May 9, 2017 - Technology

Amazon Echo is the preferred digital assistant

The use of voice-activated digital assistant devices will spike nearly 130% this year, with Amazon's Echo in the lead with 70.6% of the market, according to eMarketer. Google Home trails behind with 23.8% of users, while others (Lenovo, LG, Harmon Karon and Mattel) share the remaining 5.6% of users.

What's next: Today, Amazon announced EchoShow, a device that integrates a screen to show video from YouTube, security cameras, video calls, photos, etc. The use of the actual software inside the digital assistant devices (Amazon Alexa, Apple Siri, Google Now and Microsoft Cortana) is expected to jump 23% this year.

The race heats up: While still far from mass adoption, tech companies are racing to grow the user base of digital assistants as a way to own consumers' interaction with devices and functions at home, work and in the car.

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Ursula Perano

2 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Supreme Court expands religious freedoms in schools, employment

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

The Supreme Court ended its term with a series of rulings on religion's role in schools, the workplace and access to health care.

Why it matters: The decisions elevated protections for people and employers of faith, while curtailing those of religion teachers, the nonreligious taxpayer and women who rely on their workplaces' health care plans for contraception.

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Axios

Updated 3 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

Global: Total confirmed cases as of 2 p.m. ET: 12,573,041 — Total deaths: 561,865 — Total recoveries — 6,915,740 — Map.
U.S.: Total confirmed cases as of 2 p.m. ET: 3,213,902 — Total deaths: 134,420 — Total recoveries: 983,185 — Total tested: 38,919,421 — Map.
Public health: Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter: "Please wear a mask to save lives" — Fauci hasn't briefed Trump on the coronavirus pandemic in at least two months — We're losing the war on the coronavirus.
Food: How the coronavirus pandemic boosted alternative meat.
Sports: Charge of "money grab" by college football.
World: India reimposes lockdowns as coronavirus cases soar.
🎧 Podcast: Rural America has its own coronavirus problem.

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Mike Allen

4 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Scoop: Don Jr. plans convention-week Biden book

Cover via Don Jr.

Donald Trump Jr., in quarantine since girlfriend Kimberly Guilfoyle tested positive for the coronavirus, says he's used the time to finish a book that he'll self-publish the week of the Republican convention, at the end of August.

What he's saying: Don Jr., whose controversial blasts connect with President Trump's base, told me in a phone interview that "Liberal Privilege" will be his effort to paint a picture of Joe Biden and his record that the press ignores.