Amazon echo gets new rival - lg unveils brand new smart speaker

Amazon Echo and Google Home are getting a major new rival in the smart speaker wars, with LG getting ready to enter the ring. The South Korean tech giant’s upcoming ThinQ Speaker (WK7) is

powered by Google Assistant and will also act as a smart home hub. It was originally announced back in December, but LG revealed more details on it at CES 2018. And, like with Apple’s

HomePod, the ThinQ will offer users one advantage over rival smart speakers, with LG promising a “premium” audio experience.  Speaking about the ThinQ ahead of CES 2018, LG said: “LG will be

using the stage at CES 2018 to announce its first premium smart AI audio product, the LG ThinQ Speaker, which not only produces high-quality sound but comes with Google Assistant built in.

  “LG teamed up with Google to ensure that the LG ThinQ Speaker delivers all the conveniences which comes with having a digital assistant at your side.” The ThinQ will also let users turn on

other LG devices with simple voice commands, such as “OK Google, talk to LG, turn on the air purifier.”  The product page for the LG ThinQ went live this week during CES 2018, revealing a

little bit more about the smart speaker.   LG had already said the WK7 would offer Meridian Audio and would be powered by Google Assistant. But it’s also been revealed that the ThinQ smart

speaker will have Chromecast built in. The Meridian Audio technology means the speaker will have high-fidelity audio capabilities and improved vocal clarity.  It was also revealed during CES

2018 that the WK7 will differ from other Google Home devices by delivering powerful 24bit/192kHz Hi–Resolution Audio. It will also offer 24-bit up-sampling to sharpen subtle details and

nuances of each track. A release date and price for the LG ThinQ WK7 has yet to be announced. PHIL AND HOLLY TRY TO SET OFF VIEWERS’ AMAZON ECHOS The news comes as LG suffered an unfortunate

glitch on stage at CES 2018. The Korean technology firm revealed a swathe of gadgets that are all controlled and powered the DeepThinQ AI. DeepThinQ boasts AI functions such as voice, video

and sensor recognition as well as spatial recognition and human body detection, developed and refined through analysis of LG user habits over time.  The concept is supposed to be simple

with devices such as smart fridges monitoring food expiry dates and suggesting recipe ideas based on what ingredients you have in the kitchen. RELATED ARTICLES LG also wants to help you in

the home with a new robot called CLOi. This cute machine has been designed to interact with all of your smart gadgets offering help to cook the tea and get the weekly wash load on. However,

during Monday’s presentation, LG’s vice president of marketing for LG Electronics USA, David VanderWaal, faced the same issue many consumers have with their internet connected gadgets on a

daily basis. The first part of the demo appeared to go without a glitch with CLOi's eyes lighting up and her happily chatting back to the boss, but when Mr VanderWaal asked CLOi to set

the ideal setting for the connected washing machine he was faced with stoney silence. Twice more he tried to spring CLOi back into action with recommendations for the evening's tea but

she wasn’t playing ball - staying absolutely quiet.