Today at Amazon's hardware launch event, the company announced new Ring, Echo, Eero, and Fire devices. Amazon also announced a new gaming service called Luna, which we're covering in its own article.
Ring Always Home Cam
The Ring Always Home Cam is the newest device in the Ring family, which is better known for doorbells with cameras in them. The Always Home Cam is a tiny, self-docking drone designed to fly around inside your home, streaming video off to the cloud for review in smartphone apps. Ring founder Jamie Siminoff says the Always Home Cam is intended to provide multiple interior viewpoints without the need for multiple interior cameras and that it's an "obvious product that's very hard to build."
The drone operates fully autonomously, but the setup procedure involves mapping areas of the house in which it's allowed to fly and what paths it's allowed to take. After setup, the drone can be asked to fly directly, or it can fly on its own to visit disturbances detected by Ring alarm systems. Its 1080p camera is blocked by the dock itself, so if the drone is not in flight, it's not streaming or recording. Like most small drones, it integrates automatic obstacle avoidance and uses propeller shrouds to protect both the blades themselves and any objects, persons, or pets that might otherwise encounter them.
The Ring Always Home Cam is expected to cost $250 and begin shipping some time in 2021.
Wi-Fi 6 Eero, Eero Pro
The Wi-Fi 6 Eero systems we spotted FCC certifications for earlier this month were announced officially today. The new kits are available for preorder today, with shipping expected to begin in early November.
The three models being released are Eero 6 Router, Eero Pro 6 Router, and Eero 6 Extender. The Eero Pro 6 is a tri-band device (one 2.4GHz radio, with two 5GHz radios); both non-Pro devices are dual-band. All three SKUs feature built-in Zigbee functionality for home automation.
Both of the Router models feature two gigabit ports and one USB-C power port; the Extender has only the USB-C power port and does not offer wired connections. The Eero 6 Router can be preordered solo for $130 or with one Eero 6 Extender as a kit for $200. The Eero 6 Pro Router is available for preorder at $230. It took a bit more digging, but we also found options to preorder a three-piece Eero 6 kit for $280 or a solo Eero 6 extender for $90.
We're disappointed at Amazon's decision to go back to separate device designs for "routers" and "extenders"—and at the apparent step backward of making the base kit a two-piece, rather than a three-piece. Wiring devices such as game consoles or PCs directly to a satellite node is a big win for overall Wi-Fi network quality and reliability, and we liked the company's earlier decision to go with Ethernet jacks on all products. We also think the vast majority of homes are better served with three pieces rather than two.
New Echo generation
One of many devices introduced today, the 4th-generation Echo devices is a cloth-covered sphere with a halo at the base, contrasting with the squat plastic cylinders of earlier generation Echoes. Amazon This variant of the 4th-generation Echo Dot features a built-in clock. Amazon Echo Dot 4th-gen is also available in kid-friendly motifs, such as this panda. Amazon The Echo Show 10 is, effectively, the perfect 10" tablet to display the Mona Lisa—since her eyes really will follow you around the room. Amazon
Amazon's Echo series got a refresh today, moving from the earlier, prosaic "squat plastic cylinder" designs to rather fancier cloth-covered spheres. The full-sized Echo fourth-gen runs $100 and will be available October 22 in Charcoal, Glacier White, or Twilight Blue. Amazon tells us to expect better sound than previous generations delivered, with a 3" woofer and dual tweeters that deliver "clear highs, dynamic mids, and deep bass that automatically adapts to any room."
The Echo Dot also gets a fourth-gen makeover, sporting the new spherical design in a smRead More – Source
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