Your Tech Story

Amazon

Amazon

Amazon Announces Ring – A New Indoor Security Camera Drone That Flies

Leave a Comment / News, Product, Tech News / By

Amazon has been a significant player in the indoor home security space for a while now. The tech giant has also been growing within the smart devices space with several entries, such as smart cameras and speakers. However, it recently announced that its indoor home security camera drone named Ring would literally be taking flight soon enough. This new Always Home Cam will serve as an autonomous indoor drone that flies around your home, helping you keep an eye out while outside. Here’s a quick look at everything you need to know about the Ring and its expected launch date.

Always at Home with Amazon Ring

Amazon new indoor Home Cam will enable users to keep an eye on their homes at all times. Furthermore, once the drone is done flying and taking a look everywhere, it will return to its charging dock to power up again. The new drone will start shipping next year and will cost their buyers a whopping $249.99. Ring’s founder, Jamie Siminoff, said the inspiration for such a drone came as a way to receive multiple perspectives of your home without the need for several cameras. With such an autonomous drone, the owners can gain a look into all their rooms, without paying for several separate security cameras. According to Jamie, the company spent the last two years working on this device.

Taking to the Skies

The Always Home Cam is an “obvious” product, according to the parent company Ring, but one which took a lot of effort to develop. Jamie credits recent advancements in the field of drone technology, for helping his team build a product like this. The autonomous drone carries a camera on it to help provide users with live-footage of their houses. The owners also have the option of telling the drone where they want it to go, and which patch to take. After buying the product, the owners will help set up a map of the home, and also set viewpoints, such as a bedroom or kitchen. The drone starts flying either on command or when it detects a disturbance though its linked Ring Alarm system.

Amazon Ring
Image Source: cnbc.com

Other Features and Details

Since the charging dock blocks the drone’s camera, it will record only when in flight. Also, the device makes an audible noise while flying so that the people are aware that footage is being recorded. Ring states that the drone can help check anything from a stove being left open to whether a door is shut properly. The drone comes packed with obstacle detection and avoidance technology to help avoid collisions and other mishaps. Furthermore, it has shrouded propellers to help prevent damage to things in the room, pets, and other humans if there is a collision.

The project is Ring’s most ambitious yet and seems to be one from the future. It will be interesting to see whether the project kicks off and how effective it proves to be. Amazon, through such collaborations, is trying to bring the future to us, and it will be exciting to see how the drone performs next year. For years now, experts have debated whether such intrusive technology might hinder our privacy. The introduction of such a drone raises various questions, such as; 

  1. Where do the pictures regarding the mapping of the house go?
  2. Could someone at Ring fly the drone around?
  3. How safe is the system against hacking and other such threats?
  4. How long can it fly, what is the average flight speed, and what is the battery life?
  5. What happens when it runs out of charge?

While these questions remain unanswered, it looks like Amazon will have to clarify regarding the privacy issues related to the product. That being said, it will be exciting to see such cutting-edge drone technology being accessible to ordinary people. Also, since the new system collaborates with the Ring Alarm system, users are unsure regarding the systems that can be used individually. All the systems in place might also lead to the Ring H having a bird’s eye view of our homes. How safe will people feel in such an atmosphere? Only time will tell whether such autonomous drones help make us feel safer and in control, but it sure is an exciting time for techies and enthusiasts!

twitch

Amazon’s Twitch Prime is now Prime Gaming After a Rebranding Campaign

Leave a Comment / Tech News / By

Gamers have been receiving a lot of good news in the past month or so. Several significant updates have dropped regarding the Xbox and PlayStation. Furthermore, Microsoft and Google have also announced new titles in the coming year. Adding to this list of gaming news is Amazon’s rebranding move to breathe new life into their gaming division. As per reports, Amazon is rebranding their live streaming platform Twitch, and renaming it Prime Gaming. Here’s a look at everything you need to know about the service, and what this rebranding could mean.

Twitch Prime to Prime Gaming

Amazon Prime subscribers used the Twitch Prime service to avail perks on the live streaming platform. As per new reports, the company is dropping the name Twitch, and focusing instead on the Prime brand. Hence, the service will now go by the title of Prime Gaming. However, the rebranding is purely a marketing strategy, as the benefits and services offered by the feature will remain the same. The main benefits provided by the service include free games with unlimited usage, gifting of free subscription, and exclusive in-game content. 

Why the Sudden Rebranding?

Most experts believe that the new strategy with respect to branding came as a result of motivation to bring all services under the Prime umbrella. Often regarded as the most recognisable term associated with Amazon, the company is backing that brand strategy. By offering all its services under the umbrella of Prime, the company hopes to improve brand loyalty and awareness. Furthermore, the title of Prime Gaming blends well with the rest of the content that Amazon publishes through the Prime subscription. The primary services they provide include Prime Video for TV shows and movies, and Prime Reading which offers access to magazines and e-books. Other benefits provided by the $119-annual subscription is free shipping and offers on Amazon’s marketplace. 

Commitment to Gaming

The recent rebranding is also a testament to the fact that Amazon has picked up substantial interest in the field of video gaming. Other than Twitch, Amazon also owns a unique game development studio called Amazon Games. However, this subsidiary wing has been struggling this year with its first title, Crucible not meeting consumer expectations. Crucible combines gameplay elements from shooting games and simulates that within an online battle arena, ensuring good experience on paper. The game came out in May this year but soon returned to a beta version as it required further work and refinement. Furthermore, their second major title, New World, which is an open-world MMO, was to release on August 25th. However, the company has pushed the release to July 10th, 2021. Also, Twitch had promised a Pac-man version in June, but no news has come out regarding this launch. 

Retracing their Steps

In May, Amazon’s Relentless, the studio that helped create Crucible admitted that the released the game too early, without completing it. Therefore, to provide a better user experience, the company recalled the game and placed it in a closed beta state. They also stated that they would use the extra time to develop the maps, combat styles, and improve the overall game to ensure that fans receive exactly what was promised. The company also set up a council of beta players to test updates and give feedback regarding the changes made. However, the game will be available to all gamers who had already downloaded it, and it will continue to function normally on Steam. The company also stated that it would continuously put out updates to make the game better and engage the audience.

Entry Into Cloud Gaming

Insiders are also predicting the entry of Amazon into cloud gaming in the future and even claims the company might launch a unique cloud gaming service. Reports state that the secret project has the codename Project Tempo and that it will launch sometime in early 2021. As per a report in the New York Times, the delay caused by the COVID-19 pandemic is what led to the launch being pushed into 2021. This portal will be a direct competitor to Google’s platform Stadia which launched in November last year.

Job listings released by Amazon, which has been recruiting engineers for a new project within AWS has also helped provide some weight to these rumors. CNET reports state that the company might even integrate such a cloud service or platform with their Twitch/Prime Game service. This will be similar to how Google plans to integrate Stadia with YouTube in the long run. It will be interesting to see how this plan pans out, and whether it will provide more momentum to Amazon’s big push into the gaming industry.

Quibi

Short-Form Content Specialist Quibi: An Honest Review

Leave a Comment / News, Tech News / By

The way we consume content has changed over the years. Thanks to increasing internet penetration and a rise in the number of mobile users, we now have several options to view content. Entertainment portals such as Hulu and Netflix have become popular around the world. Even old patrons of entertainment, such as Disney are moving towards a newer, digital content platform. Even in India, streaming services such as Amazon Prime, Hotstar and Netflix have become extremely popular. It is into this highly competitive field that another entertainment platform has entered. After many months of massive publicity, Quibi, which will focus on short-form content launched today for both Android and iPhone users. Here’s an honest review of the application and what it means for the entertainment industry.

Who’s Behind It?

There’s been a lot of talk of this mobile app that delivers bite-sized original content, and finally, it is out. Headed by Jeffrey Katzenberg, who is a pioneer in the field of entertainment and Meg Whitman, an experienced tech player, Quibi looks stated for success. The application centers around mobile phones and was built for use on mobile devices, rather than desktops or laptops. The application brought in over $1 billion in investment, which includes attracting significant stars for their new original content. Finally, the app is out, and the creators will get to see whether the app is worth the $4.99-with ads and $7.990 without ad package they are giving it out for.

Boon or Bane?

The main USP of the app is that it specializes in content that lasts 10 minutes or less. Since there is no TV app for the same, Quibi will have to be enjoyed solely from your mobile phone. Since most people are at home now, due to the COVID-19, this might be something that will work against the application. Whenever people are at home, they tend to prefer to watch content through larger screens, such as laptops and TVs. However, since this app is made specifically for mobile devices, users will not be able to enjoy the comforts of a larger screen. The application is also not available via a website and does not work fully optimized on tablets either. Therefore, this rules out the possibility of teaming it with Chromecast or AirPlay. So it is safe to say that it is built for your phone and nothing else!

How is the Quibi Interface?

Quibi is an app that works fine. It is reliable, though the user experience needs to be a little more intuitive and fluid. Other streaming giants such as Netflix have been able to do so well for themselves as their interface is extremely user-friendly. So, this is one area that the makers really need to focus on when it comes to updates and improvements. However, the app supports auto-rotate, so the images flip into landscape and portrait as you rotate your device. Both these orientations have been completely optimized, which makes the viewing experience a lot better.

The features which allow the camera shots and text to realign itself as per the mode is Turnstyle, and it serves as Quibi’s main feature. As per Katzenberg, Turnstyle will help bring in the third generation of film narrative. While the function might not be as revelatory as it is made to sound, it does help in making it easier to watch shows on the app. The main homepage resembles Instagram, more than it does Netflix, as it makes use of vertical cards. Lingering on any card for a few seconds automatically starts the autoplay of the video, while every time you pass through, you receive vibratory feedback. The video begins playing on full screen if you press it, and delayed holds will present more options such as download, share and information regarding the show. You also have the option of enabling notifications which will allow you to stay updated with regards to new releases and so on.

Playback and Quality

During playback, users get access to controls such as play, pause, fast-forward, share and rewind. It also includes a Left-handed mode which makes the app very easy to use for lefties around the world. The app also has shortcuts in place for muting the audio and switching on the subtitles. The Turnstyle feature works by involving two different video streams and one audio track simultaneously. The mode in which you are watching the show runs on higher resolution, while the other keeps running in the background. Whenever you rotate, the stream also changes instantaneously and therefore, there is no loading issue, quality degradation or buffering issues. However, using dual-stream video makes the app use 20% more data than YouTube or Netflix.

The major misses when it comes to the app are as follows. It does not have a family option wherein various members can stream content from one account. Not accounting for multiple people in the same house might not end up working for the app in the long run. Furthermore, since it works on a single concurrent stream, password sharing is also not an option people have. However, the short content that it features makes it the perfect app for content on-the-go. It provides excellent, no-commitment entertainment that people can enjoy while traveling or waiting for an appointment. However, the fact that they chose to launch it at a time when everyone is at home could harm the app’s impact. We will be able to gauge its real success and effect after this challenging time passes, and people start traveling once again. For now, it looks like Netflix and Amazon do not have too much to worry about.

Amazon’s Ring

Amazon Opens Pre-order for Its New Ring Video Doorbell-3

Leave a Comment / Tech News / By

Amazon is one of the largest e-commerce providers in the world, with the platform hosting millions of products. There are thousands of sellers online on Amazon, with the e-commerce giant selling millions of products every month. Furthermore, the giant also owns several subsidiaries and companies which create products for them to sell.

One such company that Amazon owns is Ring, the new-age doorbell-camera creators who took the world by a storm a few years back with their signature design. Well, the company is back again with a bang, as Amazon announced that Ring is coming out with two new doorbell models. Here’s everything you need to know about the announcement and what it means to buyers around the world.

Two New Models Out

Amazon’s Ring will shortly release two new designs which will feature battery-powered doorbell video cameras, and the models are called Ring Video Doorbell 3 and Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus. While the Doorbell 3 will cost you $199.99, the Doorbell 3 Plus will have a retail price of $229.99. Furthermore, the company released a press statement that announced that the models will be shipped starting on April 8th, with the company giving people the green signal to start pre-ordering their cameras.

Features of the New Models

The internet has been set ablaze by a new feature the Doorbell 3 Plus which will enable users to view video footage from four seconds before the detection of motion in the background. While this video is shot in black-and-white, this new feature, called Pre-roll has the world excited. Most of Ring’s doorbells share features with Arlo’s video doorbells, but this new addition has fans giving Ring the upper edge. Furthermore, representatives from Ring mentioned that the new feature will not have a significant impact on the battery life of the product, meaning that users can rest assured regarding the device’s performance on a long-term basis. Both models will also support dual-band 2.4Ghz /5Ghz Wi-Fi and will also feature adjustable motion zones, which will enable them to detect motion between five and fifteen feet from their place of installation.

The new Ring doorbell module will consist of three individual cameras, with all three sensors working together to provide ultimate security. Also, the sensors will record videos in 1080p clarity, making your video surveillance a lot sharper and clearer. Furthermore, the new system will try its level best to conserve power, meaning that users will not have to charge their Doorbell 3 Plus as often as they had to power up its predecessors. The major difference between the two models being the Pre-roll feed option, because otherwise, the Doorbell 3 has most of the functions the 3 Plus boasts of.

Impact on Older Models

Owing to the announcement of the new models, Ring is now offering the Doorbell 2 at a discounted price of $169.99, considerably reduced from the initial offering at $199.99. The Doorbell 2 has most of the features that the Doorbell 3 boasts, in case users want a Ring doorbell at a more affordable price. Along with the release of the new doorbell models, Ring will also come out with updated versions of the Ring Chime and Chime Pro. Both of these announce notifications from the doorbells by plugging into an appropriate outlet. The new version of the Chime Pro will feature a pre-built night light and will come with a Wi-Fi-extender, to help improve the network and connection capability of the device. In design, it will be very similar to the first-gen Chime Pro, but with a classier and refined look. The new Chime will cost users $29.99, while the updated Chime Pro will set buyers back by $49.99. Both new models, much like the new doorbells, can be pre-ordered with shipping expected to begin on April 8th.

Security Concerns

In the past, the biggest criticism that Ring has faced is the lack of good security features in their products. As a way to lay to rest these claims, Ring has announced that their new products will feature a compulsory two-step authentication process. Furthermore, in January, the company has announced that it would come out with an advanced privacy dashboard for its devices. This is the second biggest release for Amazon, who had revamped its Echo lineup last year. With these new releases, Amazon seems to be trying to gain more inroads into the home security market, and it looks like the company will diversify even further in the future.

Mobile World Congress 2020

Amazon and Sony denied participation in Mobile World Congress 2020 due to Coronavirus Outbreak

Leave a Comment / Story, Tech Story / By

Highlights

Mobile World Congress 2020 is the biggest mobile technology trade show, scheduled on 24-27 Feb in Barcelona, Spain.

Earlier, Nvidia, LG, ZTE, and Ericsson have already step back from the event. Now, Amazon and Sony pull out of 2020 Mobile Congress.

These companies cancel their presence due to Global Emergency i.e. Coronavirus outbreak all over the world.

Mobile World Congress 2020

Mobile World Congress 2020 will be taking place this month in between 24-27 Feb. However, this year the MWC is organized in Barcelona, Spain. In fact, it is the world’s largest exhibition for the mobile industry, organized by the GSM Association. It is also famous for conferences held by prominent executives of the mobile industry.  

Why Sony and Amazon step back from the Event?

Earlier, LG, ZTE, Ericsson, and Nvidia already step back from the various events at Mobile World Congress. However, Sony and Amazon also set their name on the list of companies to denied participating in the event. It is said that the Coronavirus outbreak is the reason behind this. 

Recently, Sony posted on its website, “Sony has been closely monitoring the evolving situation following the novel coronavirus outbreak, which was declared a global emergency by the World Health Organization on January 30th, 2020”. Also, it added, “As we place the utmost importance on the safety and wellbeing of our customers, partners, media, and employees, we have taken the difficult decision to withdraw from exhibiting and participating at MWC 2020 in Barcelona, Spain”.

Amazon higher authorities reported that “Due to the outbreak and continued concerns about novel coronavirus, Amazon will withdraw from exhibiting and participating in Mobile World Congress 2020, scheduled for Feb. 24-27 in Barcelona, Spain”.

Previous History of Amazon and Sony at Mobile World Congress

As we see back, Sony often uses MWC as a platform to showcase its most important mobile devices. In fact, last year, Sony revealed its Xperia 1 flagship phone at the show. “But this year, we will instead make its announcements online through its Xperia YouTube channel”, said Sony. 

However, Amazon has not visited the event that often in history; neither presented its devices at MWC. 

Coronavirus Safety Measures at MWC

Yesterday, the GSM Association, which organizes MWC reported about the steps to be taken to avoid the spread of the coronavirus further. “No travelers from China’s Hubei province, where the outbreak began, will be permitted access to the event, while anyone who’s visited other regions of China will need to prove that they have been out of the country for 14 days beforehand”, said GSM Association. Further, it added, “With MWC set to start in two weeks today, that is likely to complicate the plans of several Chinese companies that were planning to attend”.

aws

Amazon Bids Adieu to Oracle; Completes its Consumer Business Data Migration to AWS

1 Comment / News, Product, Tech News / By

Amazon has got its hands in almost everything. From grocery to space, it wants to take over every field. But it has also been using the services from other companies as a consumer. For the past few years, the company has been keeping its data in the Oracle database. But as it has already developed its cloud web services, AWS, the company had started to migrate its database from Oracle to AWS. Today the company announced that it has migrated the last set of data from the Oracle database to AWS, finally terminating Oracle’s services.

The company shared the news through a blog post. Jeff Barr from AWS wrote on the behalf of Amazon, “I am happy to report that this database migration effort is now complete. Amazon’s Consumer business just turned off its final Oracle database (some third-party applications are tightly bound to Oracle and were not migrated).”

He further wrote, “Over the years we realized that we were spending too much time managing and scaling thousands of legacy Oracle databases. Instead of focusing on high-value differentiated work, our database administrators (DBAs) spent a lot of time simply keeping the lights on while transaction rates climbed and the overall amount of stored data mounted.”

aws
Image Source: techcrunch.com

According to the blog post, the last set of data involved 75 petabytes of data that was stored in 7500 Oracle databases. Since Amazon is a huge company, it took years for it to transfer the enormous data from different databases to its home-grown database. The company had constituted around 100 teams to carry out the task.

As the migration has come to an end, over 100 consumer businesses, including Amazon Prime, Alexa, and Kindle, have been moved to AWS. This has not made Amazon walk a step forward to become an independent company, but also it will now be saving up to 60% on its data maintenance. This will now also reduce the latency rate for consumer applications by 40%. This way, the company will be able to provide better services to its consumers such that the experts will not be spending too much time on maintaining the data.