What Did Amazon Do This Week? - 04-09-2020
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PRIVACY WOES L̶O̶O̶M̶I̶N̶G̶ FLYING IN ON THE HORIZON
As Amazon’s antitrust woes come to an end, the company just keeps swinging at the privacy piñata. The forthcoming ‘Always Home’ is a "purpose-driven security camera" according to makers, Ring. Offices may use this as an insurance reduction although how that works has still yet to be worked out. Amazon’s "privacy you can hear” is little comfort to many who have been thinking about the implications of the device. I’m still noodling the implications but The Verge nailed the cause for the overall concern well:
But the drone creeped people out in ways the existing security cameras didn’t, and I think it’s because it moves without directly being controlled. That adds a level of agency and intentionality.
On a lighter note, for the price ($250), you could just buy multiple stationary cameras and not risk a pet killing this dead or anything untoward happening.
SO WHAT?
When docked, the Always Home Cam's physical camera is covered. There’s no recording or streaming when charging. The drone only patrols when it senses you've gone and will only fly along a predetermined path (i.e. no manual control). However, as thermostats and speakers have all been hacked, there’s a lingering worry about what damage and issues could be caused by such a device. The Verge summed up the direction perfectly:
Amazon is building a track record of products that make people do a double-take when they think about how it might affect their privacy. The drone, the other Ring cameras and features, the Sidewalk mesh network, the Halo app that asks you to be scanned in your underpants: there’s almost a shamelessness to them. It’s like Amazon has taken a dare to make the most unsettling consumer products it could.
Amazon’s LOTR adaptation is restarting filming.
‘Borat 2’ is coming to Amazon in October.
Idris Elba and John Cena are teaming up for ‘Heads of State’ movie on Amazon.
‘Hundreds of thousands’ watched the first Presidential debate on Twitch.
Amazon has announced a multi-label deal with music companies to remaster songs at the highest quality possible.
AWS won a year-long contract for the UK government digital services worth over £6m.
Amazon Explore (new platform) offers virtual classes and sightseeing tours.
Amazon One (palm scanners in retail) is being trialed in Seattle.
Auto Mode is coming to phones so drivers can use Alexa for directions etc.
Amazon-backed Ecobee (thermostat) said to be in merger talks with Canaccord SPAC.
AWS announced general availability of ‘Amazon Timestream’ (serverless time series database for IoT and operational applications).
Prime Day is October 13-14th.
Amazon removed all ‘Stand back and stand by’ merchandise after Trump said the phrase in the debates.
Amazon is launching a $4.99 personal shopper for men’s fashion.
Amazon India has introduced credit card bill payments through Amazon Pay.
Amazon is offering a $10 voucher for people to spend on Prime Day if they buy from smaller merchants before then.
Amazon India is hiring +100,000 people over the holiday season.
Amazon revealed it has around 20k coronavirus cases in the workforce.
Amazon robots are increasing injuries in warehouses.
Amazon has more trade union woes as a body that represents 12 million workers signs petition.
Amazon is one of the top five contributors to the Biden campaign.
Amazon is snagging offices from Citgroup in Singapore.
Amazon Flex programe is expanding in the UK.
Former Amazon exec settles with SEC over insider trading scheme.
Amazon plans +3,000 jobs in Canada by 2023 where labour is ‘cheap and smart’.
Amazon Transparency has expanded to Japan and Australia.
Amazon has surpassed $215m in donations through AmazonSmile.
Amazon is coaching agencies to create Sellers strategies for Prime Day. [Digiday]
Amazon review gangs are being formed in Facebook Groups. [Verge]
Analysts believe Amazon stock price will go 40% higher. [Fool]
How Amazon UK and EU FBA inventory pools will function from 1st Jan 2021. [Tamebay]
How Amazon handled customer information requests from law enforcement. [TechCrunch]
Amazon had struggled to get a foothold in Italy before the pandemic, now 75% of Italians shop online. [NYT]