Updated: Amazon Hardware Event Today

[ThePointblank]

Update: See this post for the recap of all of the announcements made during the Amazon hardware event:

 

 

 

Via CNBC:

 

https://www.cnbc.com/2019/09/23/amazon-plans-alexa-earbuds-with-fitness-tracking-echo-with-subwoofer.html?__source=twitter|main

 

Quote

Amazon is developing a new pair of Alexa-powered wireless earbuds that double as a fitness-tracking device, CNBC has learned.

The new earbuds, codenamed “Puget,” are expected to come with a built-in accelerometer and be able to monitor things like distance run, calories burned and pace of running, a person directly involved in the project said.

Separately, Amazon is also working on a bulkier Echo device with better sound quality, this person said.

 

Basically, a new field for Amazon's hardware division, getting into personal fitness trackers, in this case one that's built into a set of wireless ear buds. The fitness tracker will have the basic accelerometer, and be able to monitor things like distance run, calories burned and pace of running, while being able to summon the Alexa assistant. You will still need a Bluetooth connection with your existing Android or Apple device for functionality. Expected price for this would be under $100, which will undercut many of their competitors, when compared to similar offerings from either dedicated audio companies and headphone makes. 

 

Also, Amazon is also expected to unveil a new higher end Echo speaker, which is expected to be bigger and bulkier than the old Echo. This new Echo is expected to have better sound quality due to a higher quality speaker and a subwoofer as it is meant to be the central speaker in Alexa’s core home market.

 

Amazon is hosting a hardware event this Wednesday, so we could see full details in an unveiling then.

Edited September 25, 2019 by ThePointblank

[shermantanker]

I welcome our amazon overlords.

[williamcll]

AmazonBasics aren't even that cheap.

[ThePointblank]

The Amazon event is currently live, with the announcements so far:

 

Confirmation of a new Echo, the Echo Studio, with higher end audio:

 

https://www.engadget.com/2019/09/25/amazon-echo-studio-immersive-audio-200-dollars/

Quote

Just as earlier reports suggested, Amazon revealed yet another updated version of its Echo smart speaker at a press conference in Seattle today. The big difference? Its focus on high-quality audio. Unlike earlier Echo models, which largely prioritized smarts over sound quality, Amazon's new Echo Studio aims to deliver immersive, 3D audio (with help fro Dolby Atmos), all meant to help it compete more capably with competitors like Sonos.

"It is the most innovative speaker we've ever built," Amazon said in its self-referential live coverage.

 

The Echo Studio retains the same cloth-covered aesthetic seen in some older models, like last year's Echo Plus. The biggest visual difference is the wide slit cut across the speaker's "belly" — it looks sort of like a gutted HomePod. What really matters are its innards: Amazon says it packs three speakers mounted in the left, right and top of the Studio to create a broader soundstage, plus a discrete tweeter and a 5.25-inch bass driver for meaty lows. Meanwhile, a series of microphones fitted inside the Echo Studio do more than just listen for Alexa commands -- they're also meant to help calibrate audio performance based on the speaker's environment.

 

It's meant to play nice with Amazon recently announced lossless audio streaming, which only makes sense since Amazon SVP of hardware David Limp noted early in the presentation that music is still a major use case for Echo owners. Perhaps more than anything, though, Amazon asserts that listening to an Echo Studio is like listening to multiple speakers at once (which is, after all, technically true here.)

 

 

Updated Echo Dot, now with a digital alarm clock:

 

https://www.engadget.com/2019/09/25/amazon-echo-dot-clock/

Quote

How is Amazon going to improve on last year's Echo Dot? By turning it into an alarm clock, it seems. The company has introduced a fourth-generation Dot with a clock built into the side. You won't have to ask Alexa what time it is when you wake up prematurely. It can also display extras like the temperature or alarm times to answer some of your other obvious questions. And if you do use it as an alarm clock, you can tap it to snooze the alarm for some extra shut-eye.

 

Updated Echo:

 

https://www.engadget.com/2019/09/25/amazon-2019-echo-better-sound-same-price/

Quote

Amazon's new $99 mainline Echo is all about improving the music listening experience. It's basically an Echo Plus in new clothes. Under the hood are the same core audio features, including neodymium drivers and a 3-inch woofer. It should have better frequency response, especially on the low end, but Amazon also claims the mids and highs are clearer. We'll have to wait to test it outside the chaos of a press event though, to know for sure.

 

On the outside it's got a clean fabric cover that, not going to lie, looks a bit like a Homepod when slapped on the new design. But people will probably appreciate that the there's a new color option. In addition to charcoal, sandstone and heather gray, there's now twilight blue. Plus, that fabric cover is much better looking than the old-school utilitarian look of the first Echo.

 

GM is planning on rolling out Alexa to their cars, starting in 2020, with the 2018 model year and newer vehicles:

 

https://www.engadget.com/2019/09/25/amazon-alexa-newer-gm-vehicles-2020/

Quote

The US's largest automaker is about to add Alexa to its vehicles. Starting in the first half of 2020, General Motors plans to update 2018 and newer Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadilac model cars, trucks and crossovers to feature the digital assistant. The automaker says the rollout marks the biggest auto-related expansion of Alexa to date.

 

New Echo Glow:

 

https://www.engadget.com/2019/09/25/amazon-echo-glow/

 

Quote

Amazon continued its quest to stuff Alexa into every device imaginable today, announcing a new slew of Echo products at its Seattle launch event. In addition to a new Echo, a high-end Echo Studio and Echo Dot with a digital clock built in, the company also showed off something called the Echo Glow. It's a ball of light that's about the size of an Echo Spot, and it can change colors based on your preferences or dance in rhythm with music.

 

They are still rolling off the announcements, so stay tuned.

[ThePointblank]

Continued so far:

 

New Echo Flex for $25, so you can get Alexa throughout your house cheaply:

 

https://techcrunch.com/2019/09/25/echo-flex-is-a-small-25-echo-that-plugs-directly-into-the-wall/

 

Quote

I think we’re on Echo device number seven for the morning? Echo Flex is one of the more interesting additions at this morning’s big event in Seattle. For those cases where the Echo Dot isn’t cheap enough or versatile enough, there’s the Echo Flex. The device plugs directly into a wall outlet, bringing Alexa functionality to spots where the smart assistant otherwise couldn’t reach.

 

It’s an interesting solution to Amazon’s on-going quest to get Alexa in every single room. In fact, the presenter mentioned adding one to his bathroom, which, yuck, to be totally honest. The device is small enough to only occupy a single outlet and features a slot to plug in an additional nightlight.

 

New Echo Show 8, with Food Network TV integration, so you can watch your favourite Food Network programs, and be able save recipes, and ask Alexa about the ingredients:

https://www.engadget.com/2019/09/25/amazon-echo-show-8/

Quote

Amazon is expanding the Echo Show family. Starting today, consumers in the US can pre-order a new 8-inch model of the company's popular smart display speaker. The $129.99 variant joins the $89.99 Echo Show 5 and the $229.99 second-generation Echo Show, giving you the choice between a 5.5-inch, 8-inch or 10-inch screen. The Echo Show 8 combines the best of Amazon's past smart displays. It features the same display and sound capabilities of the Echo Show, as well as as the camera shutter and form factor of the Echo Show 5.

 

Confirmation of the Amazon Echo Buds, which features Bose Noise cancellation technology:

 

https://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2019/9/25/20879665/amazon-echo-earbuds-noise-reduction-fitness-tracking-fprice-release-date-alexa

 

Quote

Amazon just announced its first foray into the headphone space with the Echo Buds, a pair of truly wireless earbuds that also work with Alexa, featuring Bose technology for noise reduction.

 

The Echo Buds will work just like any other Alexa device — say the “Alexa” wake word, and you’ll be able to ask any questions, just like a regular Echo. The big difference here, of course, is that they’ll work outside of your house, too (presumably relying on a tethered smartphone for an internet connection.)

Still more being announced...

[Guest]

where do people get this idea that convenient portable wireless high-quality earphones are a huge seller?

[Sauron]

On 9/24/2019 at 5:57 AM, shermantanker said:

I welcome our amazon overlords.

Not that you had a choice

[DrMacintosh]

24 minutes ago, floofer said:

where do people get this idea that convenient portable wireless high-quality earphones are a huge seller?

AirPods. 

[Velcade]

This stuff is on Amazon if you want more details of each product.

 

 

 

 

[Scheer]

My wife is going to kill me.... I can't help myself when it comes to new Echo devices

 

Extremely bummed out the microwave is only countertop or flush install. Mine is starting to act up, but its mounted over the range. Wish the Glow was Zigbee, really not a fan of WiFi smart devices that have no reason to have internet connection.

 

The Studio sounds neat and all, but until they polish their app some more it just can't come close to comparing to Sonos for easy control, on the fly grouping, and quickly changing volume on different speakers. 

 

I'm really excited about Alexa coming to GM vehicles, just got a new Acadia and the programming for voice control on that thing is atrocious. I swear its the same thing I had in my Sierra 10 years ago, which even sucked in comparison back then. I have an Echo Auto in there now, but there isn't a good way to mount it on the dash and route the wires, so its just shoved into the center cubby and doesn't always hear you the greatest down there.

 

I don't really understand their use case for Sidewalk. Its almost as if Amazon will mesh a bunch of APs together that everyone can use as a low bandwidth network. But then they also talk about using it for mailbox sensors, so its basically Zigbee... and basically the same frequency, so why not just use Zigbee like they already are? I guess they probably want full control over the protocol, but really sucks to have yet another method of IOT communication to fragment it even more than it already is. Hopefully it will catch on well enough that Samsung/etc. will make a dongle to add that protocol to their smarthubs.

[ThePointblank]

2 hours ago, DrMacintosh said:

AirPods. 

Reading the specs, should be a better solution, as Amazon's version has Bose noise cancellation technology, and is cheaper to boot. If these have decent sound quality, these should be an absolute home run for Amazon, and first appearances says yes, the quality is there:

 

https://www.theverge.com/2019/9/25/20883934/amazon-echo-buds-hands-on-photos-wireless-earbuds-noise-reduction-alexa

 

So, good sound quality, Bose noise cancellation technology, 5 hours of playback time, IPX4 water resistance, can auto-pause automatically when you take them out of your ear, and Amazon Alexa integration all for $129.

[ThePointblank]

1 hour ago, Scheer said:

My wife is going to kill me.... I can't help myself when it comes to new Echo devices

 

Extremely bummed out the microwave is only countertop or flush install. Mine is starting to act up, but its mounted over the range. Wish the Glow was Zigbee, really not a fan of WiFi smart devices that have no reason to have internet connection.

 

The Studio sounds neat and all, but until they polish their app some more it just can't come close to comparing to Sonos for easy control, on the fly grouping, and quickly changing volume on different speakers. 

 

I'm really excited about Alexa coming to GM vehicles, just got a new Acadia and the programming for voice control on that thing is atrocious. I swear its the same thing I had in my Sierra 10 years ago, which even sucked in comparison back then. I have an Echo Auto in there now, but there isn't a good way to mount it on the dash and route the wires, so its just shoved into the center cubby and doesn't always hear you the greatest down there.

 

I don't really understand their use case for Sidewalk. Its almost as if Amazon will mesh a bunch of APs together that everyone can use as a low bandwidth network. But then they also talk about using it for mailbox sensors, so its basically Zigbee... and basically the same frequency, so why not just use Zigbee like they already are? I guess they probably want full control over the protocol, but really sucks to have yet another method of IOT communication to fragment it even more than it already is. Hopefully it will catch on well enough that Samsung/etc. will make a dongle to add that protocol to their smarthubs.

Amazon announced the Amazon Fetch, which is a pet tracker at the event, which integrates with Sidewalk. That's the first official application of Sidewalk so far.

[NinJake]

Curious to see how the earbuds turn out. Love a good set of boss/co-worker noise reduction ear-speakers!

[ThePointblank]

Recap of today's Amazon hardware event:

 

https://www.engadget.com/2019/09/25/amazon-echo-alexa-devices-event-recap/

 

New devices:

1. Echo Show 8 smart display - $129.99 - https://www.amazon.com/Echo-Show-8/dp/B07PF1Y28C
2. Echo Studio premium speaker - $199.99 - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07G9Y3ZMC?ref=ODS_v2_FS_AUCC_oe
3. Echo Glow smart light - $29.99 - https://www.amazon.com/Echo-Glow/dp/B07KRY43KN/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Echo+Glow&qid=1569446955&s=amazon-devices&sr=1-1
4. Echo Earbuds - $129.99 - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07F6VM1S3?ref=ODS_v2_FS_AUCC_pt
5. Echo Loop smart ring - $129.99 - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JPK4XJ6?ref=ODS_v2_FS_AUCC_hk
6. Echo Frames smart glasses - $179.99 - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01G62GWS4?ref=ODS_v2_FS_AUCC_zr
7. Echo Flex smart speaker - $24.99 - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MLY3JKV?ref=ODS_v2_FS_AUCC_cst
8. Amazon Smart Oven - $249.99 - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07XSCBSN5?ref=ODS_v2_FS_SH_bi
9. Amazon Sidewalk
10. Eero mesh WiFi system - $249.99 - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07WMLPSRL?ref=ODS_v2_FS_SH_co3
11. Ring Indoor cam - $59.99 - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Q9VBYV8?ref=ODS_v2_FS_VICC_ht

Updated devices:

1. Echo smart speaker - $99.99 - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07R1CXKN7?ref=ODS_v2_FS_AUCC_pl
2. Echo Dot - $59.99 - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07N8RPRF7/ref=s9_acsd_al_bw_c_x_5_w?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=merchandised-search-1&pf_rd_r=75VQKGB3BTN1YPVGAQJN&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=ba35b473-d674-4b5a-9fa5-ff635647f5b3&pf_rd_i=9818047011

 

Alexa-related announcements:

1. New auto-delete feature to allow users to automatically erase video recordings
2. Alexa will now be able to mimic celebrities; they demoed Alexa mimicing Samuel L. Jackson. You can purchase the various voice actors for $0.99 each in 2020
3. Multi-lingual mode for Alexa; French, Spanish, and Hindi languages will be supported, with more languages to come
4. Parental control features for Alexa, to control whom a child can speak to through a whitelist

[DrMacintosh]

37 minutes ago, ThePointblank said:

So, good sound quality, Bose noise cancellation technology, 5 hours of playback time, IPX4 water resistance, can auto-pause automatically when you take them out of your ear, and Amazon Alexa integration all for $129.

On paper those things sound great. But we’ll have to wait for people to get their hands on them before we know for sure. 

[Tristerin]

4 hours ago, ThePointblank said:

 

 

GM is planning on rolling out Alexa to their cars, starting in 2020, with the 2018 model year and newer vehicles:

 

 

Maybe they will do me right, my Microsoft ran car has blue screened on me before and Ford/Microsoft has stopped supporting it already.

[melete]

4 hours ago, floofer said:

where do people get this idea that convenient portable wireless high-quality earphones are a huge seller?

Because they are a huge seller and trending upwards.

 

https://9to5mac.com/2019/02/12/airpods-second-best-selling-apple-product/

 

Quote

To mitigate confusion, some might be wondering how the 25 million units sold of AirPods topple the 220 million iPhone 6 units sold by Apple during its lifespan. To clarify: Above Avalon’s data is comparing success within two years of launching the entire product segment (i.e. Apple Watch initial release in 2015, iPhone debut in 2007, etc), not merely the latest product.

 

[MoonSpot]

Abstract TL;DR Amazon HW event

[linkboy]

The buds look good (especially with the Bose noise reduction), but Micro-USB and no wireless charging make it a hard sell when they're the same price as the Galaxy Buds.

[TempestCatto]

Enough is enough already, damn. You have a little thingy to put on a counter or desk to assist someone who's hands are full via voice activation. For crying outfuckingloud how much "smart" shit do you need to have in your lineup?

[serebrina]

 

I read that Amazon is launching a new security system. They are introducing some kind of new protocol