Tech News and Commentary

Dave and the team discuss a robot delivery to the ISS, digital assistant vs remote controls, a Facebook unblocking bug, Microsoft's second try with Hololens, Facebook and AI technology, and more.

Lance in Dearborn, Michigan listens on AM800 CKLW “The Information Station” and asked: "I just started a new job and one of my co-workers has a very small Alexa that he uses to listen to Music. I'm thinking of getting one for my office but I want a little better sound quality. So I was wondering if you could recommend a good Bluetooth or wireless speaker system like Alexa that will also play really good sound."

Lance, if you want an Alexa speaker that sounds better you can buy… an Alexa speaker that sounds better.

Your co-worker probably has an Amazon Echo Dot, a small round speaker, roughly about an inch tall. The Dot was always meant to be connected to a better speaker for music, its own was only expected to be used for voice commands. So that’s one option you have, just connect it to any speaker you happen to have.

Having said that, Amazon offers speakers that actually sound good. Look at the Echo or the Echo plus for two options with the exact same digital assistant built in, but the hardware to play music that sounds good.

If you’re happy to stray from Alexa, Google Home also makes real speakers that tie into its Google Assistant. The one they market to audiophiles is the Google Home Max, but you can also downgrade to the regular Google Home for respectable sound that will probably fill your office without any issues. Just steer away from the Home Mini, which is the Dot’s direct competitor.

Liz in Windsor, Ontario Canada listens on AM800 CKLW - The Information Station asked: "Just over a year ago, I purchased a Garmin Vivo HR fitness tracker. I love it and wouldn't change it for anything. But when I got it, I would get notifications or alerts when I got a text message as well as a phone call. I still get the phone call alerts, but the text messages don't come through anymore. I have all my notifications on, I changed nothing but now my Garmin is not giving me that alert and I'm wondering if you can help."

 

Liz, Garmin makes great exercise watches from the less expensive ones all the way to the ones that get close the $1000 mark, but they make awful companion apps.

Your first step would be to restart the watch, sometimes a reboot does still help.

Your problem is likely not with the watch itself though, but the app that you use to pair it to the phone.

You can try to delete the watch from the app and re-pair it as if it were a brand new device (frankly, it’s surprising that you haven’t had to do this already, since Garmin’s app has a way of forgetting you ever bothered to pair a device to it). Failing that, you may need to reinstall the app itself. Sometimes it’s the only way to get rid of persistent issues like the one you’re facing.

Scott in State College, Pennsylvania listens on Money Radio WP$E and asked: "I'm a motorcyclist and I'm getting interested in some of the Bluetooth ways of using my phone or my GPS. I was thinking of maybe using bluetooth "iBuds" or something to listen to my music and talk on my phone while I'm on my motorcycle. Not sure if you have any suggestions on something that might work better."

 

Scott, music is easy enough, as long as your phone is close to your earbuds just about any inexpensive bluetooth set will do a decent enough job. You can find plenty of truly wireless sets for as little as $50 on Amazon.

The reason why you may be better off paying for something like the Apple Airbuds you mentioned or some other higher...