Pandora rolled out voice control, based on SoundHound's Houndify voice and conversational artificial intelligence platform, to select iOS and Android users, it said Tuesday, with general availability “coming soon.” Voice Mode is designed to be a more natural and conversational way for listeners to discover new music and enhance their experience in the mobile app, said the company. After using a Google-esque "Hey Pandora" wake phrase, users follow with a request to change stations, control volume, skip or pause music and other basic navigation commands. The voice mode uses natural language understanding technology to respond to requests based on users’ personal tastes, not just what’s popular, Pandora said. They can make open-ended requests such as “Play something different” or “play music for relaxing,” or request a specific artist, podcast or playlist, it said.

International Trade Today is providing readers with some of the top stories for Jan. 7-11 in case they were missed.

Concerns about the partial government closure's impact on FCC device approvals (see 1901040008) mounted Friday, a day before the impasse reached a record length (see 1901100020). Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel also expanded on her concerns about the hiatus' impact on device authorizations (see 1901080023), seeking an end to the shuttering. A wireless charger maker also complained of the delay (see 1901110023).

Concerns about the partial government closure's impact on FCC device approvals (see 1901040008) mounted Friday, a day before the impasse reached a record length (see 1901100020). Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel also expanded on her concerns about the hiatus' impact on device authorizations (see 1901080023), seeking an end to the shuttering. A wireless charger maker also complained of the delay (see 1901110023).

Concerns about the partial government closure's impact on FCC device approvals (see 1901040008) mounted Friday, a day before the impasse reached a record length (see 1901100020). Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel also expanded on her concerns about the hiatus' impact on device authorizations (see 1901080023), seeking an end to the shuttering. A wireless charger maker also complained of the delay (see 1901110023).

CBP is unable to provide support to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative in reviewing Section 301 product exclusion requests during the partial federal government shutdown, and no more exclusions are expected while the funding impasse continues, said John Leonard, CBP executive director-trade policy and programs, during a Jan. 9 conference call with industry. CBP provides USTR with input and analysis on the feasibility of excluding individual products from the Section 301 tariffs. "That process is not happening" during the shutdown, he said. The USTR issued the first set of Section 301 product exclusions in December (see 1812240010), though CBP remains unable to implement the exclusions during the shutdown (see 1812310007).

Harbinger Capital's 2017 $1.9 billion fraud suit against SkyTerra's former owners and management -- on stay since February -- will remain on stay through April 3, said a New York State Supreme Court docket 657515/2017 stipulation Friday. The sides said the stay was at Ligado's request. SkyTerra became part of Ligado in 2010.

LAS VEGAS -- Vizio previewed its 2019 4K TV lineup offsite at the Vdara Hotel and Spa Monday, putting more focus on quantum dot technology with its Quantum Color designation, and raising peak brightness in its flagship model to 2,900 nits. The company also announced support for Apple AirPlay 2 and HomeKit in its SmartCast 3.0 smart TV platform.

LAS VEGAS -- Vizio previewed its 2019 4K TV lineup offsite at the Vdara Hotel and Spa Monday, putting more focus on quantum dot technology with its Quantum Color designation, and raising peak brightness in its flagship model to 2,900 nits. The company also announced support for Apple AirPlay 2 and HomeKit in its SmartCast 3.0 smart TV platform.

CBP is not processing any refunds during the government shutdown, said John Leonard, CBP executive director-trade policy and programs, during a Jan. 7 conference call with industry. The agency is "not processing refunds of any kind on any type of normal entry or drawback transaction," Leonard said. The liquidation process is functioning, but "the backend refunding process and issuing of checks is not happening," he said. Interest may apply to those delayed refunds, Leonard said.