Amazon Leak Exposes Echo AI Device With Touch Display and FireOS (hothardware.com)

MojoKid writes: Today, an image of what could be a touch-screen Amazon Echo device has emerged. Like the earlier Echo Look leak, the image of the device was found on Amazon's servers, just waiting to be discovered. The new Echo device is reportedly codenamed "Knight" and will be revealed later this month. It will also take its place as the flagship of the Echo family, likely surpassing the $179.99 MSRP of the original Alexa-powered AI speaker. It should be noted that the image leak lines up with previous reports we've seen regarding a so-called flagship Echo device. Late last year, we learned that the device would feature a 7-inch touch screen, and that it would have integrated speakers that are superior to those in the original Echo. There's even a built-in camera at the top of the device, which could be useful for video conferencing. It was also mentioned that the Echo device will run Amazon's FireOS and respond to verbal commands and spoken questions, just like current Alexa devices. Amazon is also reportedly testing a feature that allows users to pin items such as photos on their speaker's screen akin to physically placing items on a "refrigerator door."

Comments

So... It's a New Fire Tablet?

[mentil]

7" touch screen? Camera and better speaker than an Echo? Runs Fire OS? Likely $199+? Almost certainly runs ARM. Tell me again how this is different from a Fire tablet.

Hooray

[Cornwallis]

Making Orwell's Telescreen more cuddly...

Fuck privacy.

[geekmux]

"There's even a built-in camera at the top of the device, which could be useful for video conferencing."

So, the always-listening device sitting inside people's homes is now outfitted with an always-watching feature. Color me surprised that the Alexa generation would welcome this shit too.

Since most of us do video conferencing from a smartphone or tablet which is far more portable, I'm failing to understand why we need another device to do this. I suppose next years model will come with a SIM card too; you know, so everyone can replace that cheap landline they used to have with the e-hipster kitsch flavor of the month.

Re:Fuck privacy.

[Rick Schumann]

I fail to see why you need to wonder why this thing is, when your subject line covers it in two words. It's more surveillance in your home. YOU are the product, and Amazon, like so many other companies these days, considers you not only the product, but a useful idiot, because people are lining up to pay for the surveillance device they'll have operating in their homes 24/7/365, that now will not only listen, but watch everything in it's field of view. Years ago I used to taunt people who saw no problem with the burgeoning number of cameras out in public places, asking them if they'd like having cameras that strangers would be watching inside their homes; I was scoffed at for posing wild unrealistic scenarios that would never happen in the real world. Yet here were are, with cameras and microphones being installed in people's homes in devices purpose-designed to watch and listen continually. You're right to not want this, you're right to scoff at those who do, and you're right to discourage people from having such things in their homes; keep it up, we might yet uproot this evil trend.

"Leak" My Ass...

[TheFakeTimCook]

This is counter-PR pushed out BY Amazon to counter Apple's Phil Schiller participating in an interview where he said that a "Voice Activated Smart Speaker could benefit from a Screen".

Considering that every time I browse something on Amazon, it appears magically in banner ads EVERYWHERE I browse, and yet, every time I browse something on Apple's site, it, er doesn't, I'd say I trust Apple to actually produce a device that doesn't spy on you.

But this "Leak", coming in the heels of the Schiller interview earlier this week, is no accident, or lapse of security.

And if it is, remember this is the same company that's handling your "overheard" Alexa audio...