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Amazon Announces Alexa With Generative AI, New Echo Devices, eero Max 7 With Wi-Fi 7 Support and More
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I love my 4 Echo and Echo Dot but I hate the Echo Show I randomly got one time for the night stand for the reason someone else already mentioned. It’s also slow AF
For all the joking about Amazon products, Apple really need something like that Echo hub for HomeKit. I am actually envious that the Alexa world has something like that.
Secondly Eero is a good product and ironically one of the only HomeKit routers on the market.
Secondly Eero is a good product and ironically one of the only HomeKit routers on the market.
I'd bet money that Apple is already far along at developing a version of Siri tied to a domain-specific LLM. And when it's done it will be amazing (mostly).
I was also hoping they would introduce a new Kindle Oasis with a Carta 1200 e-ink screen and USB-C, but I was disappointed when they spent most of the time talking about Alexa
?? They updated 3 of their Kindles last year. The Oasis is double the price nearly of the next model down so it's hardly surprising it's not being updated as often. I am sure they'll get round to it though.
That's right. You'll find it in the fine print. And if you think Amazon is bad, you don't want to read the agreements between smart TV manufacturers and the media companies.
Also, don't stare that much on Mesh. Wireless Mesh isn't that fast as advertised. In apartment buildings where everyone has several wireless equipment in the same RF space having a wireless Mesh network can even be slower than having just one normal AP. Anyway, it's a different topic how to organise and setup good working wifi.
Don't believe their promises. Maybe they will go for Matter support instead?
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It hasn't been updated for 4 years. Seeing as the battery life wasn't great out of the box and it's the only device with a micro-USB port, it's already very late for a refresh. Unfortunately, the rumors I've seen are that Amazon is ditching the Oasis.
Well, Siri has a birthday coming up in October. Giving her a few new features would be a nice birthday present for Siri. An even nicer present for us.
You know you can turn the adverts off right? Mine certainly doesn't do any of that. Did you buy the cheaper advert version? If so, there is a one off fee to remove it all.
For me, I like that home assistant integrates with Alexa, so my smarthome stuff is all under one place, has great automations and a voice controller that is useful. We also purchased a 8" FireHD tablet and thats mounted to the wall now. I think it was <$80 and runs all the home assistant stuff perfectly. Apple devices are far nicer to use, if you're holding / touching everyday but some of the Amazon bits definitely plug a hole.
I don’t see the point of all the smart home stuff. You can just walk to the light switch to turn the lights on, or to the front door to see who rang the doorbell. A dumb home is fine, it worked for years.
I'm probably younger than you and I feel the same way.
Smart homes just adds power consumption overhead. If anyone's the type to unplug pre-2007 & post-2007 devices when it is unused then smart homes just runs counter to it.
I get smart ACs that can automatically close windows via an app. I'd want to enter a home that is at 24C/75F
Really? That long? Didn't know that, well if the rumours are true it'll be because the new notepad thingy I forget its name is the flagship model, not really a pocket device though. I have a Paperwhite from 2 or 3 years ago? Never had an Oasis but I thought it was clever with its innovations.
I have an Echo Show 5 and have enjoyed it for several years now. I have the new one coming as a replacement for Christmas. It doesn't give me ads really as I turned that off. It just reminds me of things I run out off now and then. Which I don't mind as it's things I buy regularly.
But I use it as a clock and alarm and my Alexa device. Works great. If Apple made an equivalent I would take a look, I don't think using an iPhone on its side is a real replacement.
As for the other products I'll look into that Eero Max 7, very interesting if expensive product. But it's actually cheaper than the competitors. And if people are concerned about security, be comforted it's an American company spying on you, the media would have you believe your normal standard glasses spy on you if they are made in China!
But I use it as a clock and alarm and my Alexa device. Works great. If Apple made an equivalent I would take a look, I don't think using an iPhone on its side is a real replacement.
As for the other products I'll look into that Eero Max 7, very interesting if expensive product. But it's actually cheaper than the competitors. And if people are concerned about security, be comforted it's an American company spying on you, the media would have you believe your normal standard glasses spy on you if they are made in China!
Say you’ve used a slide rule before without saying you’ve used a slide rule before.
Yup, July 2019. I love holding it with one hand, being able to switch hands, having cellular service, having physical page turn buttons, and having a better screen than any but the Scribe. But again, it seems my favorite device is a loser with the general population.
Apple is expensive.
Amazon: Here's a $600 router.
I'm completely uninterested in Amazon's world of devices other than Kindles.
Amazon: Here's a $600 router.
I'm completely uninterested in Amazon's world of devices other than Kindles.
Never used a slide rule… I was using an HP-48 programmable calculator in uni. Which places me firmly in Gen X. But seriously, smart homes seem to me like technology for technology’s sake. I can see the use in a smartphone or a computer or even in a pinch a smart watch, but there’s no need to build compute capacity into everything.
I reckon the internet of things has failed to live up to its promise quite a while ago.
Serious question ....
APPLE - ARE YOU SLEEPING?
Siri switch off lights : one momement, working on it, sorry your lights don't respond ( * While HomeKit hub all up an running)
Alexa Switch off lights: lights off....
I don't trust amazon and the way they handle data... but it actually works...
I'm fully invested into apple but home automation I strongly debate if I should deploy Siri or more to Amazon...
thoughts?
APPLE - ARE YOU SLEEPING?
Siri switch off lights : one momement, working on it, sorry your lights don't respond ( * While HomeKit hub all up an running)
Alexa Switch off lights: lights off....
I don't trust amazon and the way they handle data... but it actually works...
I'm fully invested into apple but home automation I strongly debate if I should deploy Siri or more to Amazon...
thoughts?
Sadly, Amazon continues their pattern of creating products with good ideas, cheap materials, and lackluster support. They now sell several different version of Eero products and instead of working to improve the functionality of the existing products to improve their users' experiences, they introduce something new and flashy to distract. I have said it before and I stand by it...Amazon is the worst company out there. Their impact on global warming, e-trash, and local economies is undeniable.
Amazon today hosted an event to introduce a range of new devices and services across its brands, from an updated version of the Alexa voice assistant to new Echo, Ring, and Eero products.
Amazon previewed a future version of Alexa, which is based on generative AI to compete with OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Microsoft’s Bing, Google’s Bard, and more. Amazon says that its large language model has been optimized for voice interactions, and it will make conversing with Alexa feel more like speaking with a human.
If you say “Alexa, I’m cold,” for example, Alexa will know to turn up the temperature. Amazon is using these new capabilities to make it easier to create routines and provide Alexa with multiple commands at one time. Other new Alexa features that are coming include an option to detect brightness level and activity in a room to determine whether to turn the lights on or off, real-time translation capabilities for audio and video calls, emergency assistance functionality, and an “Explore” feature that lets children ask Alexa for more information about a topic.
As for the Echo, Amazon introduced the Echo Show 8, its smart home hub and video device. It has a new design, faster processor, and improved audio, plus support for Adaptive Content that changes based on the user’s proximity to the device. The Echo Hub is a new Alexa-powered smart home control panel for managing connected home devices, and the Echo Pop Kids is a new smart speaker for children.
Amazon also introduced next-generation Echo Frames with built-in Alexa capabilities. The new Echo Frames are slimmer, less heavy, and offer more battery life and extra bass. Amazon also has the Carrera Smart Glasses, which are the same Alexa glasses but with designs created by Carrera Eyewear.
There are several new Fire Tablets and Fire TV devices, along with a new AI-powered Search function that combines generative AI with the Fire TV entertainment catalog. Users can ask Alexa questions about TV shows and movies and get content recommendations. An interesting AI feature also allows users to create artwork and personalized backgrounds on the Fire TV using an AI Art feature that integrates with Alexa.
The new Ring Stick Up Cam Pro has radar-based 3D Motion Detection for better alert accuracy. There are battery, plug-in, and solar options, so it can be placed anywhere, and sound has been improved with Audio+.
Amazon today also announced the eero Max 7, its first Wi-Fi 7 mesh system. According to Amazon, the eero Max 7 offers dramatically increased speeds, less interference from neighboring networks, and improved mesh latency.
More information about all of Amazon’s releases can be found on the Amazon website.
Article Link: Amazon Announces Alexa With Generative AI, New Echo Devices, eero Max 7 With Wi-Fi 7 Support and More
GIVE AMAZON ALL YOUR DATA, ALEXA ALL OVER THE PLACE. RING CAMERAS WATCHING YOU SLEEP
I have my home and 2 investment properties fully setup on HomeKit and could not be more happy. I would never trust an Amazon Alexa device on my network. When they first came out I put a network traffic analyzer on it and watched as tons of data just started streaming from the Alexa device to AWS services. It was really fun to turn on the tv and watch as Alexa sent everything it heard back home.
Yes, their home automation stuff "works" but only in the context that they put almost zero effort into making the environment secure. Do a search for alexa hacks and you will find hundreds of articles of devices being hacked and giving people unfettered access to entire home networks including the ability to view cameras inside a home. Amazon is not interested in making it secure unless they can make money off of it. Apple has invested millions of dollars into security and requires partners to live up to the same security standards.
Bottom line, if a device isn't responding to your Hey Siri requests, do some research on the device. I've found that Lutron Caseta makes the best light switches, Level makes the best door lock, Phillips makes the best smart bulbs, meross has the best outdoor outlets and garage door opener controller, Rachio for a sprinkler controller, Honeywell (now Resideo) and ecobee for thermostats. The only issues I've had in the last 3 years were cause by a lightening strike on a tree at the edge of our yard that damaged a Meross outdoor outlet. Otherwise, my homes have been rock solid for automation.
Eero is as well built as the next router, has VERY good support, constantly gets updates. And has some clever ideas like you can set it up to switch to use your phone cellular connection automatically if the Internet goes down, and the Eeero will use its WiFi network to send the signal round your home.
If you want to attack Eero you need to try harder, like the subscription model they use and how some even simple features are locked behind it.
