Amazon's Astro Home Robot Remains Elusive Six Months After Debut (bloomberg.com) 15
An anonymous reader shares a report: Last September, Amazon debuted a household robot named Astro that was supposed to usher in -- or at least point to -- a Jetsons-like future. Fifty-three minutes into a press conference otherwise focused on new Ring cameras, a thermostat and a giant Echo speaker with a wall screen, the three-wheeled robot rolled out on stage at the command of Amazon devices chief Dave Limp. With Astro looking on, Limp ticked off the gadget's attributes: advanced computer vision that lets the bot know where it is, home monitoring, media playback and the ability to summon emergency help for elders. Astro would eventually sell for about $1,450, but Limp said people lucky enough to score an invitation could get their hands on one for $1,000 -- or about the price of an iPhone 13 Pro -- and test it out at home.
In a video presentation of the unveiling, Henrik Christensen, a computer science and robotics professor at the University of California at San Diego, said, "Astro is a huge step forward. The next question will be: 'When should I get one?'" A more apt question might have been: When can I get one? Six months later, Astro is tough to find. Hardly anyone is talking about the robot -- which is confounding because early adopters typically love to share their experiences online. A scan for Astro users on YouTube, Twitter and Instagram turned up just two people, who posted brief videos of the bot. Turns out Amazon has so far shipped at most a few hundred Astros, according to people familiar with the situation.
In a video presentation of the unveiling, Henrik Christensen, a computer science and robotics professor at the University of California at San Diego, said, "Astro is a huge step forward. The next question will be: 'When should I get one?'" A more apt question might have been: When can I get one? Six months later, Astro is tough to find. Hardly anyone is talking about the robot -- which is confounding because early adopters typically love to share their experiences online. A scan for Astro users on YouTube, Twitter and Instagram turned up just two people, who posted brief videos of the bot. Turns out Amazon has so far shipped at most a few hundred Astros, according to people familiar with the situation.
Nope (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2, Interesting)
Don't want anything with an Amazon brand in my house. The 'ring' thermostat that was installed with my new heating system is never going to be connected to the internet. I don't want Amazon knowing when I'm not at home. As soon as I can get it replaced with another make then it will be sent to recycling.
re: Don't want anything with an Amazon brand (Score:2)
I had a Ring doorbell too, at my previous house. When I moved, I left it there (with no subscription to paid service for it) and bought an Eufy instead. It's subscription-free and saves the video content to the base unit in the house, via a micro SD card in it. Communicates with their free app on your smartphone as well. I find it much more useful.
I do still use several of their Echo Dots though. I find Alexa to be handy for a few basic things around the house, like controlling some smart light-bulbs (hav
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
I see Amazon's priorities haven't changed (Score:5, Insightful)
Rather than implement actually useful features like vaccuming and/or mopping, they decided to focus on surveillance, casing my home, scanning all my possessions and targeting ads based on what I own.
That sure sounds like Amazon, all righty.
Re: (Score:2)
"Your underwear is dingy and torn. Here are 4 similar products on Amazon. I will order them unless you say 'stop, authorization code 483873JZYV' within 3 seconds..."
It's on a ship (Score:3)
It's sitting on a cargo ship.
Plotting the demise of the Russian Empire.
Or was that the American Empire.
Quite frankly, I can't keep which fictitious thing we're supposed to care about while the plutocrats rob us blind anymore.
next question (Score:2)
> The next question will be: 'When should I get one?'
Never, never, ever, ever.
Ruh roh... (Score:2)
They gave it the wrong name. Astro was the DOG. The robot was named ROSIE.
Only one thing to say (Score:2)
"Ruh-roh, Reorge."
but how does it know if (Score:1)
it could be (Score:2)
It could be amazon is still trying to figure out how to put ads on it without it getting kicked across the room because of all the "by the ways"
Wake me when it can suck me off (Score:2)
nft