Having a remote for smart home devices may seem redundant. I always get asked, "Why not just use a regular light switch?" And I respond by saying that smart remotes can do more than just flipping the light switch. A single button on a smart remote can control multiple devices with different settings, like running a bedtime routine or switching on all devices in a room.
BMW is finally getting the next-generation Alexa voice assistant and it's coming with a generative AI upgrade. Amazon said Monday that the 2026 BMW iX3 will be equipped with Alexa+, the same generative AI tech that launched in millions of the e-commerce giant's smart devices last year. This will be the first vehicle to come with Amazon's next-generation voice assistant, the companies announced during the 2026 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
You no longer need an Amazon device to summon Alexa since the AI assistant will be available on the Alexa.com website. Amazon will roll out the web client to its Alexa+ Early Access customers first, still featuring the company's new and improved AI assistant that was announced in February. The web model won't be much different from the existing Alexa+ that's already available on Echo devices, Fire TV and Fire tablets.
This does all of what we've come to expect with an Amazon smart speaker. Despite its small size, the Echo Dot Max delivers impressive sound quality, providing rich bass and clear audio. It features a front-facing speaker that produces high-quality sound, capable of filling a room with music, podcasts, or audiobooks. You'll enjoy crisp, clear vocals, making it perfect for listening to your favorite tunes or catching up on your latest audiobook. The Echo Dot Max provides three times the bass versus 2022-release Echo Dot.
The Alexa integration adds voice commands to any device that has a physical on/off switch. Tell Alexa to turn on your coffee maker from bed, and hot coffee waits when you reach the kitchen. Command the lamp in your living room to turn off from the couch. Turn on a fan in another room without walking there. These minor conveniences compound throughout your day into proper quality-of-life improvements.
The specs tell the real story here: This isn't some stripped-down basic display masquerading as a smart TV. You're looking at full 1080p resolution on a 32-inch LED screen, which means movies and shows can appear crisp and detailed. The LED backlighting provides consistent color reproduction and solid contrast levels; those darker scenes don't just dissolve into murky messes. At a 60Hz refresh rate, motion stays smooth for any sports or action sequences.
With virtually all new TVs now being manufactured with built-in streaming ability, you might think the streaming stick and other external streaming devices are on their way to the ash heap of history, next to the VCR, the 8-track, and a long list of other once-cutting-edge technology. We'd never bet against progress, but as long as the Fire TV Stick HD has such a clean, intuitive interface and user experience as compared to many of those Smart TVs, it won't be going anywhere.
The most notable feature revealed at the event was "Familiar Faces," which uses AI to identify friends and family. Users can enroll the faces of their loved ones into the device, enabling Ring to alert them when it recognizes a visitor. The AI will also alert the user when an unfamiliar person is detected, helping them to make an informed decisions quickly.
