Amazon's Echo Buds just got a spate of new features via a software update, though most of these tools are only available for the recently-released 2023 lineup of earbuds. First up, you can now tap the earbuds to start a recommended playlist, so you don't need to fumble with your phone to launch a playlist or even speak out loud to ask Alexa for help. It's all in the tap. You can launch playlists via one triple tap or a single long press, which is adjusted via the settings in the associated Alexa app. It looks like this feature works with all of the major streaming platforms, as Amazon says it accesses "your preferred audio provider" to find the playlist.

Feel like your smart home assistant needs a bit of an upgrade? Kurt "The CyberGuy" Knutsson shares steps on how you can change your Amazon Alexa's name and accent. Ever felt that your smart home assistant's voice doesn't quite match your aesthetic or mood? Well, Alexa is lending an ear to your preferences. There's a charm in personalizing every tiny detail of our gadgets, and Amazon's Alexa isn't one to be left behind.

If you've ever considered picking up an Amazon Echo Show but weren't sure about the price or which one, now's your chance. A range of Echo Shows are currently on sale, including the new third-generation Echo Show 5, down from $90 to $65, a 28 percent discount. The deal is available in Charcoal, Glacier White or Cloud Blue. However, for the same price, you can get the Echo Show 5 and a Sengled Matter Smart Bulb that you can control with your voice or the Alexa app. It's typically $110 for the bundle, so this option gives you 40 percent off.

And anything that stops us from forgetting something on our shopping list has got to be a winner! Another great thing about the earbuds is that they have a noise-cancelling and sealed design. That means you can block out all of the background noise that can stop you from enjoying your music to the max.

When Amazon introduced its 2nd-generation Echo Buds in 2021, the company redesigned them to address nearly every issue with its first attempt. They had true active noise cancellation (ANC), better sound and a smaller size. Amazon took a much different approach for its third version, opting to move from mid-range to a low-cost model with an all-new design that covers most of the basic features you'd expect. As always, the Alexa faithful will get the most out of the new $50 Echo Buds, but in a lot of ways you could argue a budget model that does well with the essentials is where Amazon should've been all along. While the first two iterations of the Echo Buds had similar designs, Amazon completely changed things up for the third generation.

If you've got an Amazon Echo speaker, you already know how much fun having Alexa at your fingertips can be despite the risk to your privacy and security. Whether playing music, answering random questions, or venting your frustrations, Alexa has become a part of your daily routine. Did you know, however, that it can do so much more? There are some seriously cool Alexa skills out there that can elevate your Echo speaker to a whole new level of intelligence. CLICK TO GET KURT'S FREE CYBERGUY NEWSLETTER WITH SECURITY ALERTS, QUICK TIPS, TECH REVIEWS AND EASY HOW-TO'S TO MAKE YOU SMARTER First, we have the "Ask My Buddy" skill, perfect for those who live alone or need assistance. With this skill, you can easily ask Alexa to notify a designated contact during an emergency, such as a fall or medical issue.

If a restart doesn't fix the problem, your Wi-Fi network might be to blame. When too many devices are connected to your network, your Alexa device may get lost in the congestion. Try turning off any connected devices you're not using. Also, keep your Alexa device away from metal objects, Bluetooth devices, baby monitors, microwaves, and other sources of interference. Placing Alexa at a higher location will help boost signal strength. It's all in the data: Most people make this major mistake sharing photos

Matter is finally taking off. The new smart standard has long promised to make it easier for smart home manufacturers to build devices that work across smart home ecosystems, while simultaneously making it easier for customers (like you) to find devices that work with their other devices, and are easy to set up. With Matter, compatible smart home devices will work with Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit, and yes, Alexa. Amazon recently switched on Matter support for millions of Echo devices, as well as the ability for many of those Echo devices to work as Thread border routers--basically meaning that they'll integrate with a modern smart home's mesh network. With all this commotion around Matter and Alexa, you might be wondering how to connect Matter devices to your own Alexa-based smart home.

While Alexa was once simply a woman's name, it has become widely associated with Amazon, since the tech giant launched a smart assistant with the same name back in 2014. Not only is the AI-powered system named Alexa, it is also the default'wake word' used to alert Amazon devices that an instruction or question will follow. This has led to women named Alexa becoming the butt of recurring jokes in which their name is shouted, followed by a command. Unbeknown to many Alexa users, a sneaky trick lets you change your smart assistant's name, and even voice. However, there is a catch - as it stands, you can only choose from a few Amazon-sanctioned alternatives.

SHOPPING: Products featured in this article are independently selected by our shopping writers. If you make a purchase using links on this page, MailOnline will earn an affiliate commission. If you wish you could delegate the tasks of vacuum cleaning and mopping your home to someone, or something, else, then we have some good news. An entry-level Proscenic 850T robot vacuum cleaner is available on Amazon for £229. This is less than half the cost of similar robot vacuum cleaners by Shark or iRoomba. The compact but powerful 850T can be operated via remote control, or you can connect it to your home's Wi-Fi network to use it via an app on your phone or through smart devices like Amazon Alexa.