Amazon Hardware Event on 25 Sep

[tubemonkey]

Amazon could unveil fitness-tracking earbuds and a larger Echo speaker this week

Amazon has a hardware event lined up for Wednesday, and if last year’s showcase was any indication, we might see multiple new devices from the company. CNBC has just published a report saying that Amazon is working on wireless earbuds with health-tracking features and “a new, bulkier Echo device that comes with a woofer and better speakers than the original version.”

The earbuds are expected to cost under $100, putting them at an advantageous price compared to Apple’s AirPods and other true wireless earbuds like the Samsung Galaxy Buds, Jaybird Vistas, and the upcoming Jabra Elite 75ts. Amazon seems to be planning a health and fitness push for the earbuds, as CNBC says they’ll be able to track running distance, burned calories, pace, and other metrics.

As for the new flagship Echo, Amazon will reportedly focus on upgrading the smart speaker’s sound performance with new speaker components and a built-in woofer. The current lineup of Echo devices still can’t compete with speakers from Sonos and Apple, so Amazon clearly wants to make up some ground in terms of audio quality.

[tubemonkey]

Alexa, how are Amazon’s devices doing? Assessing the company’s big hardware unveiling, a year later

One year ago, in a splashy press event at its Seattle headquarters, Amazon unveiled more than a dozen new devices, putting Alexa into everything from microwaves to sound systems to car dashboards. It was an unprecedented wave of new products, designed to push the company’s voice assistant into more corners of the home and, increasingly, out into the rest of the world.

With the company expected to hold a new event later this week, it’s the right time to ask: what happened to all that stuff from last year?

At the time, it seemed like a lot to take on, and some of the products had hiccups out of the gate. Amazon temporarily pulled the Echo Wall Clock, and the Alexa microwave received mixed reviews — promptly getting exiled from GeekWire’s own test kitchen.

But in the year since the event, Amazon has followed through and released all but one of the devices widely to the public. The only outlier in the bunch is Echo Auto, a $50 device that connects to the Alexa smartphone app and plays through car speakers.

Why is Amazon putting so much time and effort into expanding its catalog of smart speakers and building so many new gadgets to work with them? Research Nester estimates that the global smart speaker market will be a $34.4 billion business by 2027. It was just a $4.3 billion market in 2017, per a report from Allied Research Partners.

[tomsem]

(yawns deeply) who ordered this? And where is the :yawns: smilie?

[tubemonkey]

For those interested, CNET will be live blogging this event tomorrow morning at 10 AM PT.

[haertig]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

I've had Kindle for PC 1.17(1.16?) installed on my old laptop, my desktop and my Surface and none of them has ever updated. I dunno. I must be one of the luckiest men on Earth.

I'm running 1.17 also. It has never asked to update or attempted an auto-update. But I always assumed that might be because I am running it on Linux under Wine. I would be more worried about updates happening in the native Windows environment. It might be worthwhile for Windows users to install it in a virtual machine, so if the program ever updates, it would be a simple matter to restore the original virtual machine from backup. I generally use the "Download for USB transfer" method these days, but I just checked my "Kindle for PC under Wine" and things still worked via that route too.

[tomsem]

Every device Amazon announced at its hardware event on Wednesday :

https://bgr.com/2019/09/25/amazon-de...o-ring-frames/

Pretty much what was expected. For me, nothing of interest.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by tomsem

Every device Amazon announced at its hardware event on Wednesday :

https://bgr.com/2019/09/25/amazon-de...o-ring-frames/

Pretty much what was expected. For me, nothing of interest.

No interest here either. I guess you have to be big into Echo or Alexa to find anything exciting here. Didn't they announce the Alexa Microwave last year?

[tomsem]

Originally Posted by rcentros

No interest here either. I guess you have to be big into Echo or Alexa to find anything exciting here. Didn't they announce the Alexa Microwave last year?

Yes, that was last year, what is new is Alexa Oven (Non-microwave). The Alexa Microwave came in for a lot of derision, for some reason. The deriders now have another thing to deride. For me these things are solutions in search of a problem.

[Deskisamess]

The microwave/convection/air fryer oven is interesting, mostly because I've been considering a microwave/convection combo, as our microwave is old. I'd like the convection option sometimes for baking.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by Deskisamess

The microwave/convection/air fryer oven is interesting, mostly because I've been considering a microwave/convection combo, as our microwave is old. I'd like the convection option sometimes for baking.

This oven also includes an Echo Dot 3 (separate device).

[fjtorres]

The ring is very SF-ish.
Might evolve into something useful.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

The ring is very SF-ish.
Might evolve into something useful.

Echo Loop is a dumb name, but Ring is already in use by Amazon.

[tubemonkey]

Amazon Introduces 8 New Echo Devices

There are now even more ways to access Alexa at home with the all-new Echo, Echo Flex, Echo Dot with clock, and Echo Show 8

Echo Studio is our best-sounding Echo ever and the first smart speaker to deliver an immersive, three-dimensional audio experience with Dolby Atmos—all for only $199.99

All-new Echo Buds join Echo Auto as another option for customers who want to bring Alexa with them on-the-go

Day 1 Editions is a new invitation-only program that lets customers experience and contribute to continued invention—Echo Frames and Echo Loop are the first products to be released as part of the program

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sep. 25, 2019-- (NASDAQ:AMZN)—Today, Amazon introduced an all-new line-up of Echo devices that give you even more ways to add Alexa to your daily life—whether at home or on-the-go. Amazon also announced new Alexa features, smart home experiences, developer tools, and devices and services from eero, Ring, and other Alexa device makers. To learn more about the other products, features, and services that Amazon announced today, visit: https://blog.aboutamazon.com/.

New Echo devices include:

• All-new Echo: Featuring an updated fabric design and even better sound, still only $99.99.
  
• Echo Flex: The most affordable way to add Alexa to any space in your home, this plug-in smart speaker is wireless and only $24.99.
  
• Echo Dot with clock: This new option for Echo Dot includes a bright LED display that shows the time, outdoor temperature, timers, and alarms—only $59.99.
  
• Echo Show 8: The latest addition to the Echo Show family with an 8-inch display, crisp and powerful sound, and a built-in camera shutter for added peace of mind for $129.99.
  
• Echo Studio: Our best-sounding Echo ever, with five directional speakers for immersive sound, room adaptation technology, and a built-in smart home hub for $199.99.
  
• Echo Buds: Wireless earbuds with Bose Active Noise Reduction Technology and hands-free access to Alexa for $129.99.

Day 1 Editions products include:

• Echo Frames: All-day glasses with hands-free access to Alexa, available by invitation for $179.99.
  
• Echo Loop: A smart ring that provides quick access to Alexa on-the-go, available by invitation for $129.99.

“We love hearing feedback from customers about how they use Alexa throughout their day—whether that’s listening to music, dropping in on a loved one, trying out a new recipe, or playing a game with the family,” said Tom Taylor, Senior Vice President, Amazon Alexa. “We hope these new Echo devices will give customers even more ways to access Alexa—whether that’s through the best-sounding Echo device yet—Echo Studio, a reimagined Echo and Echo Dot, new designs like Echo Show 8 and Echo Flex, or new experiences for Alexa on-the-go with earbuds, glasses, and a ring.”

[binaryhermit]

https://www.androidpolice.com/2019/0...ew-smart-oven/

[tdonline]

Waiting for Godot...

Waiting for a Kindle 8 inch reader...

I'm going to have to give the Kobo Forma serious consideration.