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The best Amazon Alexa smart home deals during Prime Day 2024

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Amazon Smart Devices

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Is your house a smart home? It can be with Amazon Alexa devices. They come in a range of different form factors and offer tons of features ranging from voice-controlled assistance and home automation to high quality audio and entertainment. Amazon Prime Day 2024 is here, which means now’s the perfect time to snag some deals on both new and old.

Whether you’re looking for a smart speaker to fill your room with immersive sound or a smart display to keep you connected and entertained, Amazon has plenty of Alexa products ready to place inside your home – all at great discounts.

With so many Amazon Alexa products on offer during Prime Day, it’s the perfect opportunity to transform your living space into a smart, connected home. But act fast, as we always like to say. These deals won’t be around for long. If you see something you like, be sure to jump on it before it’s gone. 


Amazon Echo Show 5: $50 (Save $40)

Amazon Echo Show 5 (3rd Generation)

Amazon


Looking for a large and in charge display you can place in your living room or kitchen? This is one of Amazon’s newest products and an updated version of the current Echo Show 5. It comes with an updated speaker system and mic array for clearer sound quality and added bass.

You get a large, 5.5-inch screen with a 2-megapixel camera that’s great for video calling as well as the choice of black, blue, or white. All three are currently discounted, so you can choose the one that works the best in your home. 

Right now, the Echo Show 5 is just $50, which is $40 off its normal price. 


Amazon Echo Show 15: $220 (Save $60)

Amazon Echo Show 15

Amazon


With its expansive 15.6-inch display and the ability to be mounted on a wall, the Echo Show 15 is perfect for streaming, keeping in touch with family, and more thanks to its generously-sized screen.

Its high-resolution 1080p display is much more immersive in comparisont o smaller Echo Show models. Since it integrates Amazon’s Fire TV functionality, it’s essentially a full-fledged smart TV in a compact factor, which makes it a great option for smaller homes in need of an additional display.

Of course, it’s also a great home assistant, with Alexa available to answer questions and control smart home devices with voice commands. It even comes with an Alexa voice remote control, offering an alternative to voice commands for those who prefer a more traditional input method.

You can grab this display for just $220 right now, which is $60 off its normal price of $280. 


Amazon Echo Spot: $45 ($35 off)

Amazon Echo Spot

Amazon


Not interested in a display or a speaker so much as an alarm clock? Amazon has you covered there, too. This new addition to the Alexa lineup makes it easier to wake up each day by giving you plenty of info as soon as you open your eyes: the time, weather, song titles, smart home devices and everything else you need to know.

It has bright, clear sound that’s great for music, podcasts or audiobooks, however you want to navigate your day. You can even set up an Alexa routine to wake you up with a combination of these things as well as light to acclimate you to the morning rays. Plus, you can use it as a hub to control all your smart devices.

If you’re looking for an affordable smart alarm clock with all the functionality of an Echo device, don’t sleep on this Prime member deal, which makes it just $45, 44% off its normal price of $80.


Amazon Echo Show 8: $85 ($65 off)

Amazon Echo Show 8

Amazon


The Amazon Echo Show 8 is a smaller but versatile smart display that offers a wide range of features and capabilities, much like the Echo Show 10. It may be smaller, but it still packs a punch since you can use it to issue commands to Alexa, control your smart home devices, stream shows and movies and call family members. 

While this unit’s smaller screen size may not offer the same level of immersion as some of Amazon’s larger display, it’s still easy to use and has the same functionality as the bigger versions. 

Another difference lies in the speaker quality. The Echo Show 8’s speaker is smaller than that of the Echo Show 10, which means it’s a bit quieter and less booming. But it still sounds great for a compact size.  

Right now, you can get it for $65 off, which makes the Echo Show 8 just $85. 


Amazon Echo Pop: $18 ($22 off)

Amazon Echo Pop

Amazon


The Echo Pop is a fun-sized addition to Amazon’s Echo speaker family that packs a serious punch. It may look like someone took a regular Echo and sliced it right down the middle, but don’t let its size fool you – it’s loaded with plenty of features.

The Echo Pop is your go-to companion for all things music, smart home control, and more. It can play your favorite songs, adjust your smart lights or run the Alexa skills you need most.

This speaker comes in a bunch of fun colors like lavender, teal, white and charcoal. It’s a cute little speaker that’s definitely worth less than $20, as it’s $22 off its normal price of $40. 


Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen): $25 ($25 off)

Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen)

Amazon


This affordable smart speaker is the most recent addition to its lineup, its upgraded audio, built-in temperature sensor, and even some slick Eero Wi-Fi integration (but you’ll need a compatible Eero setup to get in on that action).

The Echo Dot is like your personal assistant, DJ, and smart-home maestro all rolled into one compact package. Just give it a holler, and it’ll be ready to control your connected devices, make hands-free calls, spin your favorite tunes, or even wake you up in the morning (because who needs a rooster when you’ve got Alexa?).

And because style matters, Amazon’s serving up the Echo Dot in three fresh colors. So whether you’re into a classic charcoal, a soothing glacier white, or a bold deep sea blue, there’s an Echo Dot to match your vibe. Get ready to level up your smart home game with this mighty little speaker that’s big on personality.


Amazon Echo Glow: $17 ($13 off)

Amazon Echo Glow

Amazon


Whether you have kids or you’re a kid at heart, the Echo Glow is a fun smart lamp that can pair with Alexa. It can be configured to glow in a variety of different colors, hence its name.

Set up custom lighting to help your kids wind down for the night, or program gentle wake-up scenes that gradually brighten their room in the morning. It’s the best way to set up a comforting bedtime that they’ll actually look forward to getting cozy with.

This speaker is also a great tool for kids to explore content they enjoy too. They can listen to music, kid-friendly stories, and more while checking out light shows. And it’s a good time to go ahead and grab one while it’s less than $20 right now. Scoop one up for just $17, which is $13 off its normal price of $30 for Prime Day. 


Amazon Echo Auto: $25 ($30 off)

Amazon Echo Auto

Amazon


The Echo Auto is a handy device that can bring Alexa to your car. It’s a gadget that mounts onto your car’s air vent and connects to its stereo system so you can use Alexa while you drive.

Equipped with eight microphones, the Echo Auto can hear your voice commands over background noise like music or road sounds. This means you can keep your focus on the road while asking Alexa to help with various tasks, such as navigation, listening to music or making phone calls.

You can also use navigation apps, stream music and make hands-free calls. It’s easy to set up and works with most cars. 


We’re tracking down all the best Prime Day discounts, including the best lightning deals and rival sales during Prime Day 2024. Whether you’re trying to find the best Prime Day deals on tech, Prime Day sales on beauty and fashion finds or Prime Day deals on health and fitness equipment, our team of expert deal hunters has you covered.




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1 monkey recovered safely, 42 others still remain on the run from South Carolina lab

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One of 43 monkeys bred for medical research that escaped a compound in South Carolina has been recovered unharmed, officials said Saturday.

Many of the others are still located a few yards from the property, jumping back and forth over the facility’s fence, police said in a statement.

The Rhesus macaques made a break for it Wednesday after an employee at the Alpha Genesis facility in Yemassee didn’t fully lock a door as she fed and checked on them, officials said.

The monkeys on Friday were exploring the outer fence of the Alpha Genesis compound and were cooing at the monkeys inside. The primates continued to interact with their companions inside the facility on Saturday, which is a positive sign, the police statement said.

monkeys-465919399-18376133575106877-3454828274092141673-n.jpg
Authorities in South Carolina said 40 monkeys escaped from a research facility Wednesday night.

Yemassee Police Department


Alpha Genesis CEO Greg Westergaard relayed that efforts to recover all the animals will persist throughout the weekend and for as long as it takes, the statement said.

Westergaard told CBS News on Thursday that a caretaker inadvertently failed to secure a door at the enclosure, allowing the monkeys to roam free.

“It’s really like follow-the-leader. You see one go and the others go,” he said. “It was a group of 50 and 7 stayed behind and 43 bolted out the door.”

Westergaard acknowledged that it would be a long process to get them back and that they didn’t want to chase the monkeys because that would spook them and make them run away.

“We’ve got them very close,” he told CBS News. “This is all like what we want to see.”

The monkeys are about the size of a cat. They are all females weighing about 7 pounds.

Alpha Genesis, federal health officials and police all said the monkeys pose no risk to public health. The facility breeds the monkeys to sell to medical and other researchers.

Alpha Genesis provides primates for research worldwide at its compound in Yemassee, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) northeast of Savannah, Georgia, according to its website.



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American nurse killed in Budapest while on vacation, Hungarian police arrest suspect

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A 31-year-old American tourist was killed while on vacation in Hungary’s capital, and the suspect, a 37-year-old Irish man, has been arrested, Hungarian police said Saturday.

The victim, Mackenzie Michalski was reported missing on Nov. 5 after she was last seen at a nightclub in central Budapest. 

A Facebook group called “Find Mackenzie Michalski,” created on November 7, said Michalski, went by “Kenzie.” The group confirmed her death in a statement on Friday, thanking U.S. and Hungarian authorities for “their prompt attention, diligence, care, and consideration.”

Police launched a missing person investigation and reviewed security footage from local nightclubs where they observed Michalski with a man later identified as the suspect in several of the clubs the night of her disappearance.

Police detained the man, an Irish citizen, on the evening of Nov. 7. Investigators said that Michalski and the suspect met at a nightclub and danced before leaving for the man’s rented apartment. The man killed Michalski while they were engaged in an “intimate encounter,” police said.

The suspect, whom police identified by the initials L.T.M., later confessed to the killing but said it had been an accident. Police said that he had attempted to cover up his crime by cleaning the apartment and hiding Michalski’s body in a wardrobe before purchasing a suitcase and placing her body inside.

He then rented a car and drove to Lake Balaton, around 90 miles southwest of Budapest, where he disposed of the body in a wooden area outside the town of Szigliget.

Video released by police showed the suspect guiding authorities to the location where he had left the body. Police said the suspect had made internet searches before being apprehended on how to dispose of a body, police procedures in missing person cases, whether pigs really eat dead bodies and the presence of wild boars in the Lake Balaton area.

He also made an internet search inquiring about the competence of Budapest police.

Michalski’s parents are currently in Budapest, police told The Associated Press. 

Friends posted condolences on the Facebook group of candles. Michalski was a nurse practitioner, the social media post said, who used “her humor, positivity, and limitless empathy to help heal her patients and encourage family and friends alike.”



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Severe droughts threaten sustainable catch of the Amazon’s giant fish, the giant pirarucu

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Two years of record-breaking drought have dealt a heavy blow to what is arguably the Amazon’s most successful sustainable economy: the managed fishery for the giant pirarucu.

In Brazil´s Amazonas state, almost 6,000 riverine dwellers authorized to fish have reported a sharp drop in production and rising costs. They are demanding aid from the federal government and debating how to adapt to climate change.

Last year’s catch totaled 70% of the government-authorized quota of 100,443 fish. This year could see an even steeper decline, since many communities still haven´t been able to fish. The season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30.

Brazil Amazon Drought Sustainable Fishing
FILE – Three pirarucu fish, captured by brothers Gibson, right, and Manuel Cunha Da Lima, front, sit on a floating warehouse in San Raimundo settlement, at Medio Jurua region, Amazonia State, Brazil, Monday, Sept. 5, 2022.

Jorge Saenz / AP


Pirarucu managed fishing began in the Amazon 25 years ago in the Mamiraua region and has since expanded. It helped the Amazon’s largest fish escape risk of extinction and is now an important source of income for locals in 10 sustainable conservation units and eight Indigenous territories, where deforestation is close to zero.

Unlike other aquatic species of the Amazon, such as river dolphins, the pirarucu — also known as arapaima — historically have proven resilient to drought and climate change. But low water levels are making it extremely difficult for fishers to transport their catch from remote lakes to major rivers and onto cities.

It’s a mammoth task. The pirarucu, which can weigh up to 200 kilograms (440 pounds), lives in large lakes that during flood season are often connected to major rivers. Fishing typically occurs when water levels begin to recede, making it easier to trap the fish and transport them out in small boats or canoes. In several areas, however, water levels dropped so quickly that this connection was cut off before fishing could begin.

In the São Raimundo community in the Medio Jurua region, fishing is scheduled to start Saturday, a two-month delay — a common situation this season. As a result, Coletivo Pirarucu, an umbrella organization that represents 2,500 riverine and Indigenous families, has requested that the federal government extend fishing season until the end of January.

Even in large rivers navigation has become problematic, raising costs and uncertainty among fishermen. It usually takes three to four days to transport fish from Carauari municipality — a major pirarucu producer — to Manaus, the Amazon´s largest city. During the peak of the drought, the trip increased to 10 days, and the freight price has doubled.

Tough as pirarucu are, they are not immune to climate change, according to researcher Adalberto Luis Val from the National Institute for Amazonian Research. He says rising temperatures and severe droughts are exacerbating the “death trio” for all fish: warmer water, more CO2 and less oxygen.

The pirarucu has evolved to breathe air but is far from invincible. 

“No fish can regulate body temperature,” Val said. “Then there’s water scarcity. As its level drops, you start to get a high amount of suspended material, leading to sludge buildup. It sticks to the gill area, blocking the processes that occur there.”

Fearing deteriorating conditions in the following decades, Coletivo Pirarucu contends that the fishermen should be entitled to compensation for losses caused by climate change. “This crisis not only challenges the resilience of communities but also highlights the urgent need for climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies,” the nonprofit stated in an open letter last week.

In an e-mail response, James Bessa, a federal official overseeing pirarucu management, said that Ibama, Brazil´s environmental agency, is working with other public bodies and local fishing associations to reduce the impact of extreme events like droughts and floods. He said there are plans to start scientific studies and closer monitoring to provide insights into ways to support riverine and Indigenous communities in sustaining their fishing activities.

Adevaldo Dias — a riverine leader who presides over the Chico Mendes Memorial, a nonprofit that assists traditional non-Indigenous communities — argues that adopting additional public policies to help the fishermen is a matter of climate justice.

“The Indigenous and riverine peoples have minimal impact on the environment,” Dias said. “We know that conserving the forest benefits both us and those outside it. And when extreme climate events occur, they are the most vulnerable.”



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