Astro is one of a number of new products and services announced by the company
Amazon's Senior Vice President of Devices & Services, Dave Limp, introduces Amazon Astro during the Amazon Devices and Services Announcement on September 28, 2021. Picture: JAMIE MCCARTHY/GETTY IMAGES
The device’s screen, which by default displays a pair of circles to imitate eyes, is capable of travelling about a metre a second. Embedded cameras help the robot map its environment and navigate, and Astro also includes a periscope to expand its field of view. The Seattle-based company has come a long way as a hardware player since a failed foray into smartphones a few years ago. Amazon has built a vast electronics business around its voice-controlled Echo smart speakers and accompanying Alexa software. Amazon has held new product unveilings in each of the last several years, an effort to position itself at the centre of the burgeoning market for smart-home gadgets.
Several of Amazon’s other updates announced on Tuesday, from professional monitoring of Ring video cameras to an elder care application and new voices for Alexa, were geared towards adding paid or subscription services to Amazon’s popular products.A smart thermostat in partnership with Honeywell. The $60 device, which will sell for as little as $10 with rebates, is a potential competitor to Alphabet’s Google Nest.
A new version of its fitness tracker, called Halo View, that incorporates a small screen for the first time. It will cost $80, Amazon says. A new service, called Halo Fitness, targets major users of wrist-worn devices. Peloton shares fell on the news. Amazon’s devices unit has been a frequent target of criticism, from privacy advocates who question the wisdom of always-on microphones in the home, and civil liberties groups alarmed by Ring’s partnerships with police departments and security practices. Those doubts haven’t derailed Amazon’s sales.
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