Amazon announces: Echo

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

Without microphones it is just a cheap bluetooth speaker.
Of which there is no shortage.

Wonder how well it'll perform just in that role. Have to wait for the reviews.

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Wonder how well it'll perform just in that role. Have to wait for the reviews.

Considering that the Fire tablets consistently have above average sound quality I don't doubt it'll have good sound and streaming.

The voice recognition and digital assistant stuff? *That* I want to see how it plays out in the real world. That will determine if $99 is a great price or merely a fair deal.

[Purple Lady]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

Considering that the Fire tablets consistently have above average sound quality I don't doubt it'll have good sound and streaming.

The voice recognition and digital assistant stuff? *That* I want to see how it plays out in the real world. That will determine if $99 is a great price or merely a fair deal.

To start with I would like to be able to use the voice recognition for TuneIn radio. It would be great to bring on vacation for that too. Currently we bring a Roku Soundbridge and speakers, so this would cut down what we're currently having to bring along. I also requested a second one using my hubby's account so we could bring both and I wouldn't have to carry anything between the bedroom and the deck. I always have music playing.

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

Considering that the Fire tablets consistently have above average sound quality I don't doubt it'll have good sound and streaming.

The voice recognition and digital assistant stuff? *That* I want to see how it plays out in the real world. That will determine if $99 is a great price or merely a fair deal.

But it's not $99, it's $199. The promo price is for a limited number of people for a limited time. It's hard to see how it's worth $199.

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by Catlady

But it's not $99, it's $199. The promo price is for a limited number of people for a limited time. It's hard to see how it's worth $199.

$199 is typical for good quality bluetooth speakers.

See here:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_nr_p_...rnid=386442011

It is a niche product, which means low volume, which means high price...
Amazon is probably using the invitation gimmick as a kickstarter-type gauge to see if the demand is there for a lower price.

If there is enough sustained demand they might drop the price later, like with FireTV--introduced at $99 and now running at a more reasonable $85.

[Xanthe]

So now the question becomes - has anyone actually gotten the invitation?

[pidgeon92]

Originally Posted by Xanthe

So now the question becomes - has anyone actually gotten the invitation?

Not here, yet.

[xendula]

Originally Posted by Xanthe

So now the question becomes - has anyone actually gotten the invitation?

None here, either.

[booklover6]

Originally Posted by Xanthe

So now the question becomes - has anyone actually gotten the invitation?

That's what I want to know....when?? I hope we can have them in hand before Christmas.

[CommonReader]

Mum and Dad in Amazon's promotional video make me wonder if they can even wipe their bottoms without some device instructing them on how to do it. With people being dumbed down to such a degree that they will rather ask some device for information instead of reading up on the subject, I wouldn't be surprised if some artificial intelligence considered mankind as being surplus to requirement in the future.

Anyway, what's the point of having huge music collections at your command when you are going to hear the music on some squawking mini-speaker?

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by CommonReader

Anyway, what's the point of having huge music collections at your command when you are going to hear the music on some squawking mini-speaker?

I listen to my huge music collection through the built-in speakers of a 1st gen Fire HD or through a Sansa Clip Zip hooked up to an iPod speaker dock

[Rizla]

Amazon appear to be losing the plot. The Fire Phone? And now this? Epic Flop. They're starting to screw up on the e-reader front, too. Don't they get it? Some people want a bigger e-reader, especially for $200

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by Rizla

Amazon appear to be losing the plot. The Fire Phone? And now this? Epic Flop.

What plot?
The "Amazon is just a retailer" plot?

What's wrong with trying new stuff out to see what sticks?
Most well-run tech companies aren't afraid to experiment with new products. Some succeed, some fail, some merely muddle through...

It's better than sitting around passively, waiting for somebody else to invent the future and hitching a ride on their bandwagon. It's not as if it costs much to exexperiment and if it fails, well, they write off the losses and pay even less taxes.

And the bigger reader thing? They tried it. Didn't work out for them.
(Their eink business is about recreational reading, not corporate or academic documents.)
*Some* people may want a bigger reader but apparently not enough.

[DreamWriter]

Originally Posted by Xanthe

So now the question becomes - has anyone actually gotten the invitation?

Not yet, but I expect we'll hear something by the end of November since the offer states "If selected, you will receive an e-mail with an invitation to purchase in the coming weeks."

[Rizla]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

What plot?
The "Amazon is just a retailer" plot?
What's wrong with trying new stuff out to see what sticks?

*Some* people may want a bigger reader but apparently not enough.

1) Losing a boat-load of money is what's wrong (see the Fire phone. Epic duh.)
2) Put the H2O in bricks and mortar stores in the US and lets see how many people want it.