Amazon Improves Beta Testing for Alexa Skills

Amazon has announced a new testing tool to allow developers to make their Alexa skills available to closed groups of beta testers before they are published.

Amazon Lex Now Generally Available to Enable Conversational Interfaces

Amazon Lex, the platform behind Amazon Alexa, is now generally available to create voice-powered chatbots and mobile, web, and desktop apps.

Google Opens Up its Voice-Based Assistant on Third-Party Devices

The Google Assistant SDK makes it possible to integrate Google Assistant voice-capabilities into custom devices running on Raspberry Pi 3 and also on Linux, writes Google assistant product manager Chris Ramsdale. Licensing terms for commercial use are not yet clear, however.

Linux Foundation EdgeX Foundry to Enable Edge Computing for IoT

The Linux Foundation has launched the EdgeX Foundry, a new project aimed at building an open framework for IoT computing and an ecosystem of interoperable components. InfoQ has spoken with Philip DesAutels, senior director of IoT at The Linux Foundation.

Shoutem Aims to Be the WordPress of React Native Mobile Apps

Shoutem has recently launched its new React Native-based app builder, which is being presented to developers as the WordPress for mobile apps. InfoQ has spoken with Shoutem’s VP of marketing, Robert Sekulić.