on any fire tv, echo dot or Alexa devices.  

The smart plug also enables its users to setup scheduled actions. The users can setup actions to turn the light off every night and schedule it to turn on every morning. The application even enables users to control their connected appliances remotely.

This Amazon smart plug is priced at Rs.1999. It is now readily available for purchase in the Amazon store. It is also available at a price of Rs.999 if purchased as a bundle along with Echo dot.

The product is also available for purchase at select Croma and Reliance Digital outlets.  

Flipkart Wholesale, A Digital Wholesale Platform For Kirana Stores, SMBs Launched

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Flipkart, one of the major e-commerce websites in India, launched an all-new wholesale platform with the name ‘Flipkart Wholesale’. It is a B2B platform aimed at connecting the local retailers with manufacturers directly and digitally.

At present, the platform is available only for fashion retailers who have a focus on footwear and apparel. This wholesale service for fashion retailers is gong live in three cities Gurgaon, Delhi, and Bengaluru as a part of the first phase. The company also seems to aim for the expansion of the service to Mumbai in the coming days.

Flipkart is actually thinking of growing its B2B platform to 20 more cities by the end of 2020. It wants to enter into other categories like Home & Kitchen, and Groceries. The Walmart owned brand is aiming to onboard 50 brands and 250 local retailers in the coming days.

Flipkart Wholesale is built on the core value proposition of bringing prosperity to Indian Kiranas and MSMEs by making their business easier using technology.

The service from Flipkart, Flipkart Wholesale even offers easy credit facility, Flipkart assured products, speedy delivery, and convenient returns.

Better and Improved Search With Google Activity Cards New Update

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Want to buy something? – Google
Wish to know about a product? – Google
Want to search about something? – Google
Would like to cook some new recipe? – Google

The above statements are just a few simple examples, they are proof that our lives are literally revolving around Google. The search engine giant has been making changes to the Activity Cards and is going to help the users better in their Google Search. Google Activity Cards is something that shows up in the Google Search to help you pick up where you left off the last time when you were searching using similar keywords. The cards are now going to have more information that will help your search more useful and easier.

See How Google Activity Cards Will Help

How It Helps Job Search

The new update in the activity cards will make the job search easier for those who are looking for opportunities. The users will now see more relevant job openings related to their search and in this way, they don’t actually have to spend much time scrolling for jobs that may suit your requirements.

How It Helps In Online Shopping

Online shopping has been gaining much importance in this pandemic situation where everyone is restricted to their homes and all the shops being shut down, online shopping has turned out to be the best choice these days as it is not just convenient but also safe. Activity Cards will now surface products you have been searching for. The cards will provide you all the information that you might be looking for and help you in making your decision better.

How It Helps In Recipe Search

The pandemic has been bringing out the hidden chef in all of us. And Google has become our forever source for finding interesting, new recipes to try. Google Activity cards will surface related recipes, and show up a handy thumbnail image to make it easier for you to choose the right one.

All these changes to the cards have already started rolling out. So, you will soon be able to use them.