05/05/2022

Google Nest cameras now work with Amazon Alexa devices

The smart home ecosystem is getting a little more integrated: Google just updated its Amazon Alexa Skill to work on its latest Nest cameras. So if you already own a variety of Nest and Alexa devices, they'll work together more seamlessly moving forward. Now, you can stream live feeds from your Nest cameras, doorbells and other devices to anything from your Amazon Fire TV to any Echo device. Amazon made a similar gesture to open up its own smart home ecosystem last month, when it announced that its doorbells and security cameras would work with Google Nest, Ring, Abode and other third-party devices. Amazon’s Ring doorbell already works with Google Home and Apple Homekit .A few other integrations between Nest and Alexa have been available for a while. For example, if you own a Google Nest thermostat, you can tell Alexa to change the temperature of your home. Older Nest cameras and doorbells have also had limited Alexa abilities, but the new skill allows for even more cross-platform integration. According to a recent post on Google Nest’s blog, the updated skill means Alexa will now support streaming from the Nest Cam with Floodlight, as well as the battery-powered models of Nest Cam and Nest Doorbell to the Echo Show, Fire TV or Fire Tablets.If you own a Nest Doorbell, you can also talk to people through your door with any of your Alexa devices (such as the Echo, Echo Show, Fire TV and Fire Tablet). Eventually, Alexa will be able to announce when a Nest Cam or Nest Doorbell detects a person at your front door as well.

09/05/2022

SanDisk's 1TB Extreme Pro SSD drops to $180 at Amazon

If your daily driver is running low on space, an external drive will come in handy to either offload some of your important documents and files or act as your main storage device going forward. It'll be even better if you spring for a portable drive, since you'll be able to take it with you anywhere. One of SanDisk's toughest portable SDDs, the Extreme Pro, has been heavily discounted on Amazon. The 1TB model is 42 percent off and down to $180, which is only $10 more than its all-time low.Buy SanDisk Extreme Pro (1TB) at Amazon - $180The Extreme Pro is ideal for people who are constantly on the go and need a speedy drive to store things like photos, videos and other large files. The compact device supports read and write speeds up to 2,000 MB/s, plus it comes with password protection and 256-bit AES hardware encryption.We also like its durable design: it sports a forged aluminum chassis that has two-meter drop protection and an IP55 rating for water and dust resistance. All that's to say your digital files will be safe even if the drive takes a tumble or gets splashed with water. It also comes with USB-C to C and USB-C to A cables, so you'll be able to use it with nearly any machine you have, even if it's on the older side.SanDisk has a few other storage gadgets on sale right now that are worth considering. The 256GB Ultra Dual Drive Go USB-C flash drive is 34 percent off and down to just under $29, while the 128GB Ultra Luxe USB-A flash drive is nearly half off and down to just about $17. Either of those are good options if you like to keep a thumb drive on you at all times, and both of these have keyring holes built in so you can easily attach them to your things. Finally, the 1TB SanDisk Ultra microSDXC card that's typically $200 is down to $122, which is 39 percent off its normal price and close to a record low.Buy Dual Drive Go flash drive (256GB) at Amazon - $29Buy Ultra Luxe flash drive (128GB) at Amazon - $17Buy Ultra microSDXC card (1TB) at Amazon - $122Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

02/05/2022

Amazon workers at second Staten Island warehouse vote against unionization

Amazon won't have to contend with two unionized warehouses in the US, at least for the time being. Workers at the company's LDJ5 facility in Staten Island have voted against unionization. Of the 1,633 employees who were eligible to cast a ballot in the election, 618 said no to unionization. Only 380 workers voted in favor of the bid. The failed vote comes after the Amazon Labor Union, led by former employee Christian Smalls, won a historic victory at the start of the month at JFK8, a facility just across the street from LDJ5.Developing...