Slashdot Mirror
Amazon Announces a Range of New and Refreshed Echo and Alexa Products (venturebeat.com)
The rumors were true. Amazon on Thursday announced a range of new Echo smart speakers and other Alexa-enabled devices. The company first announced the Echo Sub, its answer to voice-enabled premium audio products such as Apple's HomePod, Sonos One, and Google Home Max. Then there is the Echo Input, a wireless accessory that connects to legacy speakers; the Echo Link Amp and Echo Link, amplifiers with multiple audio inputs and outputs; and Amazon Smart Plug, a connected outlet plug. VentureBeat: They round out Amazon's existing and refreshed selection of smart speakers (the Echo, Echo Dot, and Echo Plus), smart displays (the Echo Show and Echo Spot), and smart cameras (the Echo Look). The $129.99 Echo Sub, which ships today, features a mesh cloth that comes in several colors, and a 6-inch, 100W down-firing speaker that can be configured in stereo. Two paired Echo Sub speakers can act as a single 2.1 system, with distinct left and right audio channels. That's one better than current-gen Echo speakers, which support multiroom audio (i.e., the ability to group speakers together by room) but not proper stereo.
The $25 Amazon Smart Plug (shipping next month) doesn't have nearly as many bells and whistles as the Sub, but lets you switch off or on whatever's plugged into it with a voice command. You can schedule quiet hours, too, and it works independently of a hub -- it's managed entirely through the Alexa app for Android, iOS, and Amazon Fire devices.
The Echo Link Amp and Echo Amp are amplifiers through and through -- both with Ethernet, coax, optical in, and multichannel capabilities. The Echo Link stars at $200 and will be available later this year, and the Amp starts at $300. It'll hit store shelves in 2019. Last but not least, the Echo Input, which starts at $34.99, adds music-casting (and multiroom audio) capabilities to legacy speakers. There's also the $30 The Echo Wall Clock, which is literally just an old-school analog wall clock like you might see in a classroom. It's not an Echo speaker; it works with Echo nearby to show you timer you set. LEDs around the rim of the clock show your Alexa timers. "You never have to worry about daylight savings time," an Amazon executive said. CNET reporters talk about other devices in a live blog: Introducing "Echo Guard." Say something like "Alexa, I'm leaving," and she'll move your Echoes into Guard mode. You'll get a notification if they hear breaking glass or the sound of an alarm. If you have smart lights, Guard-mode Alexa will randomly turn them on and off to make it look like you're home.
The Ring Stick Up Cam, priced at $180, will be available later this year. [...] An all-new Echo Show. Complete redesign. "This product has been completely redesigned. It has great sound." Integrated a bass radiator inside, real-time Dolby processing. Fabric back-cover matches the new Dot and Echo Plus. Also has the same smart home hub functions as the Echo Plus, with built-in Zigbee support. And yep, it looks a lot like some of the new Google Assistant smart displays. Amazon playing some defense, here. 10-inch HD display, 2X display area from original Echo Show. 8 mic array, "it's the most advanced mic array we know how to build. Same price, $230. Preorders today, ship next month. There's also an Alexa-powered microwave: Amazon will begin to sell its own brand of Wi-Fi-connected microwaves that work with Alexa, Amazon's voice-activated, internet-connected digital assistant, the company announced Thursday at its headquarters in Seattle. The AmazonBasics-brand, $60 microwave will also include Dash Replenishment Services so it can automatically order popcorn from Amazon. You can preorder the microwave starting today, and Amazon will begin to ship them later this year. The AmazonBasics Microwave has dozens of quick-cook voice settings so you can use verbal commands to operate the microwave. Additionally, the company also unveiled new software features, including some that are aimed at developers. You can read them here.
The $25 Amazon Smart Plug (shipping next month) doesn't have nearly as many bells and whistles as the Sub, but lets you switch off or on whatever's plugged into it with a voice command. You can schedule quiet hours, too, and it works independently of a hub -- it's managed entirely through the Alexa app for Android, iOS, and Amazon Fire devices.
The Echo Link Amp and Echo Amp are amplifiers through and through -- both with Ethernet, coax, optical in, and multichannel capabilities. The Echo Link stars at $200 and will be available later this year, and the Amp starts at $300. It'll hit store shelves in 2019. Last but not least, the Echo Input, which starts at $34.99, adds music-casting (and multiroom audio) capabilities to legacy speakers. There's also the $30 The Echo Wall Clock, which is literally just an old-school analog wall clock like you might see in a classroom. It's not an Echo speaker; it works with Echo nearby to show you timer you set. LEDs around the rim of the clock show your Alexa timers. "You never have to worry about daylight savings time," an Amazon executive said. CNET reporters talk about other devices in a live blog: Introducing "Echo Guard." Say something like "Alexa, I'm leaving," and she'll move your Echoes into Guard mode. You'll get a notification if they hear breaking glass or the sound of an alarm. If you have smart lights, Guard-mode Alexa will randomly turn them on and off to make it look like you're home.
The Ring Stick Up Cam, priced at $180, will be available later this year. [...] An all-new Echo Show. Complete redesign. "This product has been completely redesigned. It has great sound." Integrated a bass radiator inside, real-time Dolby processing. Fabric back-cover matches the new Dot and Echo Plus. Also has the same smart home hub functions as the Echo Plus, with built-in Zigbee support. And yep, it looks a lot like some of the new Google Assistant smart displays. Amazon playing some defense, here. 10-inch HD display, 2X display area from original Echo Show. 8 mic array, "it's the most advanced mic array we know how to build. Same price, $230. Preorders today, ship next month. There's also an Alexa-powered microwave: Amazon will begin to sell its own brand of Wi-Fi-connected microwaves that work with Alexa, Amazon's voice-activated, internet-connected digital assistant, the company announced Thursday at its headquarters in Seattle. The AmazonBasics-brand, $60 microwave will also include Dash Replenishment Services so it can automatically order popcorn from Amazon. You can preorder the microwave starting today, and Amazon will begin to ship them later this year. The AmazonBasics Microwave has dozens of quick-cook voice settings so you can use verbal commands to operate the microwave. Additionally, the company also unveiled new software features, including some that are aimed at developers. You can read them here.
The smart plug actually sounds kind of interesting, I should look into what other smart plug opens are around now... I've not looked into any of that since I played with some X10 stuff long ago.
I'd be kind of concerned having a smart plug feeding data back to Amazon though... I suspect owners will be getting emails for Amazon specials about the time they activate lights around the house.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
I was so looking forward to an Alexa-powered microwave oven. Maybe it will do a better job at popcorn without the burning the kernels.
"Now calling the police."
NO. Just no.
About five years ago when more and more things started showing up that listened and watched inside our homes, I posed the question of what would it be like to live in a world where you don't have privacy even in the sanctity of your own home, being watched and listened to 24/7/365; I was dismissed as a nutjob and ignored, everything I pointed out likewise dismissed as nonsense. Yet here we are today, with devices intended to be installed in EVERY ROOM OF YOUR HOUSE that will watch and listen to you. How do you all feel about this now? Is it still nonsense to you? Or are you all so thoroughy deluded into believing that Amazon and whoever else aren't surveilling you every moment these devices are powered on? Or are you of the camp that says "I have nothing to hide therefore I have nothing to fear"? Or maybe the "My life is UNINTERESTING, therefore no one will bother"? You are all FOOLS.
EVERYTHING I SAID WOULD HAPPEN, IS HAPPENING *NOW*. You all LET IT HAPPEN.
Wow, that's a great announcement. So many things I do not want - at once. Not sure why, but makes me actually feel good - like I am saving money or something :)
Three responses already from AC users asking about smart butt plugs...
I think if Amazon was smart they should think about such a product rather seriously. Heck they could probably achieve nearly 100% market penetration in Germany.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
The ironic thing about living in the modern world is, everyone is listening but no-one cares.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
Never have to worry about daylight savings time! Fucking wow! A clock that sets its own time in a highly convoluted, Internet required manner! It's not like satellite set or radio set clocks have been around for a few decades and are cheaper. This is truly innovativeness.
Well, no one said you had to BUY them.....I'm not terribly worried, until they become government enforced mandatory....
Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
Since when did the "summary" section become so long on the front page? Especially when it's basically an advertisement.
I think they are trying to trick us into actually reading the articles by putting it all in the summery.
---Saying gnome 3 is better than windows 8 not so much a compliment as it is damning with light praise.
Finally, Ring Doorbells and Echo Shows/Spots will work the way they should and pop up the doorbell cam when it is rung instead of me having to ASK IT. The old way really defeats the whole purpose of having a doorbell cam in the first place; deciding whether you want to let the person rigning know you're home or not. Also Guard looks way interesting as does the improvements to interactivity. Hopefully the updates will extend to making better use of the display interface on the Show and Spot; something Google is already doing better with their new display devices.
I wish I had mod points. I'd mod this "+1 funny" (and probably get barred from ever moderating again).
Finding God in a Dog
But the pervasive indoctrination that 'sharing is normal' and 'if you have nothing to hide you have nothing to fear' coupled with 'it's so NEW and SHINY and CONVENIENT and you JUST HAVE TO HAVE ONE!' means people buy shit like this without even thinking about the consequences.
Never will.
Users continue to refuse to learn anything about their devices and for some reason trust Google, Amazon, Apple, and the rest when they something is good.
The millennial that doesn't like most of the stuff designed for millennials.
Alexa is supposed to ensure the security of the house when no one is there, but even if you are in your house anyone can watch you when the devices are on.
They can redesign it until it looks and functions like an Ana de Armas realdoll, I ain't having one of those damned things in my house, ever.
-Styopa
I think with most people carrying around a portable network-enabled microphone all the time (their smartphone), having stationary network-enabled microphones around the home does not worsen their privacy.
How many of these devices do you have in your house? Do you enjoy being watched? Are you an exhibitionist? Please, tell us about your mental illnesses, I'm sure they're fascinating.
What does someone expect me to do? Go blow up Apple stores or shoot up an Apple campus? Comandeer a nuclear bomber and fly to South Korea and bomb Samsung into the stone age? I am TALKING ABOUT IT, what the fuck else is anyone without money and power going to do?
If no one talks about things then nobody learns anything new.
About five years ago when more and more things started showing up that listened and watched inside our homes, I posed the question of what would it be like to live in a world where you don't have privacy even in the sanctity of your own home, being watched and listened to 24/7/365; I was dismissed as a nutjob and ignored, everything I pointed out likewise dismissed as nonsense. Yet here we are today, with devices intended to be installed in EVERY ROOM OF YOUR HOUSE that will watch and listen to you. How do you all feel about this now? Is it still nonsense to you? Or are you all so thoroughy deluded into believing that Amazon and whoever else aren't surveilling you every moment these devices are powered on? Or are you of the camp that says "I have nothing to hide therefore I have nothing to fear"? Or maybe the "My life is UNINTERESTING, therefore no one will bother"? You are all FOOLS. EVERYTHING I SAID WOULD HAPPEN, IS HAPPENING *NOW*. You all LET IT HAPPEN.
Maybe you said all the things you said somewhere other than Slashdot, because I can assure you that if those comments were made here, people weren't disagreeing with you. Slashdot is well known for it's support of privacy (including digital).
Your comment makes it sound like you were the only person on Slashdot saying that putting listening devices in your house is a bad idea. However, you can go back to any Slashdot story that mentions Google Home, Alexa, or any other device with an always-on microphone, and find large swaths of comments mentioning the privacy violation, at least one one of which has been modded up to +5 insightful.
I agree with the point of view expressed, but please... give off your high horse.
Remember when The Home of The Future was going to have buttons everywhere in your house to activate all of your dozens of automated gadgets?
Now instead of the user interface convenience of an unambiguous button push, we're supposed to walk around our house talking to a dozen different inanimate objects, none of which will recognize what we're saying very well...
This does not seem like an improvement. From only a very little distance, it doesn't seem sane. We have words for people who stumble around their houses talking to themselves.
This is Amazon, not Apple. I think the guy might be right. Everyone knew it was coming, not just you.
Who is 'everyone'? If 'everyone' saw this coming then why was it allowed? Or are you implying that 'everyone' is okay with it? I think not. There is no 'everyone' in this equation. There is only 'a majority' who are clueless, then 'the few' who see the likely outcome of things. Then we get called 'paranoid' and dismissed. The real fun comes when 'the majority' finally get smacked in the face with the fact that there's precisely ZERO about their lives anymore that's private. Then they'll expect the government to do something about cleaning up the mess they made for themselves, and they'll cry and whine about how nobody told them what was going on.
after skimming over the comments, it look like most feel amazon echos are security risks and evade your privacy. They are right. depending on what you name the different devices and what devices you have, amazon knows every time you go to the bathroom, they know when you go to bed, they know when you turn on your tvs, they know your shopping habits, they know what music, radio station you listen to and more.
However, what doesn't these days, There are so many places and devices these days that's collecting info about you that most likely everything amazon is collecting is already known. I have the amazon echo in just about every room of my apartment. I have a google home just to troubleshoot the echo. I have absolutely no problems with either. and I am not concerned about what info it may or may not be collecting.
I am taking amazon at its word, the echos may be listening but not recording until it hears key words.
Going over the new devices amazon is coming out with, there are only one I might get and that is the echo plus but only because it will still work when the internet is offline. maybe not play the news or music but at least I won't have worry about turning things on/off manually :-) me iz getting lazy in my old age.
I wonder if there is an term opposite to "herd immunity" to be coined here. Once a sufficient number of people does something crazy, the remaining people rejecting it might start to look like crazies to them.
Ezekiel 23:20
One thing I was really looking forward to was Amazon building a high-end Echo unit with a true high-fidelity quality speaker that can compete against the Apple HomePod. But alas, it appears Amazon ceded that market to Sonos.
No. You were called a nutjob for thinking that every little thing is being recorded in realtime and harvested by a company. You're still a nutjob by the way as none of what you say has come to pass.
EVERYTHING I SAID WOULD HAPPEN, IS HAPPENING *NOW*. You all LET IT HAPPEN.
Over-the-top hyperbole doesn't serve you well here. In the first place, your use of the the word "all" is a bit misplaced, as there were many of us who recognized this trend and its ramifications, and even discussed it here on Slashdot. We're the ones who refuse to own IoT devices, 'smart' TV's, voice assistants, and the like, avoiding them like the plague, because that's what they are. So shouting at us isn't cool.
In the second place, this kind of diatribe isn't likely to convince anyone who has already drunk the Kool-Aid. I'm not sure there is anything that can convince them, but I am fairly sure that nobody will be convinced by an insulting 'I told you so!'. I totally get your anger - it sucks that we're being sold out by friends and neighbours who seem to cling to their blindness so tightly. But I also get their side. For us humans, comfort, convenience, and belonging are all powerful drives, and we excel at opting for short-term gain and ignoring the prospect of long-term pain. I'm tempted to give in to these things on a daily basis - I've been close several times to opening an FB account, signing in to Google so I stop getting captchas on my searches, using Google calendar, and any number of similar cave-ins. So far I haven't succumbed, but I hear that siren song all the time, and it's pretty compelling. So I can easily see how effective it is on people who aren't as smart and/or suspicious and/or as contrarian as we are, or who don't have the analytical habits of mind that offer some degree of immunity from being 'Borged'.
'The Economy' is a giant Ponzi scheme whose most pitiable suckers are the youngest among us and the yet-unborn.
As an old school tech guy (can't believe I just said that), I see your point. But here's the thing, at the first sign there is anything "big brother-ish" happening, I'll unplug them and throw them in the closet or out with the trash.
First, how can you be sure that you'll be able to detect 'anything "big brother-ish" happening' before it's too late? Second, when you buy a new car and discover that you can't turn off or disable all of its privacy-invading tech, will you throw the very act of driving 'in the closet or out with the trash'?
All in all I'm not worried, and if I ever become worried, like I said they will be tossed out. And I'm sure Amazon knows this (not about me specifically but in general), and they probably would rather not have that happen.
Amazon isn't worried either - they're quite sure that people will press this kind of tech to their bosoms and hold on tight, just as they have with cell phones. History is on Amazon's side, and they know it. Besides, Amazon doesn't even have to emulate Big Brother to be dangerous to our freedom - they only have to provide, (willingly or not), the infrastructure and the data to whomever does want to rule the world.
'The Economy' is a giant Ponzi scheme whose most pitiable suckers are the youngest among us and the yet-unborn.