Alexa — MacVoices

MacVoices #25111 – Live! – 23 and me, Discord ads, Redact, and Alexa+

Apr 14, 2025 | MacVoices Live!

The MacVoices Live! panel discusses the fallout from 23andMe’s bankruptcy and data concerns, Discord’s controversial ad rollout, and the implications of AI-powered Amazon Alexa+. Chuck Joiner, Dave Ginsburg, Marty Jencius, Jeff Gamet, Brian Flanigan-Arthurs, Eric Bolden, Web Bixby, and Jim Rea also explore the importance of controlling your digital footprint, redacting social content, and how companies handle user data as well as why social platforms’ user experiences matter more than ever.

MacVoices #25093: Live! – Alexa+, Opera Integrations, Google’s Removal Tool

Mar 17, 2025 | MacVoices Live!

Chuck Joiner, David Ginsburg, Marty Jencius, Jeff Gamet and Jim Rea discuss Amazon’s new AI-powered Alexa+, highlighting its conversational abilities and privacy concerns. Opera’s browser sidebar integrations with apps like Discord and Slack prompt debate about productivity versus distraction. Google’s updated tool for managing personal information sparks skepticism regarding its effectiveness and sincerity.

MacVoices #24273: More Smart Assistants and Clipboard Managers with Jeff Gamet on The Mac Show (2)

Nov 13, 2024 | Interview

The discussion with Jeff Gamet on a recent edition of The Mac Show on The British Tech Network finishes off thoughts on the smart assistants we use before turning to why one of us uses Clipboard Managers extensively and one hasn’t found a reason to do so, in spite of the fact that he has one installed.

MacVoices #24272: Jeff Gamet on Smart Assistants on The Mac Show (1)

Nov 12, 2024 | Interview

In a one-on-one conversation from a recent edition of The Mac Show on The British Tech Network, Jeff Gamet and Chuck Joiner talked about smart assistants. The differences in purposes, capabilities, and responsiveness are discussed, along with notification abuse and which devices they each use. (Part 1)

MacVoices #24236: Live! – Amazon’s Pay-For Assistant; Spotify Whines…Again

Sep 20, 2024 | MacVoices Live!

Would you pay for a better virtual assistant? Amazon seems to think so, with reports of a superior AI-oriented Alexa is coming. Chuck Joiner, David Ginsburg, Eric Bolden, Marty Jencius, Jim Rea, and Web Bixby look at whether this is a good idea, sparking a broader discussion of AI andsmart assistant satisfaction and expectations. They then turn their attention to yet another allegation against Apple by Spotify, and speculate on who might buy them and why.

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MacVoices #24183: Live! – Paid Smart Assistants, Kaspersky, and AI Web Scrapping

Jul 9, 2024 | MacVoices Live!

Chuck Joiner, David Ginsburg, Brian Flanigan-Arthurs, Marty Jencius, Jim Rea, Web Bixby, Jeff Gamet, Eric Bolden, and Mark Fuccio take a MacVoices Live! look at Amazon’s potential plan to charge for its AI assistant, Alexa, and its implications. The discussion also touches on the US ban on Kaspersky software due to security concerns, lack of transparency, and AI companies scraping websites despite privacy settings. The importance of ethical considerations in AI development and the challenges faced in the evolving landscape of technology are fodder for both positive and negative viewpoints.

MacVoices #24171: Road to Macstock – Kirschen Seah of Free Range Coder

Jun 26, 2024 | Events

Next up onThe Road to Macstock Conference and Expo is a conversation with Kirschen Seah of Free Range Coder about her presentation that will focus on taking your home automation to the next level. How standards like Matter and Thread are improving compatibility with the smart home device universe will be a key aspect of the talk, along with integrating new smart home tools.

MacVoices #24073: CES – Leafi Gives Your Blinds Easy Remote Control

Mar 4, 2024 | CES

https://youtu.be/1gfzZRah7c0 In Eureka Park at CES in Las Vegas, Leafi was demonstrating a simple-to-install device to give your blinds remote control. Michelle Blaho-Melo, Marketing Specialist, helps us understand how they work, some of the capabilities provided by...

MacVoices #23016: CES Unveiled – Nanoleaf Introduces Black Triangles, Matter Support, and More

Jan 16, 2023 | CES, Events, Hardware

On the floor at CES Unveiled, Gimmy Chu, Co-Founder and CEO of Nanoleaf, shows off the latest addition to their innovative lighting line of products. Black triangles, smart assistant support through Matter, new lighting controls, and more. MacVoices is supported...

MacVoices #22248: MacVoices Live! – Voice Assistant Expectations and FCC ISP Guidelines (2)

Dec 8, 2022 | Audio/Music, Business, MacVoices Live!, Web

Chuck Joiner, Eric Bolden, David Ginsburg, Jim Rea, Mark Fuccio, Web Bixby, and Jeff Gamet finish off an intense discussion of Alexa, Siri, and our expectations for voice assistant performance. The MacVoices Live! panel also touches on some new ISP regulations that...

MacVoices #22247: MacVoices Live! – Amazon’s Alexa Loses Millions (1)

Dec 7, 2022 | Audio/Music, Business, MacVoices Live!, Productivity

The MacVoices panel of Chuck Joiner, Eric Bolden, David Ginsburg, Jim Rea, Mark Fuccio, Web Bixby, and Jeff Gamet start the session by examining a report on the failure, and cost, of Amazon’s Alexa. The discussion evolves into an intense examination of voice...

MacVoices #22177: MacVoices Live! – More Revolutionary Products, An iPad to the Moon, Apple Ad Revenue (2)

Aug 26, 2022 | Blogroll, Hardware, iPad, iPhone, iPod, MacVoices Live!, Software

Chuck Joiner, David Ginsburg, Mark Fuccio, Warren Sklar, Jeff Gamet, Jim Rea, and Guy Serle continue a MacVoices Live! discussion of revolutionary products before turning their attention to the unusual reason an iPad is being sent to the Moon and what it says about...

MacVoices #22041: MacVoices Live! – Super Bowl Tech Ads, QR Code Security (1)

Feb 28, 2022 | Business, MacVoices Live!, Security/Privacy

The MacVoices Live! panel of David Ginsburg, Guy Serle, Andrew Orr, Jim Rea, and Kelly Guimont takes a look at the Super Bowl ads that had a tech bent, especially the crypto and Amazon Alexa ads. Were they effective? One of them took down the company’s server, and one...

MacVoices #22004: MacVoices Live! Expectations and Desires for 2022 – HomePod and Smart Assistants (3)

Jan 6, 2022 | MacVoices Live!

The extended Siri discussion wraps up with a comparison to a very old (and fondly remembered) program. The next set of expectations and desires included why Apple needs to focus on a HomePod ecosystem or whether the existing iPhone/app is adequate, and how it has one...

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