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Facebook Dives into Home Device Market with Video Chat Product Named 'Portal', Report Says (cheddar.com)

Posted by msmash on from the shape-of-things-to-come dept.

An anonymous reader shares a report: Facebook is about to jump into the consumer hardware business in a big way with a video chat device named "Portal," which will put it in direct competition with Amazon's hugely popular line of Echo voice-controlled devices, Cheddar has learned. The device is designed to work in the home and represents Facebook's first serious foray into selling consumer hardware, people familiar with the matter said. Rather than position the device as a smart assistant akin to Amazon's Echo speakers, Facebook intends to pitch Portal as a way for families and friends to stay connected through video chatting and other social features. Facebook plans a formal product introduction in early May at its annual developer conference and hopes to ship the device in the second half of 2018.

9 of 46 comments (clear)

  1. Voiced by Ellen McLain by HumanWiki · · Score: 4, Funny

    Hopefully..

    Or maybe J. K. Simmons on random rants about lemons.

  2. Teleportation! by XXongo · · Score: 3

    Yep! And if Portal won't give me the ability to teleport-- I refuse to use it!

    1. Re:Teleportation! by HumanWiki · · Score: 2

      Yep! And if Portal won't give me the ability to teleport-- I refuse to use it!

      We're not just banging rocks together here. We know how to make a spying consumer device!

  3. Like the Facebook phone? by VeryFluffyBunny · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Do you think this will be as successful as the Facebook phone? I mean, it's got a screen on it and you can use it to talk to your friends, you know, those hundreds of "friends" that you've never met?

    --
    Debate is a form of harassment. Do not question my truth.
  4. Destroy it immediately... by magusxxx · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...if it offers you cake.

    --
    Care killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back.
    1. Re:Destroy it immediately... by HumanWiki · · Score: 2

      ...if it offers you cake.

      I used to mod you down, but now I only want you gone.......

  5. 1984's telescreen on steroids by JaredOfEuropa · · Score: 4, Insightful

    So, an always-on audio / video device connected to Facebook's servers. What could go wrong? Let's see: "Portal will be equipped with a wide-angle lens that is capable of recognizing individual faces and associating them with their Facebook accounts". Thanks, but I'll pass...

    --
    If construction was anything like programming, an incorrectly fitted lock would bring down the entire building...
    1. Re:1984's telescreen on steroids by CaptainDork · · Score: 2

      And echolocation to size the room with merchandise recognition for targeted ads.

      I remember, back when Moby Dick was a minnow, the AT&T video landlines that never sold.

      Facebook has a shitload of cash and little in the way of innovative ideas and shareholders who are greedy bastards and bitches (I'm sure my portfolio includes Facebook) that's driving Facebook to do stupid shit that brought Yahoo! down.

      --
      It little behooves the best of us to comment on the rest of us.
  6. Better name by slashmydots · · Score: 2

    They should call it the Big Brother Secret Eye AI mega ad-bot 9000.