Amazon’s Deforestation Surges at Alarming Rates, Nearing a Critical Tipping Point

Scientists warn that the Amazon Rainforest has experienced a loss of the rainfall necessary to sustain it, pushing the world’s largest tropical ecosystem toward a potential tipping point.

A recent study published in Nature Communications indicates that deforestation is causing a significant decline in rainfall during the Amazon’s dry season, thereby increasing heat across the region.

Researchers suggest these changes could signify “early signs of biome destabilization,” implying that the forests are beginning to struggle to maintain their balance.

The study analyzed satellite and climate data from 1985 to 2020, encompassing an area of 2.6 million km² (1,000,000 square miles) in Brazil’s Amazon. This is nearly four times larger than Texas.

The data revealed that dry season rainfall has decreased by approximately 21mm (0.8 inches), with about three-quarters of this decline directly associated with deforestation.

During the same period, maximum daily temperatures increased by around 2°C (3.6°F), with 16.5% of this rise attributable to forest loss, while the remainder results from global climate change.

Deforestation contributes to reduced rainfall, while increased methane and carbon dioxide levels result from climate change – Source: Machado et al., Nature Communications (2025)

Plants play a crucial role in the Amazon’s rain cycle by extracting water from the soil and releasing it through a process known as transpiration.

When trees are removed, this cycle weakens, leading to fewer clouds and less rainfall. Consequently, the forest becomes hotter and drier, creating a harmful feedback loop.

If the Amazon reaches a tipping point, it may no longer be able to sustain itself, resulting in a rapid and irreversible collapse of the ecosystem and converting the region into a savanna.

This shift would significantly impact the entire water cycle in South America and release the carbon stored in the rainforests.

“These findings underscore the necessity of preserving and restoring Amazonian forest cover as a vital strategy for mitigating climate change and ensuring ecosystem stability,” the scientists conclude.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Amazon’s Mixed Revenue Report Causes Stock Prices to Decline

While Amazon aimed to highlight President Trump’s trade war, it was an unavoidable challenge for the leading online retailer in the U.S.

Initially, the e-commerce giant found itself amid a brief controversy on Tuesday, intertwined with misleading reports suggesting that Amazon revealed customs costs to shoppers.

Just two days later, economic realities hit when Amazon announced its slowest growth in North American retail history.

The company’s largest region contributed to first-quarter financial results, reflecting sluggish sales growth since the peak of the pandemic. Sales from January to March climbed to $155.7 billion, representing a 9% increase from the same period last year. Profits surged 64% to reach $17.1 billion.

For the quarter ending in June, Amazon has advised investors to anticipate revenues between $159 billion and $164 billion, with operating profits expected to decline to $13 billion. The company has included “tariffs and trade policies” as factors contributing to uncertainty in their forecasts.

The results were mixed in comparison to Wall Street expectations, leading to a more than 3% decline in Amazon’s stock during after-hours trading following the earnings release.

“None of us can predict precisely where the tariffs will land or when they will take effect,” stated Amazon CEO Andy Jassy during an investor call. He emphasized the company’s strong focus on reducing prices by procuring additional stock before tariffs are implemented, aiding sellers on Amazon’s platform to do the same.

Investors are analyzing how unforeseen tariffs, not addressed by President Trump, will impact Amazon’s customers. Some speculate that consumer purchases might have accelerated in March and April to avoid impending tariffs, leading to increased spending in otherwise unstable conditions.

Jassy noted that Amazon customers had made “advanced purchases” of certain product types but did not specify which ones.

Various elements contribute to Amazon’s retail revenue. Online product sales directly to consumers increased by 5% to $57.4 billion, while services provided to sellers on the platform grew by 6% to $36.5 billion.

Advertising, viewed by investors as a burgeoning and lucrative sector, rose 18% to $13.9 billion.

Investors have consistently focused on Amazon’s cloud computing division, which generates the majority of the company’s profits. Jassy, who previously led the cloud business before becoming CEO, is expanding the company’s artificial intelligence capabilities. The cloud sector grew by 17% in the first quarter, totaling $29.3 billion.

Jassy remarked that if Amazon had more capacity in its data centers, it could have offered even more cloud services. He mentioned the construction of a new facility equipped with advanced internet and AI-powered technology to alleviate constraints in the coming months. The company is striving to enhance its infrastructure, having reported more than $24 billion in spending during the first three months of the year, which is about $2 billion less than the previous quarter. In February, Amazon announced plans to invest around $100 billion in capital expenditures by 2025.

Source: www.nytimes.com

Introducing Amazon’s Groundbreaking Project: Kuiper Internet Satellites

The billionaire battle in space between Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk has entered a new arena, the satellite internet.

Started as an online bookstore 30 years ago, Amazon is Merchandising Behemoth, the owner of the James Bond franchise, and is a seller of electronic gadgets like the echo smart speaker and one of the most powerful providers of cloud computing.

So it’s not surprising that Amazon is launching the first few of the thousands of satellites known as Project Kuiper, offering another option to keep them connected in the modern world. The marketplace that brings high-speed internet from orbit to the ground is now dominated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX Rocket Company, which operates similar services. Starlink has thousands of satellites in orbit and has more launches almost every week, and Starlink already serves millions of customers around the world.

The first 27 projects Kuiper Satellites are scheduled to lift from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida at 7pm Eastern time on Wednesday.

They fly on Atlas V, a rocket created by the United Launch Alliance, a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin. ULA plans to do it Provides live coverage From 6:35pm

The forecast only predicts 20% of the chances that winds and showers from coastal storms are likely to cause potential problems. However, there is a two-hour window where the load of propellant on the rocket begins and the launch may occur.

The spacecraft deploys the Kuiper satellite in a circular orbit 280 miles above the surface. The satellite’s propulsion system gradually raises its orbit to an altitude of 393 miles.

Project Kuiper is the constellations of Internet satellites aimed at providing high-speed data connections to almost every point on Earth. To make this a success, you’ll need thousands of satellites. Amazon’s goal is to operate more than 3,200 over the next few years.

The company competes with SpaceX’s StarLink, which was originally sold primarily to residential customers.

Kuiper aims to make its market, especially remote locations, but will also be integrated with Amazon Web Services, the company’s cloud computing product popular with large companies and governments around the world. This could make it more attractive for businesses with satellite images and weather forecasts that need to perform data calculations, as well as moving large amounts of data throughout the Internet.

Ground stations connect Kuiper satellites to the web service infrastructure in a way that allows businesses to communicate with their own remote devices. For example, Amazon suggests that energy companies can use Kuiper to monitor and control remote wind farms and offshore drilling platforms.

In October 2023, two prototype Kuiper satellites were launched and the technology was tested. Amazon said the test was successful. These prototypes were not intended to be useful in operational constellations, and after seven months they returned to a burnt-out atmosphere. company I said Since then, we have updated the design of “subsystems on all systems and subsystems.”

“There’s a huge difference between launching two satellites and launching 3,000 satellites,” said Rajeev Badyal, Amazon executive who works for Kuiper, in a promotional video before its launch.

Amazon told the Federal Communications Commission in 2020 that the service would start after deploying the first 578 satellites. The company says it expects customers to connect to the internet later this year.

A fully functional constellations require thousands of satellites, but the company is able to serve in certain regions with far fewer orbits before expanding into later, more global coverage.

The approval of the FCC constellations required that at least half of the satellites be deployed by July 30, 2026. Industry analysts say if they show significant progress by then, the company can get an extension.

Putting a satellite into orbit also depends on the launch of the rocket that occurs on a schedule. This can be a problem if sufficient rockets are not available. Amazon also needs to build hundreds of ground stations to relay signals to users.

Source: www.nytimes.com

Review of Amazon’s Kindle Colorsoft: New Color Screen Upgrades for E-Reader

aMazon’s first Kindle with a color screen faced significant challenges, including a rough landing, yellow screen issues, and shipping delays last year. However, with these issues resolved, could the introduction of color screens revolutionize the e-reader market?


While Amazon was not the first to utilize Color E-Ink screens in its e-readers, the company believes that the technology has significantly improved over the past four years. Competitors like Boox and Kobo offer greater contrast and speed, enhancing the overall reading experience.

Priced at £270 (€300/$280), the Kindle Colorsoft exceeds the £125 black and white Paperwhite model it is based on. It is also more expensive than its top-tier color E-Ink rivals. Positioned below the larger 10.2-inch Scribe tablet, Colorsoft is Amazon’s top 7-inch model.




Regular textbooks resemble a monochrome Kindle, lacking added colors. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

Despite the new screen technology, Colorsoft retains the traditional Kindle design. It features a smooth black plastic back and a matte touchscreen on the front, with only a power button next to the USB-C port for physical controls. Page turns and other functions are all touchscreen-based.

Compared to black and white books, the grayscale on Colorsoft appears slightly grayish. However, page turns are swift and text remains clear and legible. The adjustable front light with 24 brightness levels and automatic adjustment based on time of day works effectively.

The color screen enhances browsing in libraries and Kindle stores by displaying book covers in color. Diagrams, maps, and photos within books are now rendered in color, aiding comprehension. Users can highlight passages in various colors and easily navigate through content. When a color image covers one-third of the screen, the entire display shifts to color.




While comic pages are visible on the 7-inch screen, some text may require zooming for comfortable reading. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

The matte screen on Colorsoft may not be as vibrant as that of a phone or tablet, resembling newspaper printing rather than glossy magazines. However, with increased brightness and vibrant color mode, Colorsoft effectively presents graphic novel artwork.

Reading texts within speech bubbles may pose a challenge due to the 7-inch screen’s size when viewing a full comic page. The Panel view mode on Kindle displays multiple panels simultaneously, though zooming and panning on the Colorsoft touchscreen provide a faster and smoother reading experience.

One of Kindle’s key advantages is Amazon’s extensive e-book store, catering to a wide range of genres including comics and graphic novels. Amazon’s acquisition of Comixology in 2014 expanded the library offerings, seamlessly integrating with the Kindle store.




Zoom in to see the artwork details and read the text easily. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

Users can load Epub or PDF files onto their Kindle and purchase books from sources other than Amazon, though only documents sent via Amazon’s Send to Kindle Service will display color on Colorsoft.

Colorsoft would benefit from improved library management capabilities, especially for users with extensive collections of comics and books. While Kindle offers book and manga filters, graphic novels may not be identified as manga. However, the filter functionality works with the Kindle app on tablets.

specifications

  • screen: 7-inch color e-paper (B&W 300ppi; 150ppi)

  • size: 127.6 x 176.7 x 7.8mm

  • Weight: 219g

  • water resistance: IPX8 (2m up to 60 minutes)

  • Connectivity: Wifi 5, Bluetooth

  • Storage: 32GB

  • Battery life: 28 hours of reading




A full charge of ColorSoft with a 9W USB-C power adapter (not included) takes about 2.5 hours. It also supports wireless charging. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

The battery life of Colorsoft varies slightly due to the color screen, but in testing, it outlasted Amazon’s estimates. Reading a standard black and white book at 40% brightness yielded about 45 hours, dropping to approximately 32 hours when reading a color graphic novel at 70% brightness. Standby battery life was also impressive, with less than 1% drain per day with the Power Save option enabled.

Sustainability




The smooth plastic back feels good in your hand, but it’s no different from the much cheaper Kindle. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

Colorsoft will receive software and security updates from Amazon for a minimum of four years. The battery’s expected lifespan is not specified, but it should endure over 500 full charge cycles at 80% capacity. Repair options availability varies by region. The device contains 28% recycled materials, including cobalt, magnesium, and plastic.

Amazon offers trade-in and recycling programs, detailed in the environmental impact report of Kindle Colorsoft here.

price

The price of the Kindle Colorsoft is £269.99 (€299.99/$279.99).

Comparatively, the standard Kindle is priced at £79.99, Kindle Paperwhite at £124.99, Kindle Scribe at £379.99, Kobo Libra Color at £199.99, and Boox Go Color 7 at €279.99. The iPad costs £329.

verdict

Despite its rocky start, Colorsoft demonstrates the potential of Color E-Ink technology. It is poised to become the standard for e-book readers, enhancing not only manga and graphic novels but also regular books with color illustrations.

Viewing book covers and images in color elevates the reading experience without significant drawbacks compared to black and white models. Manga also appears engaging, making outdoor reading on Kindle more enjoyable than on a tablet. However, the 7-inch screen may be insufficient for a detailed graphic novel experience, requiring a larger display like that of an iPad.

Despite its price point, Colorsoft lacks the luxurious feel of higher-end Kindle models such as Oasis. It embodies a utilitarian approach akin to the Paperwhite model.

While the color screen on Colorsoft is impressive, the cost may be hard to justify for a screen of this size primarily suited for standard text. Purchasing during a promotional offer may mitigate any reservations. For users experiencing issues like a yellow tint on the screen, contacting Amazon support for a replacement is recommended.

Strong Points: The vivid color and black-and-white book images, water resistance, fast pinch-and-zoom, extended battery life, automatic front light adjustment, USB-C connectivity.

Cons: Black-and-white page screen flashes, absence of physical page turn buttons, high cost, limited 7-inch screen for detailed graphics, less vibrant than tablets, ecosystem lock-in with Amazon.


www.theguardian.com

Amazon’s Year-End Finish Strong, But Weaker Projections for Next Quarter

Amazon exceeded Wall Street’s expectations by earning revenue in the fourth quarter of 2024, but it anticipates a decline in the coming quarter.

Finishing the year on a high note, the retail giant reported $187.79 billion in revenue and $1.86 per share, surpassing analysts’ revenue estimates of $187.3 billion and $1.49 per share.

The robust revenues reflect a strong holiday shopping season, with online spending increasing by 8.7% year-on-year in November and December, according to Adobe Analytics. Overall, consumers spent $241 billion over the two-month period, as reported by Adobe.

“The holiday shopping season was Amazon’s most successful ever. We are grateful for the support of our customers, sales partners, and employees who contributed to this success,” stated Andy Jassy, Amazon’s CEO. Read the full statement.

Despite beating expectations, Amazon fell short of analyst sales estimates for the next quarter. The company forecasts sales between $151 billion and $15.5 billion, while analysts had estimated $15.85 billion. Stock prices dropped after hours but recovered to previous levels the following day.

Wall Street has acknowledged Amazon’s cost-cutting measures in recent years. Jassy implemented layoffs and cuts across various departments, resulting in a positive financial impact on Amazon’s revenue.

During the revenue announcement, Jassy highlighted Amazon’s new innovations, particularly in artificial intelligence, such as the new AI chip Trainium2. Jassy emphasized the practical benefits of these technologies in the evolving tech landscape.

Amazon’s executive chairman, Jeff Bezos, has reconciled with Donald Trump after years of criticism. Amazon contributed $1 million to the president’s inaugural fund, and Bezos was present at Trump’s swearing-in ceremony.

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Jassy followed Trump’s lead by scaling back Amazon’s DEI efforts, and Bezos withdrew support for the Climate Change and Biodiversity Fund.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Ultimate Guide to Amazon’s New Free Fantasy Game, Throne and Liberty: Otter in a Hat and Magic Wand

Amazon has been attempting to enter the gaming industry for quite some time. Despite having abundant resources and hiring top designers, progress has been slow. However, in recent times, Amazon has found success in releasing massively multiplayer online games. First came New World in 2021, a fantasy game focusing on survival and player-built settlements. This was followed by Lost Ark in the next year, developed by SmileGate from South Korea, blending MMO elements with Diablo-style combat. While reviews were mixed, both games found popularity among players. Now, Amazon is launching its third MMO in four years, Throne and Liberty, also developed in Korea. Here’s what you need to know about this latest offering.

What is Throne and Liberty?




A large, detailed world… Throne and Liberty. Photo: Amazon Games

Throne and Liberty is an MMO set in a fantasy world akin to World of Warcraft. Players create characters and embark on adventures, either alone, with friends, or as part of a guild. The game offers main storylines, cooperative dungeon battles, and player-versus-player combat for territory control.

The game had a prolonged development, initially announced in 2011 as an expansion of the Lineage series. It was released in South Korea in December after facing delays, technical changes, and leadership shifts. Amazon is the global publisher, having acquired the rights in February the previous year.

How is Throne and Liberty different?




Traditional MMO combat combined with action-game dodging and parrying for real combat. Photo: Amazon Games

Throne and Liberty offers unique elements, such as the ability to transform into various animals for faster travel. Combat and character progression stand out; instead of fixed classes, character abilities revolve around weapon usage. With six different weapons and customizable combinations, players can create unique playstyles.

Is Throne and Liberty worth playing?




A unique world… a massive floating whale in the sky. Photo: Amazon Games

Throne and Liberty offers engaging exploration and combat mechanics, blending MMO and action elements. However, it lacks depth in storytelling and character development. Crafting and upgrading systems may feel complex and tedious. Overall, the game is free-to-play and provides a decent gaming experience without requiring excessive time investment.

Should I try Throne and Liberty?




Fashionable style… Characters resembling a mix of wizards, warriors, orcs, and goblins. Photo: Amazon Games

Throne and Liberty is recommended for casual play, offering basic yet enjoyable gameplay. However, if choosing between Amazon’s Korean MMOs, Lost Ark may be a better choice due to its more engaging combat and storytelling. Both games are free-to-play, providing diverse experiences for players.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Amazon’s Tactics to Combat Union Efforts: Exposing the Lawbreakers

Amazon is facing an anti-government campaign that could lead to increased unionization among its employees, with allegations of unethical behavior surfacing. Workers attempting to organize within the warehouse have reported instances of fear tactics, misinformation, and unlawful retaliation by the tech giant.


Nearly two years ago, workers in Staten Island, New York, made history by forming America’s first warehouse union. As the Amazon union gathered momentum nationwide, the company worked to avoid a similar outcome at other locations.

Nanette Plasencia, a long-time employee at Amazon’s ONT8 fulfillment center in Moreno Valley, California, expressed concerns about the company’s tactics. She mentioned that Amazon is willing to go to great lengths, even if it means breaking the law, to prevent unionization.

Documentation shared with the Guardian revealed how Amazon pushed back against union efforts within ONT8 by disseminating anti-union messages. Employees were subjected to propaganda on TV screens warning them about the negative impact of unions on their paychecks.

These actions have led to allegations of unfair labor practices against Amazon, with the unionization process at the company facing legal challenges from both sides. The situation is currently pending a lawsuit and verdict from the National Labor Relations Board.

Despite facing opposition from the company, Amazon workers in Moreno Valley attempted to hold a union vote in October 2022. However, the election petition was withdrawn following alleged violations of labor laws by Amazon administrators.

The case is set to be heard by an administrative law judge in August, with Amazon denying any wrongdoing at ONT8. They have dismissed the majority of the charges brought against them and are eager to prove their innocence as the legal proceedings unfold.

Source: www.theguardian.com

The Amazon’s Biggest Freshwater Dolphin Species Now Extinct

Artistic restoration of Pebanista Yacuruna in the murky waters of the Peruvian Amazon

Jaime Blanc

The Amazon basin was once home to freshwater dolphins that grew up to 3.5 meters long, making them the largest river dolphin known to science.

Researchers say they made this surprising discovery during a 2018 expedition to Peru Aldo Benitez Palomino at the University of Zurich, Switzerland. When the research team saw the animal's fossilized skull sticking out of the river bank, they immediately knew it was a dolphin. Closer analysis confirms that this giant skull is unlike anything previously discovered.

Researchers named this new species Pebanista Yacluna. The name pays homage to the mythical aquatic people, Yacuruna, who are believed to live in underwater cities in the Amazon basin.

The 16 million-year-old fossils were unearthed in an area that was once covered by a “very large lake, almost like a small ocean in the middle of a jungle,” Benitez Palomino said. He says, based on the small eye sockets and large teeth of ancient dolphins. P. Yacluna It was probably a predator with poor eyesight. They relied heavily on echolocation to find fish. “We realized that it was really living in muddy water because its eyes started to get smaller,” Benitez-Palomino said.

Because the fossil was found in the Amazon basin, researchers expected the fossil's closest living relative to be the modern Amazon river dolphin.Instead, they found P. Yacluna It was more closely related to the river dolphin of South Asia. Like them, this ancient species also has a raised crest on its skull that enhances its echolocation abilities.

P. Yacluna Benitez-Palomino said it may have been driven to extinction amid broader ecological changes. “About 11 to 12 million years ago, this huge wetland system began to drain, making way for what is now the Amazon. At that moment, many species became extinct, which is why this giant dolphin Maybe it was fate.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Scientists warn that Amazon’s crucial water cycle is on the brink of collapse

A study published Wednesday in the journal Nature warns that wildfires, deforestation, and global warming could permanently disrupt the water cycle in parts of the Amazon rainforest if action is not taken in the coming decades. The study suggests that between 10% and 47% of the landscape is at risk of transitioning away from tropical rainforest by 2050 if rates of warming and deforestation are not dramatically reduced.

Lead author of the study, Bernardo Flores, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Santa Catarina in Florianópolis, Brazil, stated that “So many stressors are intensifying, including climate stressors and land-use stressors, that when combined will ultimately cause water stress in forests. We could reach a point where forests can no longer survive.”

The Amazon contains about 10% of the world’s terrestrial biodiversity and serves as a vital carbon sink. Exceeding the limits of rainforests could accelerate climate change and have dire consequences for communities, including indigenous peoples, who depend on rainforests. Flores said he is optimistic that the changes outlined in the study are already occurring, but they could slow or even stop.

The study focuses on overlapping stressors on the Amazon, including rising temperatures, extreme drought, deforestation, and fires. Ernest Alvarado, an associate professor at the University of Washington’s School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, who was not involved in the study, emphasized the importance of maintaining the Amazon’s water cycle, stating, “If you lose your balance, it’s a big problem.”

Reducing the amount of water-absorbing forests due to deforestation, wildfires, drought, and climate change reduces the amount of water available to the atmosphere from plants and reduces the amount of rain that sustains the landscape. Approximately 15% of the Amazon has already been lost, according to Flores.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Amazon’s New Echo Frames Don’t Measure Up to Ray-Ban Meta

This April marked: Tenth One year since Google released the first generation of Glass. It may be hard to believe in retrospect 10 years later, but the limited release Explorer’s Edition was a coveted item. They felt like the future, at least for a while. But the past decade for smart glasses has been a very mixed bag. There have been more misses than hits, and it seems like it will be years before we can reach any kind of agreement on form or function. Google Glass has never reached the critical mass needed to launch a commercial product, but the company seems content to try again every few years.

Meanwhile, AR’s success has been largely confined to smartphone screens, but it’s not for lack of trying. Magic Leap, Microsoft, and Meta have all introduced their AR products to varying degrees of success, but next year’s Apple Vision Pro release is sure to shake things up. However, technical limitations limit these solutions to significantly larger form factors. Shrinking this kind of technology down to the size of regular glasses is a great goal, but it’s still a long way off.

It’s telling that at Meta’s recent hardware event he released two head-mounted devices. The first was the Quest 3, a VR headset that offers an AR experience thanks to pass-through technology. The other Ray-Ban Meta makes no pretense of offering augmented reality, but fits nicely into a standard glasses form factor. Image credits: brian heater Like Snapchat Spectacles before it, Ray-Ban Meta is all about capturing content. A camera built into the frame allows wearers to shoot quick videos for social media or livestream. When it comes to content consumption, there are speakers built into the temples that direct music and podcast audio into the wearer’s ears.

However, unlike the Ray-Ban, Amazon’s Echo Frames 3 don’t do video capture (you can almost hear the collective sigh of relief from privacy advocates around the world). However, it offers similar audio settings. The speaker is located just in front of the tip of the temple. The company didn’t opt ​​for bone conduction here, which is probably for the best (though neat, the technology is generally a passing grade at best). Unlike most headphones and earbuds, they do not cover the entrance to your ear canal. This is great for situational awareness, but not so great for immersive sound.

This is not a bad option if you want to focus on the world around you while walking down the street or riding a bike while listening to music. Image credits: brian heater They’re pretty loud when held close to your ear, and their directional nature means they’re hard to hear when you’re not wearing them (though they’re not completely silent to others). On the other hand, the actual audio quality still leaves a lot of room for improvement. They can help in a pinch for music, but I’d rather not rely on them as a daily driver of any kind.

However, as the name suggests, the real highlight here is the Echo feature. Frames are yet another form factor for invoking Alexa. This makes a lot of sense at first glance, being a hands-free voice assistant that you can take with you anywhere as long as your phone is properly connected. First, you can play/pause, make calls, and set reminders. All of these things can be done in your earbuds using a connected voice assistant. Image credits: brian heater There are five styles: black square, black rectangle, blue circle, brown cat’s eye, and gray rectangle. The first ones Amazon sent were similar to your typical Buddy Holly/Elvis Costello glasses, but with electronics inside, a plastic-like design, and large temples.

They fit me well enough, and while they’re not something I would choose over, say, a Warby Parker, I don’t feel embarrassed wearing them in public. You can further customize your frames with prescription lenses, blue light filtering, or sunglasses. Sure, there are all great options. Battery life is listed at 14 hours with “moderate” usage. One charge should get him through the day if he listens to a standard amount of music. This is especially great considering that the charging dock is larger and more unwieldy than the glasses themselves. Charging instructions are included in the package (along with some short Braille instructions, a nice accessibility consideration). This is necessary because the design is not intuitive.

When the glasses are folded and the lenses are facing up, the charging points on the temples make contact with the charger. It’s very different from the Ray-Ban Meta’s extremely convenient and well-designed charging case. Amazon’s case, on the other hand, is collapsible. It’s not great, but it does have the convenience of being able to fold it flat while wearing your glasses. If I hadn’t recently tested the Ray-Ban Meta, my thoughts on the latest Echo Frame might have been different. The price is $270, which is $30 cheaper than Metagras. If you’re having trouble deciding between the two, I think you should take the plunge and spend the extra $30. Of course, it’s also worth considering that as of this writing, Amazon is currently offering new Echo Frames for a heavily discounted $200.

Source: techcrunch.com