I've been watching for a couple of days the rather rare event of Apple products being discounted. They do this when an upgrade cycle is at hand. Interesting, and something to watch, but that's about all.
For all of these companies to be offering discounts simultaneously -- that's even more interesting.
It's possible that they all over-produced these devices and they need to reduce inventory, or that they're trying to increase adoption. But the market for these devices isn't shrinking, it's growing rapidly.
But it looks to me like there's a new feature coming, and they're making room.
When I've talked to the people at Amazon stores, and other places that sell them, the common response is that almost always the second speaker someone buys is a speaker with a screen.
Digital Trends
Choosing what smart home products are right for you is really about choosing the right voice assistant. With Amazon Echo, Google Home, and Apple HomePod all using separate assistants, it can be difficult to decide which one is right for you. On the one hand, Amazon Alexa offers a huge range of integration. There are tons of smart plugs, smart bulbs, TVs, cars, and microwaves that work with Alexa — making it the most widely integrated of the three. On the other hand, though Google Assistant is still a bit behind, a lot of people prefer interactions with this A.I. over Alexa.
Whether you’re in the market for an Echo or a Google Home smart speaker, the price is likely going to end up playing a big role in your purchasing decision. Amazon and Walmart are both offering generous discounts on smart home bundles, speakers, and displays right now. With discounts up to $65, now is a great time to add a little extra smart to your home.
Showing posts with label Amazon Echo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Amazon Echo. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 6, 2019
Thursday, September 8, 2016
Tuesday, September 6, 2016
Qihan Robot -- Likely to feature Sony Module (1920*720)
1920*720 Resolution is the Sony Lezab laser projector module signature, and this cites that. Call this a Microvision installation.
The more of these prototype installations the better. These won't be installations of ten million units in a popular portable consumer electronics product. But we will get there.
QIHAN
About 3:20 for projecton
Read more at http://www.chipchick.com/2016/09/qihan-sanbot-become-robot-butler.html#tDYpy0gHZYkO0qS0.99
The more of these prototype installations the better. These won't be installations of ten million units in a popular portable consumer electronics product. But we will get there.
QIHAN
About 3:20 for projecton
Sanbot is stocked with sensors, and is big enough to accommodate any new ones Qihan might want to add down the road. That could include sensors to pick up temperature, altitude, or air pressure. It’ll definitely include cameras and sonar, which will be used for object recognition — mainly so Sanbot doesn’t crash into those objects (it’d work similar to how a Roomba or Neato Botvac works). But, Qihan says that with the help of machine learning and microphones, Sanbot will also be able to interact intelligently with people. That would involve listening to and responding to natural language, but Qihan says they’re also working on getting Sanbot to recognize and adapt to human facial expressions and the emotions they convey. Sanbot will also have Wi-Fi and ZigBee connectivity, so it could be an Alexa-like smart home hub, too — a must for any potential robot butler.
Sanbot’s face shows up on a 10.1″ 1080p touch display, which can become a regular, tablet-like interface when needed. Qihan also went full R2-D2 and added a 1920 x 720 projector, too. Meanwhile, a massive 20 Ah battery would allow Sanbot to go for four hours before needing to head back for a recharge.
Read more at http://www.chipchick.com/2016/09/qihan-sanbot-become-robot-butler.html#tDYpy0gHZYkO0qS0.99
Monday, April 11, 2016
Xperia Agent Trial
This is cool, and about as predicted here. Sony will do this, or Amazon -- or both.
remember the Kindle Fire with PicoP embedded.
Recombu
If you look at the video below at about :45 seconds... you CAN see the tell-tale scan lines, but they aren't moving as fast... but the shape is very obvious if you know what you're looking for.
Sony's home helper, the Xperia Agent, is only in the prototype stage right now but it's already sounding like a serious rival to Amazon Echo.
Even cooler is the built-in projector, which pops out to beam images onto the tabletop in front of the Agent. So for instance, you can get the Agent to show you a photo feed from your social networks, or play a video. The projected image isn't massive, but at least it's clear and colorful.
remember the Kindle Fire with PicoP embedded.
Recombu
If you look at the video below at about :45 seconds... you CAN see the tell-tale scan lines, but they aren't moving as fast... but the shape is very obvious if you know what you're looking for.
Sony's home helper, the Xperia Agent, is only in the prototype stage right now but it's already sounding like a serious rival to Amazon Echo.
Even cooler is the built-in projector, which pops out to beam images onto the tabletop in front of the Agent. So for instance, you can get the Agent to show you a photo feed from your social networks, or play a video. The projected image isn't massive, but at least it's clear and colorful.
Tuesday, March 1, 2016
SONY Xperia Agent - may out-do Amazon Echo
From Business Insider
The Amazon Echo has become one of the more well-known smart home products, but Sony is looking to take that spot.
The Amazon Echo has become one of the more well-known smart home products, but Sony is looking to take that spot.
Sony showed off a prototype of its Experia Agent, a smart home that would compete with the Echo, at Mobile World Congress 2016. And when the time comes, it could surpass Amazon's product.
The Experia Agent has some capabilities superior to the Echo because it can do more than simply listen, according to WIRED. Sony designed the Experia Agent with multiple sensors, a projector, and a camera in order to offer a different product and experience from the Echo.
Sony's product also has gesture recognition technology that allows users to control it with their hands rather than their voices. Users can also tap on the projected display to control the projector.
Sony's goal is to turn the Experia Agent into more of a proactive product that recognizes its owner as soon as he or she enters the room. It would, for example, automatically turn on the lights, report the latest news, or play music.
WIRED also notes that all connectivity and data for the Experia Agent would come from a user's smartphone, so the product would be able to locate and download your preferences.
Tuesday, October 6, 2015
How would you make the Amazon Echo better?
The Amazon Echo is a consumer product that's been getting quite a bit of attention in the US.
A Google search for it gets 41,000,000 results.
You set it on a table or countertop, and you can ask questions and get answers, set a timer, ask it to play music, or play one of your audio books. That's it. It does a pretty good job of doing those things.
How could we make it better?
- We could use it to make phone calls.
- It could be portable. The Echo isn't a portable device.
- It could show pictures
- It could take pictures
- It could dance
I agree dancing isn't really what we NEED from such a device but the Amazon Echo could be enormously improved if it could just SHOW pictures...
Say what you think about RoBoHon --- it does what an Amazon Echo does -- only far more and far better. This will put Amazon on notice what CAN be done with their device.
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