In addition to announcing the new Amazon Echo and Echo Dot, Amazon has also taken the wraps off their brand new Echo Show. For those unfamiliar, the Echo Show is an Alexa-enabled smart display where it will come with all the features you might expect from an Alexa-enabled device, with the added bonus of having a display so that you can use it to watch videos.
So what’s changed from the previous version? The new Echo Show will now come with a motorized swivel base. What this means is that the smart display can now track the user and will swivel around on its base automatically so that the display will always be facing the user. This might come in handy in the kitchen if you’re walking about grabbing ingredients while you watch a recipe video, or if you’re on a video call and are moving around.
If you’re concerned about privacy, Amazon points out that the Echo Show’s recognition is not based on faces, but rather on human figures. It will also do all of the AI processing required to make these recognitions on the device itself, not in the cloud, so you don’t have to worry about Amazon storing it on their servers.
Users who are still concerned about this can always disable the motion tracking feature if they want. There is also a built-in mechanical shutter that users can use to cut off access to the camera for added privacy. The new Echo Show is priced at $250 and is expected to be released in time for the holidays.
Filed in . Read more about Alexa, Amazon, Connected Objects, Echo and IoT (Internet of Things). Source: press.aboutamazon