The FCC wants ISPs to get permission before sharing your data
FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler proposed new rules on Thursday that would require internet service providers like Time Warner and Comcast to disclose how they use customers’ personal data, and ask permission before sharing this information with outside organizations. Wheeler outlined the broad strokes of this plan in March, when the FCC voted to accept public comment on the proposed rules. Six months later, the comments are in and the full Commission will review the new plan at its monthly meeting on October 27th.
Under the new rules, ISPs would be required to tell customers about the type of information they collect, how and why they share it and which companies they share it with. In general, ISPs have access to data that includes when and where customers access the internet, which sites they visit and which apps they use. ISPs would have to make this information available to new customers when they sign up for service and provide updates whenever the policies change.
Additionally, ISPs would have to obtain opt-in consent to share “sensitive” information including personal geo-location data, browsing history, app usage, social security numbers, the content of any communications, and information about children, health or finances. This means providers would need to get customers’ permission before distributing this information to outside parties. Non-sensitive data — the FCC uses “service tier information used to market an alarm system” as an example — would be opt-out, meaning it’s automatically open to sharing.
ISPs would be able to de-identify customers’ personal information and then share it outside of the rules for obtaining consent. However, the FCC says that information has to pass a three-step test to ensure it’s not re-identified, outlined as follows:
- Alter the customer information so that it can’t be reasonably linked to a specific individual or device
- Publicly commit to maintain and use information in an unidentifiable format and to not attempt to re-identify the data
- Contractually prohibit the re-identification of shared information
The new rules would also require ISPs to implement up-to-date security practices and notify customers of a breach within 30 days; companies would have to notify the FCC within seven days.
Many ISPs were not happy with Wheeler’s proposed rules in March, arguing that they gave companies like Facebook and Google, which also collect user data, an unfair advantage. These websites are overseen by the Federal Trade Commission, rather than the FCC. FTC Chairwoman Edith Ramirez commented on today’s announcement, saying she was pleased with the FCC’s new proposal.
“The FTC, which has protected consumers’ privacy for decades in both the online and brick-and-mortar worlds, provided formal comment to the FCC on the proposed rulemaking, and I believe that our input has helped strengthen this important initiative,” she said.
Source: FCC
Apple Music Adds Support for User-Uploaded Unofficial Remixes from Dubset
Apple Music today gained support for user-uploaded unofficial remixes, according to TechCrunch. Unofficial remixes are mixes by DJs typically uploaded by the artists themselves, but major labels choose not to upload them to music services because of rights issues. SoundCloud is one of the few services that can offer support for unofficial remixes.
In March, Apple struck a deal with Dubset, a music rights management firm that matches snippets in a DJ’s mix to a database and pays out royalties to the original rights holders. Spotify also struck a deal with Dubset, but did so in May. Spotify has also gained unofficial remixes.
The first unofficial remix is DJ Jazzy Jeff’s remix of Anderson .Paak.’s “Room in Here.” Unofficial singles are only the first step of Apple’s agreement with Dubset. TechCrunch notes that multi-song mixes that DJs use during their shows are also on the way to the service.
Tag: Apple Music
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Whirlpool WFW92HEFU review – CNET
The Good Whirlpool’s $1,349 WFW92HEFU washing machine has a feature that tumbles your clothes if you forget to take them out of the washer right away, as well as a soap reservoir good for up to a dozen loads of laundry.
The Bad You have to crouch down to read the display options and its various musical tones are a little annoying. The WFW92HEFU isn’t an excellent stain remover, either.
The Bottom Line The Whirlpool WFW92HEFU is a middle-of-the-road washer made more interesting by its tumble feature and soap reservoir. Ultimately, though, the value isn’t there.
You could do a lot worse than the $1,349 Whirlpool WFW92HEFU washing machine, on sale at Home Depot right now for $1,124.10. At the same time, this high-end front-loader doesn’t exactly inspire.
It has a standard-size tub capacity and a predictable design. Its display panel also leaves a lot to be desired — its many musical tones are annoying, the options are difficult to read without hunching over and many of the buttons are on a slight delay. Press an option and expect to wait a beat before it actually responds.
The WFW92HEFU is a decent performer, but it didn’t stand out — especially when you look at Electrolux’s impressive $1,099 EFLS617S. A couple of neat features do help make this Whirlpool washer slightly more interesting. FanFresh will tumble your clothes when you forget to move them to the dryer and the included Load & Go reservoir auto-dispenses detergent for you. Whirlpool’s WFW92HEFU is a reasonable option in this upper price tier– especially if you regularly forget to switch out your laundry — but I’d consider the competition before buying.
Whirlpool’s WFW92HEFU tumbles your clothes…
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High-end-ish
At $1,349, Whirlpool’s WFW92HEFU is a luxury appliance. It isn’t the most expensive front-loader we’ve ever tested — that honor goes to LG’s $1,500 WM5000HVA — but it’s still very pricey.
Since it’s a high-end model, you expect it to get a lot right. Otherwise, you’ve spent a good chunk of your paycheck on something that doesn’t deliver on value, and who wants that? Unfortunately, the WFW92HEFU falls into this camp as far as design and usability goes.
Many washers sound melodic tones when you select cleaning cycles, options and other features. The WFW92HEFU has way too many different tones, taking it from something useful that confirms you’ve successfully selected an option to sensory overload. Fortunately, you can disable the sounds if they annoy you too; just press and hold the Cycle Signal button for 3 seconds.
The washer options, particularly the ones on the right side of the display, are difficult to read when standing. I had to lean down until I was eye-level with the display to see the Wash Temp, Spin, Soil, Pre-soak and other features clearly. Some of the buttons aren’t as responsive as I’d like, either, so expect to wait a moment before they respond.
The WFW92HEFU’s design is also fairly basic for the price. This model has a light gray metallic diamond steel finish, but Whirlpool also offers three other color options for varying prices. The black finish also costs $1,349, the darker gray chrome shadow finish costs $1,299 and the White finish costs $1,199.
Take a peek at the WFW92HEFU’s specs versus comparable front-loaders:
Comparing washing machines
| Whirlpool WFW92HEFU | Electrolux EFLS617S | Whirlpool WFW87HEDW | Samsung WF457ARGSWR |
| $1,349 | $1,099 | $1,199 | $1,499 |
| Diamond steel, black (also for $1,349), chrome shadow (for $1,299), white (for $1,199) | White, titanium (for $1,199) | Chrome shadow, white (for $1,099) | Black stainless, white (for $1,399) |
| 4.5 cubic feet | 4.4 cubic feet | 4.3 cubic feet | 5.0 cubic feet |
| 12 | 9 | 10 | 21 |
| 89 kWh/year | 85 kWh/year | 109 kWh/year | 148 kWh/year |
| 27 x 39.75 x 33.31 inches | 27 x 38 x 31.5 inches | 27 x 38.75 x 33.13 inches | 27 inches x 39 inches x 34 inches |
| 1 year, limited | 1 year, limited | 1 year, limited | 1 year, limited |
| 120V; 60Hz | 120V; 60Hz | 120V; 60Hz | 120V; 60Hz |
| No | No | No | Yes, Android and iPhone |
While this Whirlpool washer has pretty basic specs, it also has a couple of interesting features: FanFresh and Load & Go.
FanFresh is an option you can select on the display that will tumble your clothes for up to 12 hours. I often forget to switch my laundry from the washer to the dryer, so FanFresh would really come in handy.
Load & Go is a reservoir system that comes with the WFW92HEFU. Make sure the removable blue Load & Go insert is installed where you add detergent and simply open the lid on the top and fill it with liquid detergent. This washer relies on sensors designed to auto-distribute the right amount of soap for as many as 12 washes (that’s if you’re washing a standard 8-pound load of laundry).
Load & Go is available on select high-end Whirlpool washers and some other manufacturers offer a similar feature. GE’s $1,200 top-load GTW860SPJMC, for instance, comes with SmartDispense technology, which does roughly the same things as Whirlpool’s Load & Go.
Sony A6500 Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET
When Sony debuted the A6300 prosumer mirrorless camera in March, it delivered a much-needed boost to autofocus performance with the company’s Fast Hybrid AF system. But the lack of built-in image stabilization — which most other mirrorless cameras have — earned the company a big, fat demerit. And despite its excellent video cred with 4K and support for professional profiles, it didn’t have the now-essential touchscreen for smooth and easy autofocus.
The A6500 rectifies those mistakes, plus incorporates a new processor, which Sony says provides a much more responsive shooting and playback experience, and a bigger memory buffer to increase the number of shots during continuous shooting.
But the awful battery life? That’s gotten worse, dropping to a rated 310 shots via viewfinder shooting and 350 with the LCD. In the A6300 those are 350 and 400, respectively. Sigh.
You’ll be able to get it in the US starting in November for $1,400 (body) or in Europe in December for 1,700 euros, or 2,800 euros for a kit with the 16-70mm power zoom lens. (The price in euros directly converts to about £1,500 and £2,470. I don’t have information about Australian price or availability — it is on Sony Australia’s site, though. The US price converts directly to about AU$1,850.)
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The autofocus system itself hasn’t changed, nor has the sensor or image processor or many of the specifications: 11 frame per second burst with autofocus and autoexposure, same sensitivity ranges and same 4K video capabilities. The body is almost unchanged, with the exception of a third programmable function button, and you can now configure a wireless connection via QR code.
But Sony boosts the existing components with more memory and a secondary processor to increase the speed with which the image data moves through the camera and between the memory card and the camera. That provides faster image review — yay! — and the ability to shoot 233 best-quality JPEGs or 107 raw images. (Though the A6300’s 44 and 21 shots, respectively, are just fine.) Attracting action photographers seems to be the big trend in these prosumer mirrorless models, such as the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II announced at Photokina.
As for the image stabilization, the A6500 incorporates five-axis sensor shift, which will work intelligently with optically stabilized lenses for optimal compensation. At its best (which depends on the lens), the system is rated for 5 stops of compensation — just like many other mirrorless five-axis systems.
The touchscreen capability seems to be limited solely to autofocus, and Sony adds the touchpad capability first offered by Olympus — when looking through the viewfinder, you can use the LCD to control the focus point. The touchscreen seems intended primarily for rack focusing (sliding focus from one point to another in video), and the camera now includes the ability to set the autofocus drive speed and sensitivity.
My take
While the battery life still gives one pause, and it’s not fully weather-sealed like some competitors, the A6500 otherwise has all the right updates.
The Fujifilm X-T2 is more expensive, especially since it requires an extra-cost battery grip to achive the same 11 frames per second burst, but it seems better for complex flash photography (a much higher sync speed at 1/250 sec compared with the A6500’s 1/160 sec), has a sensor without a blurring antialiasing filter, weather resistance and possibly a comparable autofocus system. The E-M1 M2 doesn’t have a price or availability date, but it sounds like it has a comparable autofocus system and an 18 fps continuous shooting speed and weather sealing as well. But it uses a smaller Four Thirds sensor.
Oculus Touch Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET
The Oculus Rift debuted back in March without a crucial piece of the puzzle: dedicated motion controllers to let you reach out and grab. Those controllers, called Oculus Touch, were always meant to complete the equation. And now they’ll finally be available December 6 for $199. They’ll be available for preorders October 10.
The Touch comes with a second Oculus camera sensor bar, which is necessary to set up to use the controls. The package also comes with two games: VR Sports and The Unspoken.
Oculus Touch can work in “room scale” VR, which means a walk-around holodeck-like environment like the HTC Vive, but that will involve buying a third camera sensor for $79. Be ready to add one of those to your package if you care for VR walkabouts. Or, if you want to turn around and grab things behind you.
Oculus Touch makes virtual reality better
The Oculus Rift didn’t let you reach out and grab things in VR. These controllers change that.
by Sean Hollister
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What Touch does
The two Touch controllers track motion in space, acting like virtual appendages in VR apps and games. Much like the HTC Vive’s controllers or the PlayStation VR Move wands, they let your hands do things. But they also can work like a standard game controller, too.
They need to be facing one of the sensors to work, so you can’t grab block them with your body, but as long as you’ve got an Oculus sensor on each side they work remarkably well.
Touch feels almost like a standard game controller split in two and turned into gloves. Each part has an analog stick and buttons. But the controllers can also sense finger proximity, letting a user raise and lower fingers and register them in VR. For instance, yes, you can point your finger, or give a thumbs-up.
Oculus has many apps that take advantage of Touch controllers, from virtual western shooters to painting and sculpting software.
The controllers have haptics for vibrating feedback, too.
The Touch can sense finger proximity.
Oculus
Touch requires more room sensors
The Oculus Rift came with a single little sensor-camera that perched on a desk or table to track head movement. But Touch needs another sensor to distinguish your hands from your head. And you’ll need a third sensor if you want to interact with things behind you, or walk around more than a couple of steps in VR. The third sensor is sold separately, for an additional $79.
The HTC Vive does it with only two, and they only need to be plugged into a power outlet. Each Oculus sensor needs to be plugged into a USB port on a PC.
A perfect in-between?
So obviously, these Touch controllers make a lot more sense than a gamepad. Even simply being able to see your hands is a big step forward in immersion, one that makes the virtual worlds feel a lot more real. It wouldn’t be a stretch to think that a lot of future Oculus games will support, maybe even require these controllers. (It doesn’t hurt that the rival PlayStation VR and HTC Vive have motion controllers that let you grab things, too.)
But in the short term, what can you actually expect to reach out and grab in VR? Plenty, it turns out. Check out our impressions of the best Oculus Touch apps and games.
Sony RX100 V Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET
Lori Grunin/CNET
Like the A6500 announced at the same time, the update to the Sony RX100 IV gets new internals for faster shooting, but the difference between the RX100 IV and RX100 V will be far more noticeable — because the performance bar set by the RX100 IV isn’t very high.
The RX100 V will be available this month for $1,000 — I’d watch for price drops on previous models, because the RX100 IV is currently the same price. It’s slated to ship in Europe in November for 1,200 euros, which directly converts to about £885. While it’s on the Sony Australia site, I can’t find price or availability details; the US price directly converts to about AU$1,320.
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The RX100M5 has the same body, internals and features as its predecessor: same 20.1-megapixel resolution and image processor, same popup viewfinder, same extensive set of 4K video capabilities and high frame rate (HFR) shooting modes.
But the new version of the 1-inch sensor includes phase-detection autofocus pixels, Sony’s Fast Hybrid autofocus system, in addition to the old, slow 25-area contrast autofocus. That should make a huge improvement in action shooting — locking focus and tracking subjects — as we’ve seen from other Sony cameras that have moved to the system. It’s supplemented by new processing hardware and a larger memory buffer, which Sony claims allows it to achieve 24 frames per second for continuous shooting, with autoexposure and autofocus, for 150 shots. That’s pretty impressive. And possibly overkill for most people.
The new silicon also enables Sony to double the maximum length of a high-frame-rate recording to about 7 seconds, for 1080/240p video. There are also some tweaks to settings for existing features.
Along with the camera, Sony announced an underwater housing for the entire RX100 line rated for 40 meters (130 feet). It’s expected to ship in the US in November for $350. (Directly converted, about £200 or AU$330.)
My take
Improved focusing? Count me in. Same goes for the longer HFR recording. How well the autofocus system really keeps up with the 24 fps burst remains to be seen: that includes focusing on what you want rather than what it can, as frequently happens. But if it can keep up at half that speed, it’ll serve most people well. And it will certainly help Sony stand out from the crowd of enthusiast compacts, at least for a while.
Smart Armor Smart Cube Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET
Startup Smart Armor Tech is bringing the connected lock indoors. Instead of a standard deadbolt, the company has announced what it calls the Smart Cube — a two-piece device that can lock indoor enclosures. Think of it like a retrofit home safe.
You won’t use the Smart Cube on your front door like other smart locks, but the device grants the ability to secure a drawer in your dorm room, a cabinet of cleaning products where your young child likes to explore, or your liquor cabinet. It’s a flexible product, and Indiegogo users — who have contributed over $100,000 to the project so far — seem excited about its potential. But I’m skeptical that those possibilities really merit the expected price tag: $100.
Smart Armor
The Smart Cube basically looks like a bar with threading like a screw. This bar, which is only a few inches long, slides into a second piece — a polycarbonate sheath. Users secure the sheath inside the cabinet or drawer, and attach the bar to the door. When it closes, the Smart Cube locks, securing the enclosure. To open it, you just tap a button in the Smart Armor app.
The mechanism is perhaps a little too simple. If you’re really worried about keeping something out of reach, you probably want to buy a real safe. But its app connection does bring something unique to the table: you will receive alerts if a cabinet is opened or tampered with. This lets the device double as a door/window sensor and lock. The problem is, because it relies on Bluetooth technology, you won’t be able to actually control the Cube while you’re out of range. This limits the benefits of Smart Cube’s connected-ness.
The basic idea for the device isn’t bad, but between a slightly steep price and its Bluetooth limitations, the Smart Cube will have to do a lot to win me over. The Smart Cube is available for preorder on Indiegogo now, with devices planned to ship in early 2017.
Best portable projectors of 2016!
Our smartphones and tablets are fantastic devices for media consumption, but with relatively small screens, sharing content isn’t easy. That is where a nice portable projector comes in. Be it to showcase a presentation at work or school, or enjoy a movie night with friends and family, here is a roundup of some of the best portable projectors currently available!
JmGO View
The JmGO View Portable Projector first showed up on Indiegogo, with the company comfortably surpassing their $100,000 goal by raising over $256,000. The JmGO View is one of the best thought out portable projectors we’ve seen, with a design that is unlike anything else that is currently available in the market.
While its cylindrical design may seem like a bad idea at first, with it looking like it would be susceptible to rolling around, the device is paired with a magnetic stand that holds it firmly in place. The real advantage of this design is in the fact that the body of the projector unit can be tilted to any angle, allowing to find the best position for the projected image with ease. This is definitely a far better implementation than other projectors that have a set of pre-fixed angles, with the options often not exactly what you’d want.
Like the other projectors on this list, the JmGO View comes with a keystoning feature, which prevents the image from warping even when the angles aren’t perfect. However, what really makes this projector special is the fact that it is running Android 4.4.4 Kitkat. The software is heavily customized to provide a clean and simple experience when navigating through the available apps like YouTube, Netflix, and more.
Everything can be controlled with a small remote that is included, and is always a welcome addition with projectors. Videos can be loaded using a USB flash drive that can be plugged into the USB port, or via HDMI. You can also stream videos from your phone, by either using Miracast, or streaming services like Netflix.
As far as the image quality of the projector is concerned, it has been really good. It may not be the best that we’ve seen, but it certainly gets very close. It gets brighter than most portable projectors in this price range at 250 lumens, features a resolution up to 720p, and offers good color reproduction, even if the contrast could be less extreme.
A good movie watching experience is nothing without good sound, and the JmGO View is miles ahead of its competitors in this department. A large pair of speakers is found on each side of this cylindrical projector, and sound fantastic. They do not sound tinny at all, and even have a good amount of bass to them. The JmGO View is the first projector with which I haven’t found the need to plug in a pair of external speakers to have an enjoyable time, and is definitely a huge positive.
There is one final trick the JmGO View has up its sleeves, and that is its 3D video capabilities. If you have access to a 3D movie or video, you can pair the JmGO 3D glasses with the projector to enjoy an even more immersive experience.
The great picture quality, functional design, loud speakers, and 3D capabilities will come at a price though, with the JmGO View coming with a price tag of $620. If the availability of features like high-quality speakers and 3D video aren’t particularly interesting for you, there are certainly cheaper options available that offer even better picture quality. However, if these additions pique your interest, the JmGO View portable projector is worth every penny.
Sony MP-CL1
At first glance, you may mistake the Sony MP-CL1 to be a smartphone, with Sony’s classic rectangular design to be seen here. The projector is as compact as a phone, allowing you to easily slip it into your pocket. It is also quite thin and light weight, making the MP-CL1 a truly portable option.
The Sony MP-CL1 projects using laser technology, which means that it will behave a little differently. The brightness is just 32 lumens, which sounds like you would barely be able to see it. However, the human eye perceives laser projections a little brighter than your standard LED projections at the same lumen count. That being said, the projected image with the MP-CL1 is still a lot darker than the JmGO View, but bright enough to enjoy at any distance less than 40 inches away.
This projector doesn’t need to be very far away to project a huge image though, and only being 40 inches away will create a 120 inch image with a 16:9 aspect ratio. Keystoning is also available, but rather strangely, no focusing capabilities, be it automatic or via manual controls. Thanks to this being a laser based projection system however, the image always remains pretty clear, regardless of how close or far you are.
The plastic stand it comes with seems a little flimsy, but gets the job done. It can clip onto the front or back, but at a fixed position, so you may need to use some extra books or other objects to prop it up perfectly. Like most projectors, you will be able to stream media via Miracast, plug in a USB flash drive, or connect a Mini HDMI or MHL cable. There are built-in speakers available, but they are pretty weak, so you’ll be better off using the auxiliary jack to use an external pair of speakers.
There aren’t a whole lot of extras with this projector, like a remote, but if portability is key, the Sony MP-CL1 is the device for you. The price doesn’t hurt either, with the MP-CL1 currently priced at around $350.
ASUS ZenBeam E1
If a little more bang for your buck is what you’re after, the ASUS ZenBeam E1 is the portable projector for you. It is an LED based system just like the JmGO View, and even though it isn’t as bright at 150 lumens, it’s definitely much brighter than the Sony MP-CL1. The ZenBeam is compact and lightweight as well, with dimensions of 83 x 29 x 110 mm, and weighing just 307 grams. It may not be thin enough to carry around in your pocket, but is still portable enough.
There no bells and whistles here either, and it just projects an image via Miracast, HDMI, or a USB flash drive. Picture Settings are easily accessible via the menu button, and there is also a volume rocker and input selection button. There is also a physical focus dial, which is the best way to be a hundred percent accurate with the focus.
Keystoning is available as well, which is a must have feature for portable projectors, but there is no stand, making books and other objects a necessity to prop up the device to the right angle. The quality of the speakers is about the same as what you’d get with an average smartphone, but an aux port is included to let you plug in an external set of speakers.
The image quality and color reproduction are pretty nice, although darker scenes will be best viewed in a room that is pitch dark. The only problem here is that the maximum resolution is just 480p, which really limits how big the projected image will be. That is why this projector is ideally suited for activities like presentations, and watching movies isn’t going to be as enjoyable, unless you get a little closer to the wall.
This may not be the best projector out there, but given its ultra portable nature and affordable price point of just $249, the ASUS ZenBeam E1 does have its advantages.
So, there you have it for this roundup of some great portable projectors that you can get your hands on! What’s your pick from our Best portable projectors of 2016 roundup and do you plan to buy any? Let us know in the comments below!
Verizon has final say over when its Pixels get Android updates
Verizon is pretty pleased to be Google’s sole US carrier partner for the new Pixel and Pixel XL. Sure, you could order one straight from Google, but nothing sates gadget lust like being able to walk into a store and buy a thing right there. Buying a Verizon model obviously won’t be for everyone, though, and we now have a clearer understanding of how those phones will — and could — differ from the ones you can order from Google.
If you’re concerned about keeping your Pixel secure, Google has your back. A Verizon spokesperson confirmed that their Pixels will get security updates and patches at the same time as the non-Verizon versions. Not bad.
Still, it’s a little troubling that Google and Verizon have been cagey about when Verizon Pixel owners will get more substantive Android software updates. One of the best parts of using Nexus devices in the past was the understanding that they would get updates straight from Google, well before carrier-branded phones did. That practice will continue with Google’s new Pixel phones, but Verizon’s software certification process could introduce some delays into the mix. Carriers in general can take ages to test software updates, making sure they (among other things) don’t adversely affect the network. Google has pushed carriers to reduce that lag, and a Bloomberg report from earlier this year claims Verizon has trimmed its testing time by “a few weeks.”
Google has confirmed that Verizon is handling software updates for the phones it sells, so the biggest question here is one of time. Verizon wouldn’t comment on the specific update schedules for their Pixels, though a spokesperson for said the company’s goal “is to always provide software updates in a timely fashion so our customers have the best experience.” Take that however you like. Hopefully there is no gap between when Verizon and non-Verizon Pixels get those big updates, but it’s a little troubling that no one is coming out and committing to it. For now, we’ll just have to wait and hope.
At least bloatware shouldn’t be a huge issue. Verizon has said that the Pixel and Pixel XL will only have three apps — My Verizon, Verizon Messages and the Go90 streaming service — that straight-from-Google devices don’t. What’s really interesting is how they get on your phone in the first place. None of them are technically preloaded onto the phones. Instead, they’re downloaded onto the Pixels during the setup and activation process. Not at fan? You can uninstall them at will, leaving you with a mostly pure Pixel or Pixel XL to play with. That’s a surprisingly hands-off approach for a carrier that usually bars users from uninstalling Verizon apps on more heavily branded devices — the best you can typically do is disable apps you didn’t want in the first place.
All the music, podcasts and radio services that work with Alexa – CNET
Alexa isn’t just a great assistant and smart-home controller — she’s also a fantastic music player. Amazon’s Echo, Echo Dot and Tap can all stream music, podcasts, radio, audiobooks and news broadcasts (like CNET). Not just from Amazon, either.
Here are all the streaming services that work with Alexa.
Adding more music options to Alexa
By default, Alexa is set to stream music from Amazon Music — the collection of albums and artists you uploaded to your Amazon account — and Prime Music, which comes with your Prime subscription.
To listen to music from another source, you’ll need to link your accounts to your Amazon account by going to Settings > Music & Media at either alexa.amazon.com in a web browser or in the Amazon Alexa app for Android or iOS. There, you can sign into the other natively supported streaming services: Spotify, Pandora, iHeartRadio and TuneIn.
Chris Monroe/CNET
In order to use Spotify with Alexa, you will need to be a Spotify Premium subscriber or part of a Spotify Family plan. You can also make Spotify the default music library and change the default radio to Pandora or iHeartRadio.
Even though Spotify now includes podcasts, you can’t listen to them with Alexa. Instead, you’ll need to use TuneIn. To queue up your favorite podcast, say something like, “Alexa, play Criminal podcast on TuneIn,” and it’ll play the latest episode. Sadly, there is no way to choose which episode plays.
For audiobooks, Audible will be your go-to source. However, if you have Kindle books that are not in audiobook format, you can ask Alexa to read those to you. Just say, “Alexa, read ‘Ready Player One’ from Kindle.”
For everything else: Bluetooth
If you are an Apple Music or Google Play Music All Access (or YouTube Red) subscriber, there is no way to stream your music through an Alexa speaker without a little extra setup. You’ll need to pair the speaker to a phone, tablet or computer using Bluetooth and stream the music from another device.
For music purchased through stores like Google Play Store or iTunes, you can import those songs to your Amazon Music account at music.amazon.com. You’re able to upload up to 250 songs for free or 250,000 songs for $24.99 per year. This way, you can ask Alexa to play them without any workarounds.
Skills
Finally, there are at least two skills that allow streaming audio to Alexa speakers. For now, they’re pretty niche. For example, Classical Study Music plays music by Johann Sebastian Bach and Jewish Music Stream plays the stream from jewishmusicstream.com.
AIVAnet 