Skip to main content

From appliances to robots, Alexa-supported devices were nearly everywhere at CES

Bluetooth speakers. Smartwatches. Cars. Home intercoms. Amazon’s Alexa voice service is in just about everything these days, and the onslaught shows no sign of slowing. Nowhere has the trend been more evident than at the Consumer Electronics Show, where the number of Alexa-supported devices nearly exceeded our intrepid team’s ability to count them all. But that didn’t stop Digital Trends’s own David Cogen from trying.

Of the manufacturers that announced products with Alexa integration, LG topped the list in terms of sheer volume. It took the wraps off the InstaView Smart Fridge, a refrigerator that taps the virtual assistant for grocery ordering and to-do list compiling. And it debuted the LG Hub Robot, a home assistant that can dance along with music and display facial expressions on command.

LG’s Hub Robot wasn’t the only one bestowed with Alexa’s power of speech. Thanks to the power of Amazon’s cloud, the Lynx robot will support commands like setting reminders, playing music, and providing the daily weather report.

In terms of home electronics, Lenovo launched the cylindrical Smart Assistant Speaker at CES, a sort of beefed-up Alexa with eight far-field microphones, powerful treble speakers and subwoofers, and an audio profile optimized by Harman Kardon engineers.

Lenovo was far from the only company with an Alexa-enabled speaker up its sleeve. Jam Audio’s Jam Session speaker supports Alexa, as does Peel’s Aurora LifeStream speaker and Monster’s SoundStage speaker system.

Smart home products got a nod, too. Belkin’s WeMo dimmer switch now works with Alexa, as does Incipio’s CommandKit light switch.

Samsung’s PowerBot VR7000 autonomous sweeper will also have Alexa compatibility when it reaches store shelves later this year.

Alexa even made its way to smartphones and headsets. Huawei’s Mate 9 smartphone supports Alexa, as does Sensory’s software platform for wired and wireless headsets.

But not every Alexa-compatible device fits into the mold of home automation and personal audio. The Aristotle, a new combination speaker/baby monitor, will use a combination of artificial intelligence and natural language processing to chat with tykes, accept orders for baby supplies, and trigger lullabies to start playing when it detects crying.

The Coway AirMega Air Purifier, another Alex-enabled product that broke the mold, will supply updates on air quality, filter lifetime, fan speed changes, timer setup, and more with a simple series of voice commands.

The Linksys Velop, meanwhile, is one of the world’s first routers to boast Alexa integration. It’ll let users turn guest access on and off, obtain a guest Wi-Fi name and password, and even get network credentials.

Not to be outdone by the competition, Whirlpool said that many of its 2017 appliances will use Alexa for voice recongition. Ford announced that it’ll integrate Alexa into its Sync 3 car infotainment system. Volkswagen’s CarNet will also support Alexa, as will Inrix’s open car platform.

And DishNetwork will add Alexa to its hopper DVR.

What’s it all mean? If Alexa wasn’t listening to your conversations before, it definitely is now.

Kyle Wiggers
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Kyle Wiggers is a writer, Web designer, and podcaster with an acute interest in all things tech. When not reviewing gadgets…
How to set up Alexa Hunches
Amazon Echo Show 5 (2nd Gen 2021) on table.

It’s no secret our smart digital assistants keep getting smarter. After all, even Amazon was bragging about new Alexa smarts at its latest product announcement. With the addition of A.I. to many smart home devices, our machines and virtual assistants are increasingly gaining the ability to not just carry out commands, but to anticipate our needs and act on them without intervention from us.

Creepy? Perhaps, but for those of us who believe in the benevolence of our smart home gadgets, not needing to program every little command is enticing. Amazon announced Alexa was getting the ability to act on what are called Hunches earlier in 2021. Here's how to make the magic happen.
What are Alexa Hunches?

Read more
Amazon fall hardware event: Home robot, flying drone, and new Alexa devices
Everything announced at the fall Amazon event.

Amazon didn't disappoint at its annual fall September event, where the company announced a slew of new devices. Notably, there was no refresh of its Echo smart speaker line, which makes sense given it was refreshed in a tremendous way at last year's event. Nevertheless, there was no shortage of exciting product announcements that covered the gamut.

New products mostly centered around the smart home, including an ambitious Alexa-powered robot called Astro, as well as a couple of neat smart displays that aim to help families stay connected with one another. There's a ton to unpack, but here is all the exciting news to come out from Amazon's September 2021 event.
Everything announced at the Amazon event
Similar to last year's show, the Amazon event was a private event that was invite only. The livestream had plenty of announcements that covered Amazon and it various properties, like Ring and Blink. Unlike previous years, this Amazon event was strictly a smart home affair.
Amazon Smart Thermostat

Read more
Most common Amazon Echo and Alexa problems and how to solve them
The 2021 Amazon Echo Show 8 in an angled view.

Those of us with smart home equipment can attest to the many glories of web-connected hardware. One of the most popular Internet-of-Things (IoT) families is Amazon's Echo lineup. Comprising smart speakers, displays, and a host of other equipment, Echo products can act as smart hubs for the rest of your home's IoT gear, allowing you to control thermostats, lighting, and streaming devices with voice commands and the Alexa app.

Like all things tech (and especially all things web-connected), you're wont to run into bugs and glitches now and then, even with the best of hardware. The Echo lineup is certainly no exception.

Read more