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[AMAZON ALEXA] Amazon Echo, the Echo Dot, Echo Spot … Overview of the different voice speaker models offered by Amazon. What about their price and availability in France.
Almost two years after their launch across the Atlantic, the Echo smart speakers are finally released in France. The sales kickoff was given by Amazon on June 13th. "The voice badistant Alexa (which powers the Amazon speakers, ed) has been completely redesigned for France, including a new French voice, help in French and local knowledge," says the American group . In total, the Echo range consists of six terminals: Echo Echo Dot Echo Spot Echo Plus Echo Show and Echo Look . For now, only the first two of them are available in France. As for the Echo Spot, it is available for pre-order in France (the first models will be delivered from July 23).
Amazon started marketing its Echo terminals in France on June 13, 2018. "Companies such as Boulanger, Bose, Harman Kardon, Sonos, Sowee, Ultimate Ears, Netgem, Archos, Jabra and Haier, among others, have planned to market Alexa compatible devices in France, "says the Seattle company.
- Amazon Echo Award : 99.99 euros,
- Amazon Echo Dot Award : 59.99 euros,
- Amazon Echo Spot Award : 129.99 euros
In France, the price of Amazon Echo, the base model of Amazon speakers, amounts to 99.99 euros, against 59.99 euros for the Echo Dot and 129.99 euros for the Echo Spot. Qualified by the Financial Times of Amazon's response to smartphones, after the burning failure of its Fire Phone, Echo costs significantly less than the last two mobile phones launched by Apple. The iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus were marketed respectively between 649 and 849 dollars and between 749 and 949 dollars in the United States at the time of their release. None of the babies of the multinational is sold more than 130 euros. Amazon is thus frontally attacking Apple and its HomePod, marketed him, nearly 350 dollars.
Of the approximately 40,000 voice applications (or skills) available on Alexa and Echo, 200 are available in French. "Some have been developed by local brands," says Amazon. Before you finish: "Through these skills, the user can book a table on TheFork, find a company nearby in the Yellow Pages, discover a recipe idea with Marmiton, order a pizza at Domino's, listen to the Télé-Loisirs TV program, ask AlloCiné for the films on show, […] to consult train schedules with OUI.sncf and the status of his metro trip with the RATP, or to know the status of his flight with Air France ". As for the Parisians, they will be able to get a meal at home via FoodChéri.
Since then, Radio France has also announced the availability of its various radios via Alexa speakers. "France Inter, France Culture, France Info, France Bleu, France Music, Fip, without forgetting our web radios, all our radios, live, can be simply asked to Alexa", specifies the group.
The group has by Elsewhere, it has launched a tool that allows users of their Echo speakers to create their own Alexa skills, without the need for development knowledge. "It could be for example a voice memo, a quiz, a personalized question-answer …", lists the American company. Called Alexa Skill Blueprints, this service is currently only available in English. Amazon gives the opportunity to share these skills via e-mail, WhatsApp, or via social networks (Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, etc.). What to send to his circles alerts or voice messages.
| Model | Availability in France | Available colors | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Echo [19659028] Standard Size Speaker | x | Anthracite, Heather Gray and Sand | 99.99 EUR | |
| Amazon Echo Dot | Miniature Speaker | x | Black and White | 59.99 euros |
| Amazon Echo Spot | Alarm Clock | x | Black and White | 129.99 euros |
| Amazon Echo Plus | Large Enclosure | Black and White | $ 129.99 | |
| Amazon Echo Show | Voice Screen | Black and White | $ 229.99 | |
| Amazon Echo Look | Voice Camera [19659030] | Black and White | 199.99 dollars |
For skill developers, Amazon offers a development kit, the Alexa Skills Kit (ASK). Grouping API and tools, it allows to create speech applications Alexa in French language.
Amazon Echo
Amazon has reworked on the basic version of Echo, its first intelligent speaker. The second generation of the device, more compact, is significantly cheaper than its predecessor. Marketed at a price of 99.99 euros in France, the model is equipped with a better sound system (Dolby digital format). The group has also polished the finishes of its connected speaker. He now offers skins imitating different types of materials such as coal, sandstone, oak or walnut
Amazon Echo Dot
Amazon offers two miniature versions of its Echo, called Dot. Equipped with the same functions as their predecessor, the two devices, which look like hockey pucks, are decked out with a less powerful speaker. Price 59.99 euros, they are intended for smaller rooms of the house, such as the bathroom or bedroom, while Echo is rather designed to be installed in the living room. A declination of Echo Dot is also cut for children ( Echo Dot Kids ). It can be badociated with an existing Echo subscription, and includes additional Alexa functions, for example to encourage the child to say "please" when making a request. In parallel, Amazon offers the Echo Spatial Perception system, which allows several Dot and Echo to collaborate so that there is only one that answers the question of their owner.
Amazon Echo Spot
Amazon does not oppose, with its Echo range, sound and image. The proof with Echo Spot. Launched more recently in the US (in 2017), this intelligent alarm clock, equipped with Alexa, the vocal artificial intelligence developed by the group, is also equipped with a 2.5-inch color screen and a camera. With a price of 129.99 euros, it allows to make video calls. For now, it is available for pre-order in France (the first models will be delivered from July 23).
Amazon Echo Plus
Larger, stronger … Also marketed in the United States since mid-2017 (but to this day not yet in France), Echo Plus exceeds its older brother in size (235 millimeters in height against 148 for Echo), but also thanks to the quality of its speakers. Unlike the entry-level version of the speaker, it automatically detects compatible connected objects. No need to create multiple customer accounts: Echo Plus plugs into it without the user having to lift a finger
Amazon Echo Show
Amazon is not a manufacturer of electronic equipment. The group has however decided, given the success of its smart speaker, to conceive little brothers at his Echo. Amazon Echo Show is part of the siblings. With a touch screen, the device makes calls over the Internet and offers a video conferencing solution for the home. It was launched in the United States in 2017. Like Echo Plus, it is not yet available in France.
Amazon Echo Look
Echo Look is also equipped with AI Alexa and is controlled by the voice. But it is complemented by a camera that allows users to take snapshots and movies of their outfits to share with their friends on social networks. Just like Echo Plus and Echo Show, the speaker is proposed, for the time, only in the United States (at $ 200).
Echo Look combines fashionistas' advice and photos from the latest trends gleaned on the net to give its owner fashion advice. The device, which allows Amazon to collect and badyze snapshots taken voluntarily by users, gives the group the ability to build rich databases on its customers.
Developed by Amazon's R & D lab , Lab126, the personal badistant Alexa, which powers the speakers Echo, is a software able to decrypt the voice requests of its user and respond with a synthetic voice (and only female for the moment). He can automatically schedule appointments based on the slots available in the agenda of the latter and that of his guest.
To increase the possibilities of interaction between Alexa and its customers, Amazon builds a store of voice applications as wide as possible, as did in the 2000s Apple with the Apple Store. Via these skills, customers can for example play Trivial Pursuit with Alexa, via the application pursuingtrivia, voice control some of their connected objects, ask their speaker who is the French Prime Minister … To facilitate access to this boutique, Jeff Bezos' company is developing a voice search engine. Depending on a given question (for example, "How can I remove an oil stain from my shirt?"), It will push one product and one (a brand of laundry, in our example).
In parallel with an edition of his voice badistant for the company (Alexa for Business), Amazon unveiled a variation of Alexa for the hotel industry (Alexa for Hospitality). Objective: to offer hoteliers a new CRM channel to provide their customers with information about their stay, to allow them to contact room service by voice, or to launch music or television in their room … [19659019] The e-commerce giant also multiplies partnerships to ship his personal badistant in devices designed and manufactured by third parties. Alexa is now integrated into Whirlpool's washing machines, LG's fridges and Lenovo's speakers. Ford vehicles equipped with the Sync 3 infotainment solution are also equipped with this personal badistant. It is enough for the user to talk to his smart speaker to automatically launch a command or start the music in his car.
Echo Connect connects Echo to a fixed line
Side accessories, the giant of the e -commerce offers Echo Connect, a terminal cut to connect the speakers of the Echo range to a fixed telephony line. Amazon's Echo speakers are already able to make phone calls through VoIP systems, but if the Internet connection does not work, the system is not operational … Unless the device owner has a Echo Connect
Echo Buttons, to play quizzes with friends
In addition to Echo Connect, Amazon unveiled the Echo Buttons. This device is nothing more than a "moo box", allowing you to play quiz type games, with friends or family. But new features should be presented soon by the group for this buzeur. These Echo Buttons have been integrated into a new range of products launched by the group, called Alexa Gadgets.
Hoping to put a foot in the housing of its customers, Google did not take long to draw a competing version at Amazon's smart speaker. Its connected speaker Google Home has been marketed in the United States since November 2016, and in France since August 2017. It also integrates a personal home badistant, called Google Assistant. The device is, like Echo, able to control the connected objects of the apartment of its owner and answer his questions. Inspired by the strategy of the online sales site, Google has opened the kit for developing its artificial intelligence to third-party developers to integrate it to their own connected objects and create voice applications. 19659019] Apple is also developing its own Echo competitor. Baptized HomePod, this device is equipped with the Apple brand badistant, Siri. Microsoft and Harman Kardon have also launched their voice-connected speaker, called Invoke in 2017. It is equipped with the intelligent badistant Cortana, developed by the firm of Redmond.
- Format: the connected speaker of Amazon is 23.5 centimeters tall, 8.35 centimeters wide and weighs a little over a kilo
- Connectivity : Echo has a dual band and Wifi antenna. It includes a Bluetooth chip, allowing its users to stream audio from their smartphone.
- Amazon Echo application: the device connects to the home Wifi and is controlled from a dedicated application for Android, iOS and Fire OS (Amazon's home operating system)
- Audio: The speaker is equipped with seven microphones to capture the voice of its user. In parallel, it combines a "tweeter" of 5 cm, a speaker designed for high-pitched sounds, and a subwoofer of 6 centimeters. Objective: to produce a sound as close as possible to a human voice
In order to improve the technical performance of the Echo terminals, Amazon would be designing its own chips (dixit The Information). Directly integrated with the devices in the range, they will aim to reduce latency by supporting part of AI processing locally, without having to resort to the cloud.
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