This Week: the Amazon Echo Show Speaker Launches

Over at Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) production on the A11 chips likely to be found on Apple’s 2017 handsets has begun, according to a report this week.  Elsewhere, new renderings for the “iPhone 8” have been published.

For the latest on the so-called “iPhone 8,” see:

• The ‘iPhone 8’ FaceTime Camera Maybe Paired With Another Lens for Better Facial Recognition
• LG Innotek Bringing Facial Recognition Camera to Next iPhone – Report
• iPhone 8 Rumors: What We Know About the 2017 Handsets
• An Upcoming New iPhone SE Might Use Ion-X Glass, Leak Suggests

Apple has officially announced the June 5th keynote that begins the 2017 Worldwide Developers Conference in San Jose, California. During the event, which kicks off at 10 a.m. PDT,  we’ll see “iOS 11” for the first time. We could also hear more about Amazon Video’s arrival on Apple TV.

See WWDC 2017: The Latest Apple iOS 11 News and Predictions for more information.

Here’s other technology news from the past week:

• UBS: Apple Won’t Complete Any ‘Mega-Merger’ Including Netflix or Disney
• Here We Go Again: A Sprint-T-Mobile Merger May Finally Happen
• Apple Watch Can Detect an Abnormal Heart Rhythm With a 97 Percent Accuracy

The AI with an attitude, Carrot, is expanding her reach on the App Store making a move to games with Artificial Superintelligence. The snarky computer stars in a number of great titles including Carrot Weather, Carrot To-Do, and Carrot Fit.

Artificial Superintelligence is part sci-fi, part comedy, in which gamers take the role of a startup founder building the world’s first sentient supercomputer. For each major decision, you will only have two choices that can be activated by sliding left or right.

In the past week, Christine Chan has added five new reviews to our App Review library, including:

• Embrace the Chaos of Space in Steredenn, Now on iOS
• Help a Penguin Take Flight in Pengy Has a Dream
• Fight as Your Favorite DC Heroes and Villains in Injustice 2
• Can You Survive Long Enough to Become Champion of Penarium?
• Be the Best Blackjack Player in Super Blackjack Battle 2 Turbo Edition

It’s official. The Amazon Echo Show is now available for preorder. Priced at $229.99, the device arrives on June 28, 2017. Available in black and white, the speaker arrives just as rumors about a Siri-powered speaker heats up.

See also:

• Voice Calling, Messaging Comes to the Amazon Alexa App with an Update
• A New Report Says its Unclear if Apple’s Siri Speaker Will Have a Screen
• Phil Schiller Drops Hints About Apple’s Rumored Siri-Powered Speaker

Other accessory news:

• Arriving This Fall, the Harman Kardon Invoke Features Microsoft’s Cortana
• Nike Swooshes in with Two New iPhone 7 Cases Featuring Famous Soles

On Monday, TechCrunch Disrupt begins in New York City. Also on this day, Intercop ITX opens in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Google I/O begins on May 17 in Mountain View, California.