The idea of amazon echo frames is somewhat simple, the concept of attending calls listening to music, podcasts and command Alexa with your eyeglasses. Echo frames are a pair of eyeglasses with basic plastic lenses (which can be replaced with prescription lenses), entrenched with a tiny microphone and little speaker in the arms of glasses. Echo frames cost $249 and comes in two versions with some adjustments in battery life and hardware. Amazon has presented this device with a hope to capture market share. Entertainment is having a new shape of device, which was previously used as eyeglasses.
Some attributes are mentioned below, for ready reference:
| Pros | Cons |
| · Lightweight · Very little noise bleed · Great mic quality on calls · Excellent performance with android. · No need of separate devices to pair with cell phones. · Echo Frames are used as basic Bluetooth “headphones” and as an Alexa device. · Setting up an automatic volume. ·Availability of tap or swipe option to hear notifications from that app to read aloud. | · Alexa is limited on phones. · Can’t work on multiple devices. · Middling battery life. · Limited performance while collaborating with IPhone. · All functions are in stems of glasses. · Distracted during Zoom calls. · Pairing option at a time with one device and require a full re-pairing to switch devices. . Echo Frames do not get loud enough to compete with street, traffic and subway train noise. |
The stems of the eyeglasses contain all the electronics inside it, and are quite thick. At the bottom of the right Stem is a microphone, a power button, and a pair of volume buttons, as well as a magnetic pogo-pin receiver for charging. Each stalk has two small holes located near the ear for sound. The right stem also has a side touch sensor that can detect taps and swipes.
Amazon made a smart move to introduce a saleable product with aggressive marketing strategy. Those who are interested to use one device for more than one facilities may get benefits from it. Other companies like BOSE is launching products of similar attributes. In this way, user enjoys all the benefits of headphones without having them physically.
It is a much smarter strategy than the failed smart glasses that tried to add a screen to this kit. Like many of their products, Amazon starts with a minimum viable product and repeats.
This is particularly true for these Echo Frames, which are now widely available to everyone in the second version of the product, bringing some improvements to internal hardware and battery life. Echo Frames are rectangular and available in three colours. Size is a bit large however, user fells comfortable. Eyeglasses are flexible at stems.
Amazon has partnership Lens Crafters to add lenses to Eco Frames. On technical line microphone, power and volume buttons are designed underside of the right stem as well as pin receiver for charging. For audio purpose, there are tiny holes on each stem near to ears. Weight is just 31 grams; hence having these glasses for longer period is possible.
Using Eco Frames have different impacts on social life. User listens at social meeting places however, people in the surrounding do not guess at all. User is considered free to talk, as he is not wearing headphones. User becomes use to with volume after few days experience. Like other smart devices, this product has many properties and limitations. First version of Eco Frames will be improved under the recommendations and suggestions to be received as reviews. There are still some problems when it comes using the echo frame with an iPhone, you are required to download the Alexa app and there is not much you can with these frames on IOS device. The frames cannot be connected to more one device and connectivity with a laptop is tedious process.
New smart devices establish new trends. As a bottom line it is found that amazon had made good effort and for that they can appreciated for this attempt however there is always a room for improvement in each new inventions and devices. This smart device may be improved in its third or fourth version in the future.
sources
https://www.theverge.com/22197463/amazon-echo-frames-review-alexa
That is a very interesting concept. What do you personally think about it ?
This product has great potential. Advancement may be done with the passage of time. With some improvements it can be successful, as Amazon is manufacturing and marketing it due to this significance, product is affordable to normal people. Amazon through various marketing tools and methods can collect opinions of masses. In the light of research work many inferences can be concluded to improve this product.
Interesting idea, but I don’t know if it’s going to be very successful. For many people, what matters is their appearance. People who don’t have to wear glasses often don’t like the way they look in them. In turn, people with visual impairment have a choice of many different frames and the rectangular shape may not fit them. That’s why they won’t decide to buy it.
Echo frames are new to the market. In near future different choices of frames may be available to the buyers. Every product has attributes which attracts prospective buyers. In this case the main purpose of the product is to communicate with people by call, Listen to music or podcast and use Alexa.