Get ready for a record number of choices from Amazon who have overnight released a swag of new products from Ring Alarms to a new Amazon Echo Show display and a new robot.
While there was no expected refresh of its Echo smart speaker line, there was a new home robot called Astro, that can autonomously scoot around your house on board are cameras and a screen and like some of the new robotic cleaners it can map out the layout of your home, recognise objects and check on pets remotely using a series of cameras and a display on its front.
The robot can also handle video calls, recognising you and coming to find you when someone calls, and provides all the features of Alexa on wheels.
According to Dave Limp, head of Amazon’s devices and services “customers don’t just want Alexa on wheels, so we’ve embodied it with a unique persona that’s all its own”.
The bot, first went into development in 2018, can also following a child through the home during a video call.
It can autonomously patrol the home and respond to voice commands and will cost around $1,800 if and when launched in Australia.
The device’s screen, which by default displays a pair of circles to imitate eyes, is capable of traveling about a meter per second. Embedded cameras help the robot map its environment and navigate, and Astro also includes a periscope to expand its field of view.
Other announcements include a new $399 Amazon Echo Show 15 that hangs vertically on the wall.
The Amazon Echo Show 15 is the largest Echo Show yet and can act as a sort of smart home command centre.
The screen real estate is capable of picture-in-picture displays, showing live camera feeds of your security cameras, the status of your smart home at a glance, and more. With 1080p video streaming and the ability to orient in both landscape and portrait mode, you can use this new smart display to watch Prime Video, make calls, and more.
The new wall mounted device has a 15.6-inch, Full HD screen along with Amazon’s next-gen AZ2 Neural Edge processor which delivers more grunt than previous devices. On the screen you can view connected doorbells and security cameras. You can also watch videos from the likes of YouTube, Netflix and Prime Video with dual 1.6-inch full-range audio drivers delivering enhanced audio.
The Echo Show 15 will be available later this year at retailers such as The Good Guys and JB Hi Fi.
There is also Amazon Kids+ though at this stage this is only available in the US but it could come to Australia if Amazon irons out a deal with Disney according to local Amazon management.
All you need to do is say Hey Disney!
What is then available is content, including Blippi’s Treehouse, Lego Monkie Kid, and more.
Amazon is also partnering with Disney to launch Hey, Disney! — a kid-focused platform that allows children to interact with some of their favourite Disney characters. There is also Amazon Glow a video chat tool that combines video calling with a projected display that helps kids connect with loved ones.
If you’ve ever tried to keep a fussy kid focused on a video, you know how difficult it is.
Amazon Glow has an eight-inch LED display that lets you chat with a grandchild while also playing interactive games with them, no matter how far away you are.
Amazon has worked with Disney, Mattel, Sesame Workshop, and Nickelodeon to create content for kids to enjoy through Amazon Glow, with even more content on the way later this year.
