Pocket-lint Daily - Echo gets Matter and there's a new Hyundai Kona

Good morning. By Chris Hall | Tuesday December 20 2022 Good morning! - If you're enjoying the email, why not get a friend to sign up too, so they can also be in the know? Get them to [sign up here.]( [Facebook]([Twitter]([Instagram]( [Website](  Amazon adds Matter support to 17 Echo devices, more to come in 2023 POCKET-LINT What's happened? Amazon has started to roll out [Matter support for its Echo devices](, with 17 products now capable of seamlessly working with other, third-party Matter-enabled hardware. Why does it matter? Matter is an industry-wide standard that smart home manufacturers are adopting to ensure their products communicate and connect with each other with little fuss. It is designed to make it easy for consumers to set up new devices from different brands without the pain of getting them to work with one another manually. What's my take? The Amazon Echo is the cornerstone of many smart homes - and adding Matter support will ensure that the new standard sees fewer barriers in adoption. The idea is that it will be easier to get devices from different brands to seamlessly work together. Some will say that their Echo already works with loads of brands and that's true. But, lots of companies are getting behind Matter - and we're going to be keeping an eye on the impact it actually has. - [What is Matter and why is it important for the smart home?](  Hyundai Kona gets a radical redesign, boosts interior space HYUNDAI What's happened? The [Hyundai Kona has been redesigned](, to see it better placed to sit alongside the Hyundai Ioniq 5. Why does it matter? This compact SUV is a popular choice for urbanites, with the new version of the EV now benefitting from the signature pixelated lights that we saw on the Ioniq 5. What's my take? The older Hyundai Kona never really seemed to make the impact that the previous Kia e-Niro did - but with a fresh redesign, this new version might prove to be really popular. Little has been said about the range, but there is more interior space, a new curved display behind the steering wheel - and some great exterior lighting. Hyundai and Kia have had a huge impact on the EV market - especially in the UK and Europe - and the new Kona looks like it might continue the trend.  A MESSAGE FROM OUR SPONSOR SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro headsets - high fidelity audio with a fresh new look STEELSERIES SteelSeries has made some of our favourite ever gaming headsets - stretching back years into the past, even. Its latest are a bit of a marvel, too, rewriting the design language of the brand in a really refreshing way. [Read more](.  Carv review: The smart way to improve your skiing CARV What's happened? Skiing attracts thousands to the slopes each year. Many will have some lessons, but soon decide they'd rather go it alone. That's human nature, it seems, and it means that many stop learning when they think they are good enough and then just ski for leisure. But, what if there was a different way? One that freed you from the expense and formality of lessons, embraced the very latest technology, and could be a constant coach when you're out skiing? That way is Carv - or the Carv Digital Ski Coach - and we headed to the Austrian Alps to test it out. Our quick verdict Carv offers much more than watch-based ski tracking could ever manage, and has the ability to make even the keenest skiers improve their technique. While it will be expensive for some, the polish and precision that Carv serves up is a treat for old and new skiers alike, and can breathe new life into old techniques. There's plenty of fun to be had along the way, too. [Read our review](.  In Case You Missed it [RedMagic 8 Pro]( will launch on Boxing Day with no notch and barely a bezel. --- Sony and Honda are to [debut their first joint car project]( at CES. --- Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II have only been available for a few months and they already have a [$70 saving for Christmas, at $229](. That 23% price cut is for both the black and white earphones, with 6 hours of battery life.  From The Gear Loop BMC How to upgrade your road bike: The simplest ways to swap out components and improve your ride. [Read more](.  And finally... JAKUB ROZALSKI These incredible paintings of an alternate 1920s include mechs, bears and wolves. [Read more](.  Have you checked out our weekly podcast that comes out every Friday? It's packed with news, interviews, and top things to get. You can subscribe to the Pocket-lint Podcast via [iTunes]( and [Spotify](,  or access it on the web via [Acast](. In this edition, we talk about the EE Pocket-lint Awards 2022 and discuss all the winners. [Listen to the latest episode today.]( Thanks for reading - if you're enjoying the email, why not get a friend to sign up too, so they can also be in the know? Get them to [sign up here.]( [The Trust Project] [Why you can trust Pocket-lint]( You are subscribed to this email as {EMAIL}. Click here to modify your [preferences]( or [unsubscribe](.