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Google Home vs. Amazon Echo fight heats up (The 3:59, Ep. 298)

The Google Home Mini hits a snag, Alexa now recognizes your voice, and Target comes to Google Home.

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Ben Fox Rubin Alfred Ng
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Ben Fox Rubin Former senior reporter
Ben Fox Rubin was a senior reporter for CNET News in Manhattan, reporting on Amazon, e-commerce and mobile payments. He previously worked as a reporter for The Wall Street Journal and got his start at newspapers in New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts.
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Alfred Ng Senior Reporter / CNET News
Alfred Ng was a senior reporter for CNET News. He was raised in Brooklyn and previously worked on the New York Daily News's social media and breaking news teams.
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CNET

The smart-speaker war between Google and Amazon is mounting.

Over the past day, a handful of changes have appeared in the Google Home and the Amazon Echo as both companies try coaxing customers to their platforms.

Unfortunately for Google, its new Google Home Mini hit a bump in the road when some users complained that their devices were randomly recording their conversations and sending the info to Google's servers. Google fixed the issue by turning off touch functions on the Mini. 

Meanwhile, Amazon's Alexa gained the ability to recognize different people's voices, catching up to Google Home. But Google scored potential points when Target teamed up with the tech giant to make the big-box retailer's goods available on the Google Home.

The 3:59 gives you bite-size news and analysis about the top stories of the day, brought to you by the CNET News team in New York and producer Bryan VanGelder.

Check out the extended shows on YouTube.

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