BardTech

The post More Alexa ‘blueprints’ arrive, offering customizable voice apps for families and roommates appeared first on BardTech . Earlier this year, Amazon rolled out a new feature that allowed Alexa device owners to create their own custom skills using preconfigured templates. Today, Amazon is expanding Alexa Blueprints, as the service is called, to include a handful of new templates designed for families and roommates. These include a chore chart template, a house rules template for roommates, and others. The Chore Chart template allows families to schedule and track children’s weekly chores, and even lets multiple kids (or anyone, really) compete to see who has done the most. Parents first configure the skill with a list of weekly chores and who those chores are assigned to. Throughout the week, the kids can log their completed chores by asking Alexa. (“Alexa, ask Chore Chart to log a chore.”). Anyone can then check the progress by asking for the “Chore Score.” Another bluep...

The post Amazon’s children’s book subscription ‘Prime Book Box’ opens to all in the U.S. appeared first on BardTech . Amazon today publicly launched a new perk for Prime members with young children, with the broad release of the new subscription-based “ Prime Book Box ” service. The $22.99 per box offering ships Prime members in the U.S. a curated selection of kids’ books every 1, 2 or 3 months, at up to 35% off the list price, Amazon says. The service was first launched in May,  but was only available in an invite-only basis at that time. Members will receive 2 hardcover books or 4 board books per box, depending on the child’s age. The books chosen are curated by Amazon editors and include a combination of new releases, classics and “hidden gems,” and are tailored to the reader’s age range of “Baby-2,” “3-5,” “6-8,” or “9-12.” For example, some current selections include Amazing Airplanes, Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!, Malala’s Magic Pencil, and Nevermoor.  Ho...