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Amazon Wants You To Turn Your Fire Tablet Into a Portable Echo (cnbc.com)

Posted by msmash on from the how-about-that dept.

Amazon on Thursday introduced software and accessories that will turn its Fire HD tablets into a portable Echo. From a report: The company on Thursday unveiled a new case and stand for the Fire HD 8 and Fire HD 10 tablet so those devices will act almost just like the Amazon Echo Show, a larger gadget that has a touch display. You can call up recipes in the kitchen, see song lyrics for music that you're playing, place video calls to friends, start movies and more, all without touching the tablet and with a visual interface that was previously available only on the Echo Show and Echo Spot.

19 of 50 comments (clear)

  1. I have unplugged my Echo last month by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    No more Alexa for me. period. I pulled the plug. I pulled the plug on Google assistant too. I think you all should do the same.

    1. Re:I have unplugged my Echo last month by RickyShade · · Score: 1

      No more Alexa for me. period. I pulled the plug. I pulled the plug on Google assistant too. I think you all should do the same.

      Paranoia, paranoia, hey hey hey!

    2. Re:I have unplugged my Echo last month by antdude · · Score: 1

      Pull everything that can watch and hear!

      --
      Ant(Dude) @ Quality Foraged Links (AQFL.net) & The Ant Farm (antfarm.ma.cx / antfarm.home.dhs.org).
  2. Re:What about the Fire HD 7 tablets? by 110010001000 · · Score: 1

    I only have a HD7 which I got for Christmas. I was only $35 and that was all I could afford.

  3. Re:What about the Fire HD 7 tablets? by The+Fat+Bastard · · Score: 1

    That must be tough when you only make $50K in Silicon Valley. :P

  4. Stop listening to me! by nwaack · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Seriously, stop it. I don't want or need my electronics to be constantly listening to what I'm saying.

    1. Re:Stop listening to me! by RickyShade · · Score: 1, Troll

      Seriously, stop it. I don't want or need my electronics to be constantly listening to what I'm saying.

      What are you plotting?

    2. Re:Stop listening to me! by Rick+Schumann · · Score: 1

      But Nwaack, if you don't let Amazon, Google, Facebook, and whoever else wants to join the data-collection-gang-bang stick their virtual penis up your private-data-anus, you won't get any more Shiny Pretty Baubles from them! Then where will you be? You'll be Left Out! You won't be like Everyone Else anymore! Don't you want to belong, Nwaack? Surely you don't want to opt-out of the Group-Think? You have to go with the rest of the Herd!

  5. Re:Ohh my goodness what is next by gnick · · Score: 1

    Can I turn a toaster into a true lover

    Do NOT use your appliances as lovers. It only ends in tears.

    --
    He's getting rather old, but he's a good mouse.
  6. MORE SURVEILLANCE. by Rick+Schumann · · Score: 1

    Yeah, sure, Amazon. What you really want is more collection of very-much-private data in people's homes, so you can sell that to whoever. Fuck you sideways with a rusty chainsaw, Amazon.

  7. Re:Can it be turned off? by Rick+Schumann · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    I do not have any of these devices and do not want them either, so I am ignorant as to their operational details; can a 'Fire Tablet' be turned completely off? Or can it only be put in 'sleep mode' and wake itself up if ordered to remotely? If the latter is true then the only way you can ensure your privacy around such devices is to either put it in an enclosure of some sort that is soundproof and lightproof, or as far away from you as possible so it's out of earshot.

  8. Re:What about the Fire HD 7 tablets? by rossdee · · Score: 1

    I have a Fire HD7

    It fits in my pocket

    the bigger ones do not

    and I wish people would stop calling it a "Fire Tablet"
    It doesn't even come with that Holy Text.

  9. Re:What about the Fire HD 7 tablets? by 110010001000 · · Score: 1

    I bought it with my Christmas bonus.

  10. Re:What about the Fire HD 7 tablets? by LynnwoodRooster · · Score: 1

    Holy text? You mean the 15 - er - 10 commandments?

    --
    Browsing at +1 - no ACs, I ignore their posts. So refreshing!
  11. Re:What about the Fire HD 7 tablets? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Just like it's tough to get to 400 pounds with just one toothless mouth but here we are, Chris.

  12. Re:Can it be turned off? by ichimunki · · Score: 2

    Fire tablets can be powered off just like any other Android tablet. The Alexa "hands-free" option can be disabled.

    --
    I do not have a signature
  13. Re:What about the Fire HD 7 tablets? by magarity · · Score: 1

    I have a first generation Fire that I got for free when opening a bank account. It doesn't even have a microphone, never mind a camera. So I'm all set for all my Alexa and Echo needs.

  14. nonsense by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    "Amazon wants you to turn your fire tablet into a portable echo."

    English motherfucker, you speak it?

  15. The software setting by sjbe · · Score: 1

    I do not have any of these devices and do not want them either, so I am ignorant as to their operational details; can a 'Fire Tablet' be turned completely off?

    Sure. Plus if all else fails drain the battery. Hard for it to function without power. That wasn't my question however. My question is can the FUNCTIONALITY be turned off in software and reliably depended upon to remain in that state. If not then these devices can die in a fire. If I can turn the setting off then no biggie.