Thread by @greengart

Today's launch event is #AmazonDevices. There's no public livestream, and past @amazon presentations have moved ridiculously fast; follow along here and I'll do my best to keep up with @amazonnews.🧵

Did you know that I am the inspiration for all these #amazondevices?

Reminding us that a new base model Kindle and Kindle Kids launched a couple weeks ago #amazondevices

New Kindle Scribe $339: first time there's a 10.2" Kindle since the DX, and taking on the plethora of writing tablets like reMarkable. This looks really competitive.

The $339 Kindle Scribe includes the no-charging-required Pen in the box, and is a full Kindle for book purchases. #AmazonDevices

.@amazon is investing heavily in ambient intelligence. Next product: Halo Rise, no-touch sleep tracking. Nothing to wear. No batteries to charge. NOT a camera staring at you (bedside sensors tracking your breathing) + smart alarm. #AmazonDevices

I am naturally skeptical that Halo Rise actually works, but if it does, it's pretty exciting. No Echo required (but Echo Show can be used to show sleep data) $139, "later this year." #amazondevices

New Echo Studio with better spacial audio and better midrange and bass. Seems like it's all software based, since the improvements will be rolling out to existing Studios (which is a GREAT smart speaker as it is). Plus new white color option. $199 #amazondevices

New Echo Dot ($49, $59 kids, or $59 with brighter clock/scrolling display). Now with better audio drivers, accelerometer-based gestures (like tap to turn off alarms), room temp sensors, and software that turns them into EERO WIFI EXTENDERS which is insanely useful #amazondevices

Apparently, @Amazon is able to use the WiFi chipset in recent model Echos and Echo Dots to turn them into Eero WiFi extenders via software updates, too. 🤯#amazondevices

Despite CarPlay and Android Auto, @Amazon isn't giving up on extending its ecosystem to the car. New $55 Echo Auto with new features including follow-me music, call for roadside assistance. @bmw has been building Alexa into its cars (3rd gen). #amazondevices

Next up: robots! @amazon has gotten hundreds of thousands of invite requests for Astro. New functionality for Alexa Together #amazondevices

Serious #AI breakthrough: you can teach Astro can about things like doors and windows and then it can then track states (i.e., if door was accidentally left open). More coming, especially around pet detection. SDK coming, working with select colleges. #amazondevices

Astro can now call the cops!
(aimed at SMB) #amazondevices

New $230 Ring Spotlight Cam Pro that uses radar for more precise alerts (nice!) + birdseye view, a $30 pan/tilt accessory for the Blink Mini, and a really inexpensive $100 Blink wired floodlight camera #amazondevices

If I understood this correctly, Eero Internet Backup lets Eero Plus subscribers set up a wireless failover option if your broadband goes out. Also a pair of new Power over Ethernet eero offerings. #amazondevices

All the eero WiFi 6E and new Echo devices are matter compatible, plus some (limited) backwards compatibility where possible. #amazondevices

Consumers use Echo Show to watch video, so Amazon is turning it into a Fire TV. Makes sense - it's basically a 15" kitchen TV. (My kid uses it to play Wordle, but he's always been an outlier.) #amazondevices

new @amazon $140 Fire TV Cube has octa-core processor (not specified, but I'm guessing @mediatek) faster, upscales content, with Wi-Fi 6e for smoother streaming. Integrated Ethernet and USB for webcams (!) and storage. HDMI in for controlling cable boxes via Alexa. #amazondevices

I wasn't wrong about the speed of announcements at this #amazondevices event. Next: new $35 Alexa Remote Pro. Easier to find, among other things.

.@Amazon moving its integrated Fire TVs (ever so slightly) upscale with Fire TV Omni QLED. @dolby Vision IQ. Taking on Samsung with ambient mode that turns TV into art frame or giant Echo Show. Turns off when you leave the room, on when you return. #amazondevices

Fire TV Omni QLED starts at just $800. QLED, 96 dimming zones, Alexa, Widgets that launch TV/calendar/etc. 65" and 75" Hey, @amazon PR, I really want to test one of these.

#amazondevices event done. Some seriously impressive software, hardware, and AI. I need to dive deeper into a few of these and I expect to get hands on with most. Look for a report on Techsponential with high level analysis later this week.