Author: Danielle

Could Apple be about to release the HomePod 2, a smaller version of its Siri smart speaker?

That’s a question we’ve been asking ourselves for a while now now – and while Apple’s iPhone X launch event on September 12, 2018 didn’t reveal what the next HomePod will look like, the HomePod 2 could finally be on the horizon.

Nearly a year has passed since then, and the iPhone 11 launch is coming up tomorrow on September 10 – could this be the Apple HomePod 2 release date?

The speculation is that the next version of the HomePod, the Apple HomePod 2, may be a more compact version of the original, with the name Apple HomePod Mini being rumored.

According to a Bloomberg report in July 2018, Apple may have been looking to release the HomePod 2 sometime in early 2019, which would make sense based on the release date of the original HomePod – of course, it never actually materialized. 

(Image credit: TechRadar)

Some thought that we might have heard an official announcement at Apple’s WWDC keynote on June 3 – instead the company announced multi-user support is coming to Apple HomePod this year alongside Handoff, the ability to share an audio stream from an iOS device just by holding it close to the speaker. The new features are expected to arrive alongside the iOS 13 update that was also announced at WWDC 2019 and slated for a September 2019 roll out.

With the news of updates coming to the original HomePod, a 2019 release for the HomePod 2 is looking less likely – unless it’s announced on September 10.

The original Apple HomePod has been on sale since February 2018 and has so far been met with mixed reviews. While many people praised it as a speaker, when it comes to its capabilities as a smart home hub, there are many who question whether it’s worth its rather high price point. 

With some reports claiming that sales aren’t doing particularly well, the stage could be set for a HomePod Mini, and though Apple is yet to make any kind of confirmation we have heard a few whispers about it – a cheaper and smaller HomePod could be exactly what the brand needs to draw in those who have yet to be convinced.

We’ve already seen how well the Google Home Mini and the Amazon Echo Dot have done, so it would make sense for Apple to follow suit. Regardless of whether it’s in the works or not, this is exactly what we’d like to see from the HomePod 2 or HomePod Mini if it ever arrives.

Cut to the chase

• What is it? The new Apple HomePod smart speaker could either be the HomePod 2 or the rumored HomePod Mini
• When is it out? This is still TBC, but it could be announced at the iPhone 11 launch on September 10.
• What will it cost? No pricing just yet but, if it is a smaller version, it’s likely to be cheaper than the fully-fledged HomePod 

Apple HomePod 2 release date

Considering the Apple HomePod 2 hasn’t actually been announced yet, and there isn’t really any kind of historical pattern when it comes to previous releases for this this product, making a guess on a release date is tricky. 

We’re also not yet certain whether the new HomePod will be full-sized, or a mini version of the original. We were surprised not to hear any details at Apple’s yearly iPhone launch, which kept the smart home news limited to a HomePod OS update coming on September 17, with new search features, multiple timers, and additional Siri languages.

As we didn’t get an announcement at Apple’s WWDC  on June 3, we’re banking on it being announced at Apple’s new iPhone 11 launch event tomorrow (September 10). If we don’t hear about the new HomePod mini then, it’s likely that we won’t see an announcement until 2020. 

Bearing in mind that Samsung has its own smart speaker on the way in the form of the Galaxy Home on the way in Q3 of 2019, Apple might want to make its next move sooner rather than later.

Apple HomePod 2 and Apple HomePod Mini news and rumors

There’s not exactly a glut of HomePod 2 or HomePod Mini rumors out there but there have been a couple of reports worth picking up on. 

Face ID and 3D gestures

A recently filed patent by Apple suggests that the second generation smart speaker could support Face ID.

According to MacRumors, the patent describes a “countertop speaker” that could “identify users in the vicinity of the speaker using facial recognition, as well as measure the distance of users [in relation] to the speaker”.

The patent also explained the countertop speaker would be kitted out with “various sensors and cameras that gather hand gestures and other three-dimensional gesture input.”

Having Face ID built into the Apple HomePod 2 could provide an additional layer of security for users, as well as allowing for multiple user profiles, with each user identified via facial recognition. 

However, MacRumors also identified a rather unusual potential feature of the Apple HomePod 2 in the patent – an “emoji-based avatar that would adapt to a user’s mood or actions,” perhaps even mirroring your emotions. 

Stereo sound

The HomePod 2 smart speaker could sound even better than the original, if new patents granted to the tech company are anything to go by. 

Apple’s patent for a ‘Multi-listener stereo image array’ describes a system where “multiple people can experience a stereo audio effect, regardless of where they are seated,” according to Apple Insider.

Beats branding

One of the more recent rumors around a new HomePod came from a Chinese tech firm called Sina, stating that there could be a cut-price HomePod with Beats branding in the works.

We haven’t seen a great deal of Beats-branded releases since Apple purchased the company in 2014, so this might be a chance for Apple to revive the name while repositioning the reportedly floundering HomePod to a brand new (perhaps younger) audience. 

According to the report, the new HomePod would cost around $199 (about £150, AU$260), which is in line with previous rumors and would go some way to combating criticisms of the speaker’s high price point.  This is a report which should, however, be taken with a fistful of salt. 

The first report of a Mini HomePod

Back in March 2018, only a month after the HomePod’s release, there was a report from Economic Daily that Apple was planning to release a more affordable HomePod at some point in 2018. 

It was rumored that this cheaper HomePod would launch in the US in the second half of 2018 for around $200 (around £145, AU$260), which is significantly lower than the device’s current $349 / £319 / AU$499 price point. In this report it wasn’t made clear how Apple was actually planning to lower the price of its speaker, but a brand new and smaller Apple HomePod Mini could be a way to do this.

What we want to see from the HomePod 2

Bluetooth connectivity

Sure, smart speakers are all about voice controls, and the fact that they’re standalone devices that don’t need to be hooked up to another audio source in order to playback tunes and podcasts. But, sometimes, a few added options are just convenient – especially if you’re trying to play back a track that, for whatever reason, can’t be found on the smart speaker’s streaming service of choice. 

It may not be cutting edge in the smart speaker world, but there’s still the odd occasion when Bluetooth connectivity would be useful – and in the case of a HomePod 2 or HomePod Mini being tied to Apple Music, that’d be particularly useful for anyone looking to access, say, Spotify streaming. Which brings us onto our next point…

Open access to other music services

If you buy one of the current Apple HomePod speakers, you’re essentially locking yourself into Apple’s audio ecosystem. So, iTunes purchases aside, that’s $9.99 / £9.99 / AU$11.99 a month for a single Apple Music streaming account, or $14.99 / £14.99 / AU$17.99 for a family account.

That’s fine if you’re an iPhone-owning Cupertino disciple, and Apple Music is a fine service definitely worth investing in. But, if you’ve already committed to Spotify or Google Play Music or any of the other myriad smaller streaming options, that could be a frustrating restriction. 

By knocking a few bricks out of its walled garden and letting other services have a look in could give a new Apple HomePod a user base boost – and it could be paired with incentives to jump to Apple Music, if Apple played a savvy long-game.

More color options

The Apple HomePod is certainly an attractive speaker, with its fabric mesh covering and cylindrical size subtle enough to fit among many decors. But that’s not always what you’re looking for – sometimes you want a gadget that separates you from the pack, as evidenced by Apple’s Beats headphones. 

That brand has been built around bold colorful designs, and if the rumors that the HomePod 2 or HomePod Mini is to feature Beats branding prove to be true, we’d like to see the speaker embrace Beats’ colorful aesthetic as well.

Better Siri performance

Apple’s HomePod does well on sound but when it comes to smarts it’s somewhat lacking. Compared to Google Assistant and Amazon’s Alexa, Siri is rather limited in what it can do for you as a smart home hub. This isn’t great considering it’s one of the most expensive smart speakers on the market, and Siri is your main means of controlling it.

With that in mind, we’d love to see better Siri performance in a new HomePod iteration when it comes to performing commands quickly and accurately. There are rumors that Siri will be cut from the device entirely to save on cost, but we’d rather see some improvements. 

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If you would have told me that my favorite smartwatch of 2019 would have a brilliant OLED display, great battery life, effortless fitness tracking, Spotify support, and an on-board assistant, I would have guessed it was the Series 5 Apple Watch. It’s not. It’s the Fitbit Versa 2.

Michael Simon/IDG

Fitbit hasn’t reinvented the wheel with the Versa 2. Rather, a series of small but meaningful changes make it feel like a completely new device that’s ready to compete with the Apple Watch at half the price. Where the original model had clear shortcomings that I was willing to overlook due to its price tag, the Versa 2 plays in the feature-rich deep end, and feels like a veritable bargain as a result.

The Fitbit Versa 2 isn’t perfect, nor does it match up spec-for-spec with the latest Apple Watch. But the improvements it brings put it on equal footing with the cream of the smartwatch crop, marrying Fitbit’s fitness acumen with the features we want in a cutting-edge wearable device.

OLED is the difference maker

At first glance, the design of the Fitbit Versa 2 is nearly identical to the Versa. It has a squircle shape with tapered edges and a thin profile, and it’s just the right size to look good on the majority of wrists. Like the Versa Lite, which was introduced earlier this year, it has a single button rather than three on the original Versa, which simplifies both the look and the navigation.

Michael Simon/IDG

At 1.34 inches, the display is the same size as before, but there are two notable changes that make a huge difference: It’s OLED and it’s centered. On the original Versa, text and images on the LCD display were a touch dull due to backlighting, but they’re bright and vibrant on the Versa 2’s OLED screen. Also, you have to try really hard to see where the display ends and the bezel begins, which gives it a classier overall feel.

The position of the screen is a much less obvious tweak, but it’s a refreshing one. Fitbit has eliminated its logo from the front of the watch, a decision that allows the screen to shift a millimeter or two lower so the bezel are uniform all around. It’s more than cosmetic. Without the logo, your eyes will be firmly fixed on the display, and the centering brings a balance that wasn’t there before.

Michael Simon/IDG

Elsewhere, the Versa 2 mimics the Versa, with a black, silver, or rose gold body, and a variety of swappable bands. The pin mechanism isn’t quite as easy as the quick-release buttons on the Charge 3 or Apple Watch, but it’s simple enough to use them before and after a workout. I particularly liked the orange-and-charcoal woven reflective band, which is available for $40, but the simple sport bands are sharp too. Of note, Fitbit is selling three varieties of rose gold watches this year—with pink, purple, and green bands—which speaks to the gender-neutral look and size of the watch.

Alexa is listening

The Versa’s maturity isn’t just skin deep. All models now include NFC for Fitbit Pay transactions, and it runs a new version of Fitbit OS that features thoughtful flourishes throughout, including improved navigation and better app support. My favorite change is the collapsable quick settings pane at the top of the notifications window that offers a variety of shortcuts.

HMD Global might be readying the launch of the Nokia 7.2 and the 6.2 in India, as the product pages on the Indian website are already live.

Nokia had a pretty busy IFA 2019 where the company took the wrap off these two smartphones along with the Nokia 2720 flip, Nokia 110 (2019), Nokia 8810 Tough and the wireless Power Earbuds. The Nokia 7.2 and the 6.2 were the most interesting out of the lot, being at the forefront of Nokia’s budget smartphone portfolio for 2019. It seems that these phones will soon come to India, as the respective product pages are live on Nokia India’s website.

The latest budget phone from the Finnish manufacturer, the Nokia 7.2 brings the same iconic design and construction like the yesteryears but with essential 2019 upgrades such as a better design and multiple cameras on the back.

On the back, the Nokia 7.2 has a triple camera array consisting of a 48MP ZEISS primary camera, an 8MP ultra-wide shooter joined with a 5MP depth sensor. Up on the front, in the waterdrop notch, we get a 20MP selfie camera. Surrounding that notch is a 6.3-inch LCD display with a Full HD+ resolution and support for HDR10 content.

Internally, the Nokia 7.2 is powered by the modest Snapdragon 660 chipset with 4 or 6GB of RAM. There’s a 3,500 mAh battery powering the device, and it runs on Android 9.0 Pie. As with all Nokia phones, this one is a part of the Android One program and is first in line for the Android 10 upgrade in the coming months.

(Image credit: Future)

Sharing the stage, we had the Nokia 6.2 which retains the same 6.3-inch HDR10 display covered with Gorilla Glass 3. The major difference is the inclusion of a 16MP primary camera, paired with an 8MP ultrawide shooter and a depth sensor. The same 20MP selfie camera resides on the front.

The 6.2 is powered by the Snapdragon 636 chipset with 3 or 4GB of RAM and 64 or 128GB of expandable storage. A 3,500 mAh battery powers the phone with support for 10W fast charging over USB Type-C.

Nokia’s entire lineup of smartphones in India is currently heavily discounted, including the Nokia 8.1, 6.1 Plus and the 5.1 Plus, which could be further indications that the 6.2 and the 7.2 are nearing their Indian launches. 

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I really wanted to like the Lorex Wire Free Camera System (model LWF2080B-64), because it eliminates a pair of pain points I repeatedly encounter with home security cameras.

It takes care of the first—the ongoing high cost of a cloud subscription to store video clips—by including a high-capacity (1TB) network DVR that can accomodate up to six cameras (four come in this particular package), so you can manage storage locally. It relieves the second with battery-powered, wireless, 1080p cameras, sparing you the arduous task of snaking power and video cables through the walls of your home. Unfortunately, these merits were rendered moot by an app so buggy it left the system effectively useless.

On paper, the Wire Free Camera System is a compelling option for people who want a turnkey solution for monitoring the perimeter around their home. In addition to the DVR and the cameras, it comes with a wireless receiver, a battery for each of the cameras, and the cables and mounting hardware to get it all set up and operational.

Each of the bullet-style cameras has a 140-degree field of view, a passive infrared motion sensor, a microphone and speaker for two-way talk, and infrared night vision up to 150 feet. The camera housings are fabricated from aluminum to withstand natural and human-inflicted abuse and carry an IP66 rating, indicating they are dust tight and protected against high-pressure water jets from up to a 12.5mm nozzle.

Vendor supplied stock art

The DVR supports up to six channels, so you can add two more cameras to expad the area that’s under surveillance. While the 1TB hard drive should offer enough space to store months worth of motion-triggered video clips, you can replace it with a larger one, up to 6TB.

Easy installation, pitiful performance

Though the amount of hardware involved can be intimidating, installation is pretty easy. First, you prepare each camera by installing its pre-charged lithium ion battery and screwing on its antenna. Then you’ll need to attach a pair of antennas to the wireless receiver and connect the receiver to the USB port on the back of the DVR. You can mount the receiver with double-sided tape or screws to improve its range, though you’re limited by the relatively short length of the receiver’s hardwired cable.

Next, you’ll need to connect the DVR to an ethernet port on your router and plug in its power supply. If you’re planning only to view the camera feeds via the Lorex companion app, you can stop here. Lorex also gives you the option of monitoring the cameras on a computer monitor or TV. To enable that, you’ll need to hook up one of those devices using the DVR’s HDMI or VGA ports and plug the supplied mouse into the front of the DVR.

Michael Ansaldo/IDG

Finally, you’ll connect the DVR with the Lorex Cirrus app—the cameras come pre-paired—and mount the cameras around your home. Lorex supplies a screwdriver handle and several bits for this last task.

The Nintendo Switch could be getting new, hinged Joy-Con controllers, if a patent posted online is to be believed. 

Found over at ipforce.jp, a patent tracking site, the proposed Joy-Con redesign would see the top third of a Joy-Con (where the left analogue stick sits, and the X, A, B,Y buttons on the right hand side) bend over at an angle behind the Switch’s screen.

When not in handheld mode, they could articulate further, with another figure showing the casing being even more flexible, so as to offer a smooth curve in the hand.

More Joy, less Con

As ever when it comes to a patent, its existence is no indication that an actual product is in development. But if there’s been one area of the excellent Nintendo Switch open to criticism, it has been the Joy-Con controllers.

Though their adaptability is to be praised, they’ve been plagued with connectivity issues, while the decision to move away from a proper D-Pad design rankled some fans. Likewise, some of the buttons can feel minuscule in larger hands.

From the Power Glove to the Wiimote, Nintendo is no stranger to unusual controller designs though, so don’t be too surprised if this does make an appearance in some form in the future.

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Apple has hit back at Google for the latter’s reporting of a serious security vulnerability in iOS, claiming its rival had exaggerated the impact of the bug in its disclosure.

Last month, Google’s Project Zero research team detailed a flaw that could see user data, such as files, messages and location data, compromised if a user with an affected device visited a malicious website.

“There was no target discrimination; simply visiting the hacked site was enough for the exploit server to attack your device, and if it was successful, install a monitoring implant,” Google’s team had said.

Apple Google security

The vulnerability was patched six months ago and Apple says it was already in the process of fixing the flaws when it was contacted by Google. Indeed, it says the issue was resolved just 10 days after the communication.

However Apple has taken issue with Google’s disclosure. It refutes the suggestion that the target was ‘indiscriminate’, arguing that fewer than a dozen sites were affected – mainly those serving the Chinese Uighur community, and says the post unnecessarily caused panic among iOS users.

“Google’s post, issued six months after iOS patches were released, creates the false impression of ‘mass exploitation’ to ‘monitor the private activities of entire populations in real time,’ stoking fear among all iPhone users that their devices had been compromised,” says Apple. “This was never the case.”

Apple regards the relative security of the iOS platform as a key differentiator, so the topic is a sensitive one for the company.

The company launched a bug bounty programme for iOS three years ago, offering up to $200,000 to ethical hackers that responsibly reported vulnerabilities. However it increased the upper limit to $1 million earlier this year, a move which would combat claims the rewards on offer were too low.

Google has been contacted for comment.

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Imagine your house 10 years from now. You might picture a huge TV screen that turns into a wall, art or something else entirely with a simple gesture, a driverless car parked in the garage and a robot butler emptying the washing machine for you. But just how likely is it that Alexa will have evolved from a humble voice assistant that ‘lives’ in a cylinder to a walking, talking robot companion that helps out around the house in a decade’s time? 

Alexa, you and your voice

Smart voice assistants are already a staple in many homes. According to the latest stats, more than 66.4 million people in the US – 26.2% of the total population – now own a smart speaker. Similar stats in the UK suggest they’re nearly as popular, with more than 22% of households reportedly now kitted out with a voice-activated device.

It’s difficult to predict whether these numbers will continue to rise – and whether Alexa, Google Assistant or Siri will be the most popular AI-powered assistant in your living room. But whichever is on top, there’s one thing we know for sure: we all like the sound of our own voices.

The latest data from Juniper Research, as reported by TechCrunch, suggests voice-activated tech is likely to increase over the coming years. It’s quickly becoming one of the top ways we now search online and voice features and assistants are being added to our phones, smart TVs, fitness trackers and even our cars. This is no surprise. Using your voice rather than relying on a screen, or other interface, is quick and convenient.

“Switching from traditional screen interfaces to voice interfaces is a logical move,” Dor Skuler, CEO and co-founder of Intuition Robotics, tells TechRadar. “It allows for a greater variety of third party skills to be employed, it keeps people present during interactions, and it’s a much more accessible form of interaction for many users who have certain visual or physical impairments or have a difficult time utilizing computers and phones.”

But as natural as barking commands at our voice assistants may seem right now, there’s one thing we can all agree on: they need to become smarter for us to stay interested.

(Image credit: Amazon)

Advancing Alexa’s intelligence 

Amazon is constantly upgrading the way Alexa works. Last year, a significant number of updates were announced to bring the AI assistant a ‘memory’ feature, which enables Alexa to remember important dates, as well as ‘context carry over’, which means you can ask Alexa one question followed by another.

There’s more on the horizon. According to reports, a patent was also  filed that would allow Alexa to respond to commands without needed a wake word. That means you could say “turn lights on Alexa” rather than saying “Alexa” before the command.

Although this change raises privacy concerns (is Alexa always listening?) it could make interactions more fluid. “This technology will continue to improve, with much more natural sounding interactions, until the user feels as though they are in a conversation with another human.” Skuler says.

Many of the latest updates are focused on making conversation between you and Alexa feel more like you’re talking to a human than a computer. But it’s not just conversation skills that need to develop. The suggestions Alexa provides, and the way it helps around the home, will be important for evolving it from a smart assistant into an invaluable member of the family.

“The model of interaction, at its core, is not entirely different than going on a computer and typing a question into a browser,” Skuler tells us. “Until this format changes, and becomes more intuitive and more human with the AI initiating interactions and understanding context and users, there is a large chance the functionality of the devices will plateau.”

(Image credit: Sony)

Building a body for Alexa

One way Alexa could become more efficient, help out around the home and understand the context of interactions is if it has more of a physical presence in our homes.

The vice president and head scientist at Alexa Artificial Intelligence, Rohit Prasad, has revealed that he thinks Alexa would be better if it had a robot body and cameras. “The only way to make smart assistants really smart is to give it eyes and let it explore the world,” Prasad said at the MIT Technology Review’s EmTech Digital AI conference earlier this year.

Giving smart assistants physical bodies could enable them to learn more about the world, including your routines, how you move around your home and where furniture and other bits of technology are situated.

This context-building could be what Alexa needs to start serving up more personalized suggestions, help you accomplish manual tasks and pre-empt issues before they arise, straddling the line between AI assistant and robo-companion.

“We will see a move from voice assistants to companions,” Skuler says. “AI agents that encompass rich characters that anticipate our needs and are more integral to people’s lives.”

He explains that this is important for more natural and helpful interactions. “Instead of users having to explicitly ask for what they want, the companion will understand the context of the situation and proactively interact with the user to assist them,” Skuler tells us. “It is natural that robot bodies will be built for AI companions and incorporate multiple modalities to allow for a natural interaction.”

On the other hand, there’s also a case for Alexa having even less of a physical presence. “It’s also natural that regular voice assistants won’t need a body,” Skuler tells us. “They will be invisible and embedded in other devices.” So rather than ‘living’ in a smart speaker or a robot body, Alexa could be integrated into tech, furniture and the very structure of our houses – all that’s necessary is a camera, sensors and a connection between all of your devices.

(Image credit: Zoetic)

Robo-pets, companions and AI friends

A number of home robots have entered the market in recent years that promise to either become an assistant, act as a replacement pet or even offer physical assistance.

Companies like Jibo, Sony Aibo, Anki Vector and Zoetic Kiki have launched social robots that are both pets and personal assistants.

Some are even created to build an emotional connection. “Kiki’s main purpose is to be a companion, a friend to keep you company,” Mita Yun, Co-Founder and CEO of Zoetic, tells TechRadar. “We don’t intend for Kiki to be a total pet replacement – instead, we see Kiki as another character in your home, to interact with and to share in your life.”

Companion robots, like Kiki, can do a range of things, including looking at you and recognizing your face, using sensors to respond to touch and some have their own Alexa-style AI assistant to help you check messages, call friends and more.

But to some a robo-pet may sound comforting, to others a nuisance. There’s certainly not a clear demand for social robots yet as a number of big names in this space, including Anki and Jibo, have shuttered operations. Which begs the question: do we need robots in our homes?

(Image credit: ElliQ)

Skuler tells us this depends on the purpose of the AI and best user experience. That means if you’re in a busy home and don’t need a physical presence, Alexa could best serve you integrated into your smart products. But there are other use cases where a robot with a body could be more important, including for older people or those who suffer from loneliness.

Skuler explains that for his robot product, ElliQ, the body was necessary for its core functions. “We were designing for an ageing population that needs multiple modalities of interaction in order to optimize their experience and make it intuitive, approachable and empathetic,” he explains. “Each physical element serves a clear purpose.”

Using different interfaces

Although voice interaction is expected to rise in usage and popularity, we could find different ways to interact with AI assistants in the future.

For example, many major companies are rumored to be working on augmented reality tech and eyewear – and there are already a number of headsets available to enterprises and developers. This means that Alexa, and other AI assistants, could work with a mixture of different interfaces and inputs, including AR eyewear, gestures and voice commands combined.

Alexa could also integrate into other kinds of technology beyond speakers and smart home products removing the need for active interaction altogether. Last month, the Fitbit Versa 2 was announced with Alexa integration. Although it remains to be seen how useful the current iteration of Alexa is on your wrist, this could be the start of AI assistants paying close attention to your routine, body and health.

(Image credit: Fitbit)

Rumors have suggested Amazon is working on its own Alexa-enabled wearable, which could tap into your emotional state by keeping tabs on breathing and heart rate. Although this may sound a little invasive, it could lead to more helpful assistants.

Imagine a future in which Alexa already knows you’re tired so, without asking, runs you a bath, dims the lights and has already picked up the phone to cancel your plans for the evening. Bliss.

This kind of joined-up thinking is the key to Alexa’s long-term usefulness. But of course there are plenty of other factors that could affect how we use and relate to Alexa in future.

For example, will we openly accept robots into our homes? Will we suddenly go off the idea of always-on tech in our homes after a few too many security blunders?

There’s a lot more to consider than the technology, but also our own attitudes towards its increasing presence in our lives and in our living rooms.

The main focus for Amazon in the near future is on making Alexa’s capabilities, suggestions and language more natural and tailored to us. That could mean infinitely smarter conversational skills, personalized suggestions and an omnipresent Alexa in all our tech. It could also mean a robo-companion that gives Alexa a body, so it can whizz around helping us with chores and providing companionship. Or something else entirely. Because ten years ago many of us would have laughed at the idea of a disembodied voice taking up residence in our homes – who knows just how different the next 10  years will look.

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