I've been using Amazon's smart ring that you need a special invitation to buy, and it's another reminder that Alexa doesn't belong in everything

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5d8bb7a12e22af3f073fcd17-812/echoloop.jpeg" border="0" alt="Echo Loop" data-mce-source="Amazon" data-link="https://blog.aboutamazon.com/devices/amazon-devices-event-september-2019?utm_source=social&amp;utm_medium=tw&amp;utm_term=amznews&amp;utm_content=devicesevent_2019" /><p class="source"><span><a href="https://blog.aboutamazon.com/devices/amazon-devices-event-september-2019?utm_source=social&amp;utm_medium=tw&amp;utm_term=amznews&amp;utm_content=devicesevent_2019">Amazon</a></span></p><p class="caption">The Echo Loop is a smart ring that connects to Alexa.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><ul class="summary-list"><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/amazon">Amazon</a> held an event on Wednesday introducing new Alexa-enabled devices.</li><li>The company announced Echo Buds, a Smart Oven, and more.</li><li>The Echo Loop will only be available by invitation at first, with an introductory price of $99. After that period is up, it will cost $130.</li><li>One of the new products is a smart ring called the Echo Loop that connects to Alexa.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/">Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. </a></li></ul><p>At Wednesday's event, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-event-september-2019-live-blog-announcements-2019-9">Amazon introduced a slew of new products</a> capable of connecting to Alexa, including Echo Frames, Echo Buds, a Smart Oven, and more. </p><p>One of the more unexpected new products is the Echo Loop, a titanium ring with built-in microphones that connect to the Alexa voice assistant. The Echo Loop will only be available by invitation at first, with an introductory price of $99. After that period is up, it will cost $130.</p><p>According to <a href="https://blog.aboutamazon.com/devices/amazon-devices-event-september-2019?utm_source=social&amp;utm_medium=tw&amp;utm_term=amznews&amp;utm_content=devicesevent_2019">Amazon</a>, the Loop has two microphones, which you can activate by tapping a button on the ring, and "the smallest speaker ever on an Echo device." It will also vibrate "discreetly" to alert you of notifications, incoming calls, or when the device has been awakened through the button and Alexa is streaming your request to the cloud.</p><p>Amazon is pitching this product as "super easy to connect with Alexa without breaking stride or digging out your phone, for those simple things like turning on the lights or calculating the tip on your lunch bill." Once you press the button, you can talk to Alexa and hear an answer through the speaker.</p><p class="tagline"><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/intelligence/40-big-tech-predictions-for-2019?IR=T&amp;itm_source=businessinsider&amp;itm_medium=ctgr_bii&amp;itm_term=ctgr_leadgen&amp;itm_content=amazon&amp;itm_campaign=40-big-tech-predictions-for-2019-3"><img src="https://static.businessinsider.com/image/5d5ecdddad2b472c89086704" alt="Exclusive FREE Slide Deck: 40 Big Tech Predictions for 2019 by Business Insider Intelligence" border="0" style="width: 100% !important" /></a></p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/apple-keynote-events-engaging-product-launch-anticipation-2019-9">7 ways Apple makes its keynote presentations so engaging</a></h3>        <div>            <iframe class="bijwplayerclass" data-player="jwplayer" src="https://content.jwplatform.com/players/AbV536a6-CEZHWCBG.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" style="margin:0px;" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><script>function receiveMessage(event){ console.log(event.data.fullscreen); Android.fullscreen(event.data.fullscreen); }window.addEventListener("message", receiveMessage, false);</script>        </div>    </div>

Amazon just announced Echo Loop, a $130 smart ring that lets you 'discreetly' get alerts from Alexa

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5d8bcbdd2e22af441f797d1d-1200/everything amazon launched 4x3.png" border="0" alt="everything amazon launched 4x3" data-mce-source="Amazon; Samantha Lee/Business Insider" /><p class="source"><span>Amazon; Samantha Lee/Business Insider</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><ul class="summary-list"><li>Amazon announced eight new Echo devices during its annual launch event in Seattle, WA, as well as several other products and features for its Alexa voice assistant.</li><li>The lineup includes an upgraded version of its bestselling <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07N8RPRF7/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biip_092519_amazon-product-update-2019-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B07N8RPRF7&amp;linkId=291c878c26d3719ddc32231a0475e020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Echo Dot</a> and Echo speakers, as well as a new premium <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07G9Y3ZMC/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biip_092519_amazon-product-update-2019-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B07G9Y3ZMC&amp;linkId=4c8d19c4a69a98953f2da5bb418b3b19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Echo Studio</a> speaker, and the highly anticipated <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07F6VM1S3/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biip_092519_amazon-product-update-2019-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B07F6VM1S3&amp;linkId=3670a4b3da71710fe1d2b2e940429e60" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Echo Buds</a> headphones. </li><li>We've got a list of each new product, alongside its price and release date. </li></ul><p>Amazon just concluded its annual launch event in its home city of Seattle, WA. As usual, the company unveiled a laundry list of new devices, as well as some new features for Fire TV and its Alexa voice assistant. </p><p>The event included a few incremental upgrades to new devices. For example, the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07N8RPRF7/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biip_092519_amazon-product-update-2019-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B07N8RPRF7&amp;linkId=291c878c26d3719ddc32231a0475e020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Echo Dot</a> has an LED clock now, the Echo got bigger, and there's now yet-another size of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PF1Y28C/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biip_092519_amazon-product-update-2019-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B07PF1Y28C&amp;linkId=08fbfba97cad4b0f55c63a29a80d8ab1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Echo Show</a> smart display. There are also a few new Echo and Ring products that are up for preorder now and a few more that are currently invite-only. </p><p>We've got preorder dates, prices, and specs for each product that was announced today. </p><h2>Here's a list of everything Amazon announced at today's event:</h2><ul class="summary-list"><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07N8RPRF7/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biip_092519_amazon-product-update-2019-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B07N8RPRF7&amp;linkId=291c878c26d3719ddc32231a0475e020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Echo Dot with Clock</a> ($59.99 - ships October 16)</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07R1CXKN7/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biip_092519_amazon-product-update-2019-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B07R1CXKN7&amp;linkId=55e8b36fba326626cdbe232ee6ce2170" target="_blank" rel="noopener">3rd-generation Echo</a> ($99.99 - ships October 16)</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07G9Y3ZMC/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biip_092519_amazon-product-update-2019-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B07G9Y3ZMC&amp;linkId=4c8d19c4a69a98953f2da5bb418b3b19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Echo Studio</a> ($199.99 - ships November 7)</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PF1Y28C/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biip_092519_amazon-product-update-2019-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B07PF1Y28C&amp;linkId=08fbfba97cad4b0f55c63a29a80d8ab1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Echo Show 8</a> ($129.99 - ships November 21)</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07KRY43KN/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biip_092519_amazon-product-update-2019-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B07KRY43KN&amp;linkId=968b4222f0920d91b15b2658549b4e67" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Echo Glow</a> ($29.99 - ships November 20)</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07MLY3JKV/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biip_092519_amazon-product-update-2019-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B07MLY3JKV&amp;linkId=cc198299a4e94aa1b30ba8f23ce9b5f0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Echo Flex</a> ($24.99 - ships November 14)</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07Q6ZZFLS/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biip_092519_amazon-product-update-2019-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B07Q6ZZFLS&amp;linkId=00616430c3834ca6cf64e83a1ecab662" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ring Stick-up Cam</a> ($99.99 - ships October 23)</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07Q9VBYV8/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biip_092519_amazon-product-update-2019-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B07Q9VBYV8&amp;linkId=d8f6cc86a4c4337c27d66baa5123bd86" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ring Indoor Cam</a> ($59.99 - ships now)</li><li><a href="https://shop.ring.com/pages/announcements" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ring Alarm Retrofit Kit</a> ($199 - arrives in November)</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PB21SRV/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biip_092519_amazon-product-update-2019-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B07PB21SRV&amp;linkId=9f49264fe7901db784a879ac0f6c8b2e" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Amazon Smart Oven</a> ($249.99 - ships November 14)</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07F6VM1S3/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biip_092519_amazon-product-update-2019-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B07F6VM1S3&amp;linkId=3670a4b3da71710fe1d2b2e940429e60" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Echo Buds</a> ($129.99 - ships October 30)</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01G62GWS4?&amp;_encoding=UTF8&amp;tag=biip_092519_amazon-product-update-2019-20&amp;linkCode=ur2&amp;linkId=f21e65cec6ce5e3cdf67b0f7ab7486ea&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Echo Frames</a> ($179.99 - invite only)</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07JPK4XJ6?&amp;_encoding=UTF8&amp;tag=biip_092519_amazon-product-update-2019-20&amp;linkCode=ur2&amp;linkId=1813bd0936ae35c02aa7f02e804d266c&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Echo Loop</a> ($129.99 - invite only)</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07WGJ8ZD3/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biip_092519_amazon-product-update-2019-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B07WGJ8ZD3&amp;linkId=4dffd1fa98b51794576d928cd7618bd1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">3rd-generation Eero</a> ($99 - ships now)</li></ul><p class="tagline"><p><a href="http://e.businessinsider.com/join/ci/insider-picks">Subscribe to our newsletter.</a><br><br>Find all the best offers at our <a href="https://coupons.businessinsider.com/">Coupons page</a>.<br><br>Disclosure: This post is brought to you by the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/insiderpicks">Insider Picks</a> team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners. We frequently receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising sales team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at insiderpicks@businessinsider.com.</br></br></br></br></p></p>

Amazon has announced a whopping 8 new Echo devices - here's how to buy all of them

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5a5651b925954c9c388b46ad-1487/jeff bezos net worth.jpg" alt="Jeff Bezos net worth" data-mce-source="David Ryder / Getty" /><p class="source"><span>David Ryder / Getty</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><ul><li><strong>Amazon's ad revenue could reach $4.5 billion in 2018, according to an analyst note by JPMorgan.</strong></li><li><strong>The company is set to emerge as a challenger to Facebook and Google's dominance of online <keyword id="35666" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="advertising">advertising</keyword>.</strong></li><li><strong>Its scale and data, fast growth, investments into developing advertising channels and reputation among advertisers make it well-positioned to emerge as a big player.</strong></li></ul><hr /><p><br /><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/amazons-ad-business-may-be-nearing-a-tipping-point-2017-6">Advertisers are not the only ones betting on Amazon's rise as a crucial ad vehicle</a> countering Facebook and Google's dominance of digital advertising. Wall Street is too.</p><p>Amazon is well-positioned to emerge as the third scaled digital ad platform after Google and Facebook, with its ad revenue set to surpass $4.5 billion in 2018, according to a note by JPMorgan analyst Doug Anmuth.</p><p>Here is why JPMorgan thinks Amazon's ascent is inevitable: </p><h2>Amazon has a killer combination of both scale and data</h2><p>Amazon's sheer scale and data makes it a considerable alternative to the duopoly. Facebook may know the most about people and their interests, and Google may know what people are actively searching for. But Amazon is unique in that it is the only one that has the data on what people buy.</p><p>"Amazon is best positioned in our view, with its in-market customers, scale, strong access to data, shopping history, ability to close the loop and leading market share in smart home speakers with Alexa/Echo," Anmuth wrote.</p><p>Retail is set to be the biggest advertising opportunity for Amazon, JPMorgan says. Amazon only accounted for approximately 10% of the $18 billion in US online retail ad spend in 2017. But retail represents a $6 billion market opportunity for Amazon in the US alone.</p><h2><strong>Amazon is a fast-growing, high margin business</strong></h2><p>Amazon doesn't break down its ad revenue, putting it in its "Others" bucket. But it has one of the fastest-growing digital ad businesses in the United States, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-advertising-business-is-crushing-the-competition-2017-11">already ahead of both Twitter and Snap's ad businesses</a>.</p><p>According to JPMorgan, ad revenue represents more than half of Amazon's "Other" revenue and has grown in the 60% range in the past few quarters. And with advertising being a high-margin services business, its margins are only set to increase more.</p><p>"We expect Amazon's ad revenue to grow rapidly over the next few years, reaching $6.6 billion in 2019, or a 55% 2017-19 CAGR," Anmuth write. </p><p>A shift in accounting practices should boost net revenue for Amazon in 2018, with greater margins and gross profit, according to JPMorgan. The company is set to rake in approximately $5 billion of gross profit dollars from advertising in 2019.</p><h2><strong>Amazon is actively scaling its ad business</strong></h2><p>Amazon laid the groundwork and consistently pumped in resources to develop its advertising business throughout 2017. It has imminent plans to open a new office with over 2,000 jobs dedicated to advertising in New York City, has <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/amazon-wants-to-help-publishers-make-more-money-from-ads-1481138120"><span>built out ad tech for publishers,</span></a>  <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-advertising-business-is-growing-fast-2017-2"><span>helped marketers target their customers with ads</span></a> and <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/amazon-and-pinterest-threaten-to-shake-up-the-search-ad-market-1488798004"><span>focused in on search advertising</span></a>.</p><p>Amazon offers three different primary ad units including Sponsored Products, Headline Search Ads and Product Display Ads. It has also built out a programmatic ad offering that can be utilized on third-party sites, offers a header bidding solution, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-promising-nfl-advertisers-it-will-track-whether-their-ads-work-2017-9">has tested in-stream video ads with NFL advertisers</a> and will reportedly soon allow companies to promote their products on Alexa.</p><p>"Amazon is actively scaling its ad business by accelerating ad sales force hiring and opening more inventory to more sellers on the platform, and appears to be gaining momentum with ad agencies," Anmuth wrote.</p><h2>Advertisers have been increasingly warming up to Amazon </h2><p>Amazon has been readying its blitz to try to sell its services to media agencies, and advertisers and media agencies are warming up to that prospect. Global ad holding companies including <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/ad-holding-companies-to-rapidly-increase-spending-with-amazon-1512490021">Publicis, WPP and Omnicom all plan to increase their ad spend on Amazon</a> by 40-100% in 2018, from an estimated $500 million in 2017 to over $800 million in 2018.</p><p>"I think that they are a force to be reckoned with, they are excellent with everything they do," Kristin Lemkau, chief marketing officer at JPMorgan Chase <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/jpmorgans-cmo-lemkau-on-says-amazon-as-advertising-platform-2017-10">told Business Insider last year</a>. "You have to do business with Amazon."</p><p>Still, Amazon has some catching up to do. Google generated $61 billion and Facebook had $27 billion in advertising revenue in the first three quarters of 2017 respectively. Amazon, on the other hand, is estimated to have generated approximately $2.8 billion in ad revenue in 2017, according to JPMorgan. </p>     <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/running-lose-weight-shawn-arent-exercise-health-science-2016-12">An exercise scientist reveals the exercise regime that will burn the most fat</a></h3>        <div>            <iframe class="bijwplayerclass" data-player="jwplayer" src="https://content.jwplatform.com/players/AuQ6PElK-CEZHWCBG.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" style="margin:0px;" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><script>function receiveMessage(event){ console.log(event.data.fullscreen); Android.fullscreen(event.data.fullscreen); }window.addEventListener("message", receiveMessage, false);</script>        </div>    </div>

JPMORGAN: Amazon's ready to take on the Google-Facebook duopoly in advertising

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5d8bc8d12e22af42cd014a04-2400/amazon echo frames.jpg" border="0" alt="Amazon Echo Frames" data-mce-source="Business Insider/Lisa Eadicicco" /><p class="source"><span>Business Insider/Lisa Eadicicco</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><ul class="summary-list"><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/amazon">Amazon </a>unveiled its first pair of smart glasses, the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/echo-frames">Echo Frames</a>, which have Alexa built in.</li><li>Unlike other earlier attempts at smart glasses, the Echo Frames have no display or camera.</li><li>It's a strategic move by Amazon to move its Alexa virtual assistant beyond the home.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/">Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. </a></li></ul><p>Amazon on Wednesday unveiled its first-ever pair of smart glasses, the Echo Frames, which will be available on an invitation basis for $180.</p><p>Amazon isn't the first tech company to launch a pair of smart glasses, but its approach is vastly different than that of Google and Snap. Unlike Google Glass and Snapchat Spectacles, there's no camera on the Echo Frames. There's also no display on the Echo Frames; after all, the main purpose of the glasses is to make it easier to use Alexa on the go without reaching for your smartphone.</p><p><em><strong>Read more:</strong> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-echo-frames-smart-glasses-alexa-voice-commands-2019-9" data-analytics-position="1" data-analytics-module="hero_tout">Amazon is releasing its first-ever pair of smart glasses for $180, and they'll even work with prescription lenses - here's what they can do</a></em></p><p>It's one of three new wearable devices Amazon unveiled during its big event on Wednesday. The company also announced an Alexa-enabled ring called Echo Loop, which, like Echo Frames, is part of the firm's Day 1 program, which allows customers to try new products and provide feedback to Amazon before they're ready for broader availability. The company is also releasing a pair wireless earbuds with Alexa built-in called the Echo Buds.</p><p>I had the chance to briefly try out the Echo Frames following Amazon's event, and here's what it was like. </p><p class="tagline"><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/intelligence/40-big-tech-predictions-for-2019?IR=T&amp;itm_source=businessinsider&amp;itm_medium=ctgr_bii&amp;itm_term=ctgr_leadgen&amp;itm_content=amazon&amp;itm_campaign=40-big-tech-predictions-for-2019-3"><img src="https://static.businessinsider.com/image/5d5ecdddad2b472c89086704" alt="Exclusive FREE Slide Deck: 40 Big Tech Predictions for 2019 by Business Insider Intelligence" border="0" style="width: 100% !important" /></a></p>

Amazon just announced its first-ever pair of Alexa smart glasses - here's what it's like to use them

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5d8c2b092e22af4ca850093a-2400/echo loop.jpg" border="0" alt="Echo Loop" data-mce-source="Business Insider/Lisa Eadicicco" /><p class="source"><span>Business Insider/Lisa Eadicicco</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><ul class="summary-list"><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/amazon">Amazon's</a> Echo Loop is a smart ring with a button for summoning Alexa.</li><li>It's one of three new Alexa-enabled wearables the company announced on Wednesday, along with the Echo Buds wireless earbuds and Echo Frames smart glasses.</li><li>The ring can also buzz to indicate when you have a new smartphone notification.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/">Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.</a></li></ul><p>The Amazon Echo may be one of the most popular connected home products, but the company is making a big effort to expand its Echo gadgets beyond our households.</p><p>During an event on Wednesday, Amazon unleashed a slew of new Alexa and Echo products, among the most unexpected being a smart ring that can be used to access Alexa.</p><p><em><strong>Read more:</strong> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-unveils-airpod-competitor-smart-glasses-new-echo-2019-9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" data-qa="message_attachment_title_link">From Alexa-powered smart glasses to a serious AirPods competitor: These are the 8 craziest and coolest new gadgets Amazon unveiled in an hours-long event on Wednesday</a></em></p><p>The smart ring, known as the Echo Loop, is part of Amazon's Day 1 program, meaning it will be available in limited quantities and on an invitation-only basis. During the invitation period, the Echo Loop will be priced at $130. </p><p>It's one of two Day 1 products Amazon announced during its big event, the other being a pair of Alexa-enabled smart glasses called Echo Frames.</p><p>After trying the Echo Loop for a few minutes, here's a brief look at what it's like to use it. </p><p class="tagline"><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/intelligence/40-big-tech-predictions-for-2019?IR=T&amp;itm_source=businessinsider&amp;itm_medium=ctgr_bii&amp;itm_term=ctgr_leadgen&amp;itm_content=amazon&amp;itm_campaign=40-big-tech-predictions-for-2019-3"><img src="https://static.businessinsider.com/image/5d5ecdddad2b472c89086704" alt="Exclusive FREE Slide Deck: 40 Big Tech Predictions for 2019 by Business Insider Intelligence" border="0" style="width: 100% !important" /></a></p>

I spent a few minutes with Amazon's new Alexa smart ring, and it feels like it could be the first step toward something bigger

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5b3536a2ce37b219008b46ed-2400/screen shot 2017-10-04 at 122733 pm.png" border="0" alt="google home mini" data-mce-source="Google" /><p class="source"><span>Google</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><ul><li><strong>Google should give away its $49 Home Mini smart speaker for free to every household in the US, according to Morgan Stanley.</strong></li><li><strong>Such a giveaway would cost $3.3 billion, but ensure that Google is in prime position for what could be the next major platform shift. </strong></li><li><strong>Smart speakers will be a key to the rise of "voice commerce" and Amazon's foothold in consumer homes gives it a strong lead.</strong></li></ul><hr /><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Morgan Stanley's financial analysts argue that for <a href="http://markets.businessinsider.com/stocks/goog-stock">Google</a>, there's no place like Home.  </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In four years, 70 percent of US households will own a smart speaker, which consumers will increasingly turn to for shopping and entertainment. To make sure that a big share of those devices are Google's, the company should give <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/google-home-mini-release-pixel-2-event-2017-10">Google Home Minis</a> free of charge to consumers in the United States and maybe even across the globe, Morgan Stanley analyst Brian Nowak wrote in research note Thursday.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Smart speakers, like the Google Home and the <a href="http://markets.businessinsider.com/stocks/amzn-stock">Amazon</a> Echo, are a hit with consumers and they're going to continue to sell fast, Nowak says. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Because these devices present so many important opportunities, Google needs to move fast and get its smart gadgets into homes faster than competitors.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If it doesn't, Amazon's Echo smart speaker stands to emerge as the dominant device and that means a lot of bad things for Google, says Morgan Stanley. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5b3537b4034eb224008b472b-1164/screen shot 2018-06-28 at 105218 am.png" border="0" alt="smart speaker adoption" data-mce-source="Morgan Stanley" /><p class="source"><span>Morgan Stanley</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For starters, there's the growing popularity of voice-shopping--the act of shouting to a smart speaker that there's no more laundry detergent or Fruit Loops and leaving it to the machine to place the order with a retailer. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Morgan Stanley says that if consumers aren't shouting to a Google Home device, then that could "threaten the long-term growth" of Google's lucrative <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/googles-carrefour-partnership-signals-new-retails-strategy-2018-6">retail-search advertising business. </a>which accounts for 20% of Google's US ad revenue. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In addition, the larger the number of homes Google's smart devices get into, the bigger the opportunity to develop the company's promising digital-valet category, such as Duplex, Morgan Stanley wrote.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The analysts also imagine a dual giveaway, pairing the Home Mini with a free YouTube Premium trial, which they argue could spur adoption of YouTube's new subscription music service .</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"If 15% of free trial US households begin paying for YouTube Premium," the analysts wrote, "it would generate $1.8 billion of incremental annual YouTube revenue. This would potentially (increase YouTube revenue 6%) and pay back the total device cost in 4 years." The analysts added that this could add to YouTube's value, which the bank earlier this year <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/morgan-stanley-values-youtube-160-billion-dollars-2018-5">estimated was $160 billion,</a> more than GE, IBM or Disney.</span></p><p>Google currently sells the Home Mini device for $49 (though it's often available cheaper with various promotions). Nowak reckons the cost of giving the devices away for free to every US household would total $3.3 billion - that's a lot of money, but for a company as large as Google it's only 3% of 2019 expected operating expenses. That could prove to be money well spent, if it safeguards Google's valuable <keyword id="6354851" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="retail">retail</keyword> search business.</p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The bank laid out the reasons they might be wrong and those include the possibility consumers may prefer interacting with digital valets via their mobile phones, which could "offset demand" for the speakers. And because the analysts estimated that 50% of America's homes are already Amazon Prime members, those consumers might be less likely to want a Google Home device.</span></p>  <p class="tagline">Visit  <a href="http://markets.businessinsider.com/">Markets Insider</a> for constantly updated market quotes for individual stocks, ETFs, indices, commodities and currencies traded around the world. <a href="http://markets.businessinsider.com/">Go Now!</a></p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/nsa-hacker-what-would-happen-if-americas-internet-went-down-2018-6">What would happen if America's Internet went down</a></h3>        <div>            <iframe class="bijwplayerclass" data-player="jwplayer" src="https://content.jwplatform.com/players/5lyIVMEs-CEZHWCBG.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" style="margin:0px;" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><script>function receiveMessage(event){ console.log(event.data.fullscreen); Android.fullscreen(event.data.fullscreen); }window.addEventListener("message", receiveMessage, false);</script>        </div>    </div>

Morgan Stanley: Google needs to give every US home a free smart speaker - or get buried by Amazon

There are multiple options for Bluetooth speakers under different price categories. You don’t need to spend a lot of money to get a <keyword id="2830201" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="good-Bluetooth-speaker" source="Orion">good Bluetooth speaker</keyword>. If you’re looking for a <keyword id="1678176" type="POSITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bluetooth-speaker" source="Orion">Bluetooth speaker</keyword> with voice assistant, you can get those as well. Sure there are smart speakers from Google and Amazon but these require a connection to a power outlet. Bluetooth speakers are ideal as they’re portable and can run on a battery. Voice assistants make things easier as you get hands-free control for playback controls.<br /><br />So here’s a look at the best Bluetooth speakers with voice assistants under ₹10,000.<br /><br /><bulletContentEmbed name="B07FMYLSBP" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B07FMYLSBP_head"><columnHead col="1"><columnHeadThumb>      <div type="image" title="Recommended" msid="85296192" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb><columnHeadTitle>B07FMYLSBP</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B07FMYLSBP_body"><bulletContentRow name="B07FMYLSBP_4402129882809246"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">TAGG Sonic Angle 1</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">The Tagg Sonic Angle 1 Bluetooth is one of the best options in the budget segment. It comes with a built-in mic that supports Google Assistant and Siri, and also lets you take calls. The Tagg Sonic Angle 1 also features a bass radiator so those wanting a bass-heavy speaker can consider this too. The Bluetooth speaker packs a 2,200mAh battery that is said to last for up to 8 hours.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B07FMYLSBP_8181232791665982"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">It’s IPX5 rated as well for splash and water resistance. Connectivity options on the Tagg Sonic Angle 1 include Bluetooth 4.2 and a 3.5mm headphone jack for wired usage.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed><br /><br /><bulletContentEmbed name="B01MSYQWNY" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B01MSYQWNY_head"><columnHead col="1"><columnHeadThumb>      <div type="image" title="Value for money" msid="85296223" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb><columnHeadTitle>B01MSYQWNY</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B01MSYQWNY_body"><bulletContentRow name="B01MSYQWNY_9393192223858417"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">JBL Flip 4 by Harman</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">JBL is a known household name in the Bluetooth speaker segment. The JBL Flip 4 comes with the company’s signature sound technology. You can use either Siri or Google Assistant on the JBL Flip 4. The Bluetooth speaker also boasts up to 12 hours of playtime on a single charge. It also stands out for its heavy bass sound as it is equipped with dual passive bass radiators.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B01MSYQWNY_4536883596355161"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">The JBL Flip 4 also packs a built-in noise and echo-cancelling speakerphone. There are also multiple colour options to choose from for the JBL Flip 4. These include white, black, yellow, pink, grey, and more.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed><br /><br /><bulletContentEmbed name="B086DBR6T7" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B086DBR6T7_head"><columnHead col="1"><columnHeadThumb>        <div type="image" title="Heavy bass" msid="85296255" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb><columnHeadTitle>B086DBR6T7</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B086DBR6T7_body"><bulletContentRow name="B086DBR6T7_7289985617775647"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">Sony SRS-XB23</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">Sony fans can go for the SRS-XB23 which is another bass-heavy Bluetooth speaker. It has a built-in mic so you can take calls and also access Google Assistant and Siri for hands-free control. The Sony SRS-XB23 can also be used outdoors as it has IP67 rating for water and dust resistance, and it’s said to last for up to 12 hours on battery.  It also features a USB Type-C so you can get faster charging than most Bluetooth speakers in the same range.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B086DBR6T7_7017289560370092"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">The Sony SRS-XB23 is also quite portable so you can carry it around. It comes in four colour options of black, blue, green and red.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed><br /><br /><bulletContentEmbed name="B01FQVHGSG" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B01FQVHGSG_head"><columnHead col="1"><columnHeadThumb>      <div type="image" title="Long battery life" msid="85296290" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb><columnHeadTitle>B01FQVHGSG</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B01FQVHGSG_body"><bulletContentRow name="B01FQVHGSG_2121589535244917"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">JBL Charge 3</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">The JBL Charge 3 is a premium option for those who are willing to spend. The Bluetooth speaker comes with support for Siri and Google Assistant for hands-free control. It packs a massive 6,000mAh battery that is said to go on for up to 20 hours on a single charge. The JBL Charge 3 is also equipped with dual external passive radiators for that extra bass.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B01FQVHGSG_7759965265105953"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">It’s also suitable for the outdoors with its IPX7 waterproof rating and durable material. The JBL Charge 3 offers some funky designs to choose from in addition to black and grey options.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed><br /><br /><bulletContentEmbed name="B07B9NDGQT" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B07B9NDGQT_head"><columnHead col="1"><columnHeadThumb>      <div type="image" title="Pocket friendly" msid="85296324" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb><columnHeadTitle>B07B9NDGQT</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B07B9NDGQT_body"><bulletContentRow name="B07B9NDGQT_0508542548430833"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">JBL Clip 3</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">JBL Clip 3 is a portable Bluetooth speaker for those on a low budget. It comes with an integrated carabiner that allows you to hook it into a backpack or belt loop or just about anywhere possible. The JBL Clip 3 also supports Google Assistant and Siri that can be activated by long-pressing the remote button. It comes with noise and echo-cancelling speakerphone, and up to 10 hours of battery life on a single charge.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B07B9NDGQT_6085215790640223"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">The JBL Clip 3 is also IPX7 waterproof. When it comes to colour options you can go crazy with the number of designs to choose from.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed><br /><br /><bulletContentEmbed name="B085YCQRYM" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B085YCQRYM_head"><columnHead col="1"><columnHeadThumb><div type="image" title="Cheaper alternative" msid="85296350" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb><columnHeadTitle>B085YCQRYM</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B085YCQRYM_body"><bulletContentRow name="B085YCQRYM_0571070323259900"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">Mi Outdoor Bluetooth Speaker</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">Budget conscious buyers can also consider the Mi Outdoor Bluetooth speaker. It’s a highly portable Bluetooth speaker with a strap that makes it easy to carry around for outdoor activities. It’s also very compact and light so you can just hang it on your bicycle. The highlight of the Mi Outdoor Bluetooth speaker is its 20-hour battery life which is quite long for its price.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B085YCQRYM_6526616151791173"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">It also comes with IPX5 rating making it splash-proof. It has Bluetooth 5.0 for wireless connectivity, and it’s compatible with Android, iOS and Windows devices.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed><br />

Best Bluetooth speakers with voice assistant support in India

New Delhi, Oct 2 (IANS) Smart home speakers have come of age with Amazon Echo and Google Home devices and sensing the immense opportunity here, Xiaomi has brought Mi Smart Speaker to India which is affordable, comes in a bigger form factor, and runs Google Assistant to perform your daily tasks.<br /><br />The USP of the Rs 3,999 speaker is that it comes with an in-built Google Chromecast platform to let you stream shows, movies and music on TVs or listen on the speaker itself.<br /><br />Let us see why this smart speaker is set to give some tough competition to the established players in this genre.<br /><br />Weighing 853 grams, the device features a metal mesh with 10,531 sound holes for a rich, immersive sound. The 12W Mi smart speaker comes with DTS professional tuning, delivering a 360 degree surround sound experience in an extra-large sound chamber.<br /><br />It gets easily synced with the Google home app and can connect several smart homes appliances like lights, thermostats, security cameras and more.<br /><br />The design looks elegant with the control panel and touch-sensitive buttons neatly placed on the top.<br /><br />The light Ring strip on top with a music-lighting effect was awesome.<br /><br />The Mi Smart Speaker can be paired in the same room for a perfect cinematic stereo sound experience.<br /><br />The device offers over 10 lakh Google actions in English and Hindi -- play and control music with your voice, align your daily tasks, check weather, get answers, set reminders and more.<br /><br />The microphone array (2 mics) offers far-field voice wake-up support. The device supports Bluetooth 4.2, Android 4.4 and iOS 9.0 or above.<br /><br />The beautifully-crafted device produced rich sound, redefining the smart speaker range.<br /><br />A built-in 'TAS5805M hi-fi audio processor by global semiconductor design and manufacturing company Texas Instruments (TI) provided high power, low distortion and advanced multi-band dynamic response control algorithms.<br /><br />The 'TAS5805M' is a high-efficiency, stereo, closed-loop Class-D amplifier offering a cost-effective digital-input solution with low power dissipation and sound enrichment.<br /><br />The sound was in the same immersive range as offered by Amazon or Google smart speakers.<br /><br />One can easily control the speakers with apps from iPhones, iPad, Android phone or tablet, Mac or Windows laptop or Chromebook.<br /><br />The buyers can also avail one-year free subscription from Gaana.<br /><br />Conclusion: With the Mi Smart Speaker powered by Google Assistant, getting any information, playing music or streaming shows is just a voice command away.<br /><br />The device comes with an inaugural price of Rs 3,499 which is a value-for-money deal in the world of smart home speakers.<br /><br />--IANS<br /><br />bu/na

Xiaomi's Mi Smart Speaker: Best budget Google Assistant device (Ld)

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Experts have deemed <keyword id="11892748" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="china" source="Orion">China</keyword>'s takeover of the world's tech all but inevitable.</li><li>A new book, "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Digital-Silk-Road-Chinas-Future/dp/0063046288">The Digital Silk Road: China's Quest to Wire the World and Win the Future</a>," also argues China is on the rise.</li><li>But the book accidentally reveals the problems with this narrative and the weakness of Beijing's plans.</li><li>Jonathan A. Knee is Professor of Professional Practice at Columbia Business School and a Senior Advisor at Evercore.</li></ul><p>When I first visited Beijing as a student in the 1980s, just before the Tiananmen Square massacre,there were only a couple of ring roads surrounding the city. The second of these loops ran for 20 miles near where the city walls once stood and enclosed a population of around six million. Fast forward to today and the sixth ring road, completed in 2010 and well over a hundred miles long, now encircles a booming metropolis of over 20 million inhabitants. </p><p>But for all the changes, much about China has remained the same. On my first trip into the center of the capital city I sat next to a student on a crowded bus who was eager to engage me in order to practice his English. As we passed what looked like a new Western-style hotel along the way, I observed that the parking lot was empty.  The student moved in closer and explained in hushed tones that the building had been a signature government project but that an engineer had miscalculated the correct pitch of the elevator shaft. Due to the miscalculation, the elevator could not reach the revolving restaurant that sat atop the modern empty structure. The engineer, according to the student, had been executed.</p><p>I was reminded of this chance encounter as I read Jonathan Hillman's engrossing account of China's digital aspirations, "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Digital-Silk-Road-Chinas-Future/dp/0063046288">The Digital Silk Road: China's Quest to Wire the World and Win the Future</a>." During that first trip in the 80s, it would never have occurred to me that the combination of grand ambition, central control and ruthless determination - even when sometimes paired with comical inefficiency - would ultimately succeed in turning China into the economic powerhouse it has become. That rise has also gotten the notice of many democracies, who view China's growing stature and authoritarian nature as a threat. Hillman's book is meant to echo those concerns and serve as a call to democracies around the world to actively thwart inevitable Chinese digital dominance. But Hillman's own thorough reporting suggests that the threat may not be as dire as his far-reaching policy proposals imply.  </p><h2><strong>An empty threat</strong></h2><p>The Digital Silk Road is the technology arm of China's <keyword id="12209625" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="belt-and-road-initiative" source="Orion">Belt and Road Initiative</keyword>, a massive project launched in 2013. The idea is to build physical and digital infrastructure in countries around the world, connecting them to China and driving President <keyword id="11965076" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="xi-jinping" source="Orion">Xi Jinping</keyword>'s bid to become a global superpower by 2050. Hillman weaves together academic research with on-the-ground journalism to paint a vivid picture of China's Digital Silk Road efforts to dominate a number of hardware businesses critical to global communications infrastructure.</p><p>There are many cautionary tales: the  story of how the once giant Nortel partnered with the Chinese government to gain access to its gigantic market only to end up bankrupt with its intellectual property in the hands of its Chinese competitors' is reminiscent of Circuit City and Borders who partnered with Amazon to execute their digital strategies to the same deadly effect. But many of the cases that Hillman describes sound like high tech versions of the white elephant hotel story I heard thirty years ago: undersea cables that carry no traffic, building smart cities in rural Africa that attract no investment, a succession of failed satellite launches.  And in many of the critical technologies of the future like cloud computing and low earth orbital (LEO) satellite deployment, China is so far behind that it has no reasonable prospect of catching up.</p><p>Hillman's core argument seems to be that by giving China free reign to undertake money losing projects in developing countries, democracies are mortgaging their future. As these countries being wooed by China represent an increasing percentage of global GDP, democratic nations will be left out from this booming segment of the world. However, everything about the highly transactional nature of these governments described in "The Digital Silk Road" suggests that they will be happy to abandon China in the future if something better and cheaper comes along. And it sure feels like in the not too distant future Western-owned LEO satellites will provide that cheaper and better thing.  Many of Hillman's policy proposals seem animated by legitimate concerns regarding the growing digital divide not just globally but in rural America.  These deserve serious consideration, but not primarily because of the China threat.</p><p>The failure of China to make more headway along the Digital Silk Road is a function of both its insistence on total control at home and its nefarious activities abroad. Despite its mixed record in technology hardware, China is home to two of the largest companies in the world: Tencent and Alibaba. Why the same factors that have constrained China's growth on the technology hardware side have apparently not hampered its ability to nurture these leaders in consumer internet services, is a topic oddly ignored in "The Digital Silk Road." So too are the many policy questions beyond those related purely to technology infrastructure that the extraordinary success of these increasingly global internet giants raise.</p><p>Sixty years ago, Joseph Heller observed in <em>Catch 22</em> that "just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't after you." The Digital Silk Road certainly demonstrates the legitimate basis for American paranoia about China's intentions. Hillman's call to establish a multilateral Coalition of Open and Resilient Economies to address these dangers, however, faces a long list of practical obstacles. As he points out, these countries have very different objectives and America's own credibility to influence such a group has rarely been lower. That doesn't mean we shouldn't try, just that expectations should be modest. In light of these limitations, the best news contained in "The Digital Silk Road" may unintentionally simply be how surprisingly ineffective China's massive efforts to control the global communications networks outside of its borders have actually been. </p><p><em>Jonathan A. Knee is Professor of Professional Practice at Columbia Business School and a Senior Advisor at Evercore. His most recent book, "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Platform-Delusion-Wins-Loses-Titans/dp/0593189434">The Platform Delusion: Who Wins and Who Loses in the Age of Tech Titans</a></em>,"<em> was released last month. </em></p>

China's march to global tech dominance is hitting some serious stumbling blocks

<img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/586fd5f2f10a9a1c008b7116-1800/razer project valerie 5.jpg" alt="razer project valerie 5.JPG" /><p class="source"><span>Business Insider/Jeff Dunn</span></p><p class="caption">Razer's "Project Valerie," a concept for a three-screen Windows laptop.</p>The Windows PC is in the midst of something of a renaissance. <p>PC manufacturers like Asus, Razer, HP and Dell have all picked up their game, delivering PCs that range from super-functional to <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/razer-project-valerie-photos-2017-1">just plain weird</a>. Small companies like Eve are <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/intel-backed-eve-v-project-challenging-microsoft-surface-pro-2016-11">launching head-turning specialized devices for power users</a>. Microsoft itself has even <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-surface-pro-versus-laptop-book-studio-hub-2017-6">made a dent in the market with its own line of Surface PCs</a>.</p><p>It's a far cry from "the clunky devices of the past," said Peter Han, Microsoft's vice president of partner devices and solutions.</p><p>Microsoft is taking credit for at least some of the Windows PC's resurgence. To help spur PC makers to release more more innovative designs, the company changed the way it interacts them, Han said. Rather than keeping all its research and treasure troves of data to itself, Microsoft had Han's engineering team start working directly with PC makers to build killer devices.</p><p>The payoff: A growing number of Windows PCs and tablets that can hold their own against those of Apple and other competitors. That new wave of devices is helping the PC attract a wider range of customers, even as the larger computer market undergoes a <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/pc-market-shrinking-five-years-straight-good-news-for-dell-hp-2017-1">massive years-long contraction</a>.</p><p>"We've had to learn together over a period of years," Han said. </p><h2>The fence</h2><p>For a long time, Microsoft had a habit of working on Windows in a vacuum, said Ruston Panabaker, a vice president and 20-year veteran of the company. Microsoft would finish each version of the operating system, and "throw it over the fence" to partners to do with as they would, he said. </p><p>That dynamic resulted in bland, indistinguishable PCs. While the Windows software is and has always been a high-margin business for Microsoft, PC manufacturing is a low-margin affair. That meant Windows PC makers largely invested in driving down the cost of manufacturing, rather than in cutting-edge product research or design.</p><p>"With Windows 10, we knew we couldn't do that," Panabaker said. </p><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5834bd38ba6eb603688b4e2d-2400/unbeatablevwhite background.png" alt="eve v laptop tablet" /><p class="source"><span>Eve</span></p><p class="caption">The Eve V laptop/tablet hybrid.</p><p>Launched in July 2015, Windows 10 represented an effort to tie together the various users and uses of Microsoft's flagship operating system. It combined the mouse-and-keyboard interface of classic Windows with the touchscreen-friendliness and stylus features of Windows 8. And it added in the Cortana virtual assistant, Microsoft version of - and competitor to - Apple's Siri.</p><p>To be successful, Microsoft knew it had to work more closely with PC manufacturers to make sure its ambitions for Windows 10 were fully realized in their devices. As Microsoft discovered with its own Surface line, it's hard to make PCs and tablets that people really enjoy using.</p><p>So as Windows 10 entered into development, Microsoft opened its engineering labs to many of the top PC manufacturers. The company was hoping to work with PC makers and give them access to the resources they needed to build computers that would show off the best of the new operating system, Han said.</p><h2>The quiet room</h2><p>One example of how Microsoft worked with its partners was with Cortana, Panabaker said. To really take advantage of the virtual assistant, your computer needs a sensitive microphone so it can hear your commands and questions even when you are far away from your desk. Unfortunately, the microphone in Windows PCs was typically placed right next to the computers' fans or other moving parts, Panabaker said. That led to a lot of white noise that threw off Cortana's accuracy.</p><p>So Microsoft let manufacturers into its labs - including the quietest room in the world, located right on the company's Redmond campus - to do research on where they could best place microphones inside slim, fashionable laptops and tablets that would eliminate the white-noise problem. </p><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/59136e9cd9f4069d2e8b507f-700/stack4-two.jpg" alt="microsoft harman kardon invoke cortana" /><p class="source"><span>Harman</span></p><p class="caption">The Harman Invoke, a Microsoft Cortana-powered rival to the Amazon Echo.</p><p>"We actually ended up redesigning a whole generation of PCs around Windows audio," Panabaker said.</p><p>But even though that initial engineering effort is long over, Microsoft is continuing to collaborate with its PC partners. The company shares data with computer makers about how people are actually using Windows, Han said. The manufacturers use that information to help improve their devices for the next go-round. It helps keep the PC makers more in-the-loop - and more gung-ho about supporting Windows 10. </p><p>"Data has been a big liberator in the conversation," Han said.</p><h2>Surface tension</h2><p>It's undeniable that the relationship between Microsoft and PC manufacturers has changed in the last five years or so. Every time Microsoft has released a new Surface laptop, tablet, or PC, it's sparked fears in the industry that the creator of Windows was going to try to muscle out the companies building Windows-powered PCs.</p><p>But that's not how Microsoft sees it. The partner engineering program that started with Windows 10 actually "builds trust" with PC makers, Panabaker said. For his part, Han said he's worked to "compartmentalize" his team away from Surface, so no proprietary information goes from PC manufacturers to Microsoft or vice versa. </p><p>"We have a decades-long relationship," Han said - and neither party is keen to jeopardize it. </p><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/59389387d508f821008b4e51-2000/surface-laptop-review-photos-4747.jpg" alt="Microsoft Surface Laptop" /><p class="source"><span>Melia Robinson/Business Insider</span></p><p class="caption">The Surface Laptop is the latest in Microsoft's hardware lineup.</p><p>In the bigger picture sense, if partners were ever really upset over the Surface, they're probably over it by now, said Linn Huang, a research director at IDC. It probably helps that the Surface still accounts for a tiny sliver of overall PC sales.</p><p>"I think most of the ill feelings were experienced at the launch of the first Surface years ago, and the OEMs have gotten somewhat accustomed to seeing Microsoft as partner and competitor simultaneously," Huang said.</p><p>Which is good, because Han and the partner engineering team's next big initiative is to work on non-PC products such as smart speakers, connected home appliances, and anything else that might run Windows 10.</p><p>"Our universe is the thousands of device makers who make stuff," Han said.</p><p class="tagline">Get the latest Microsoft stock price<a href="http://markets.businessinsider.com/stock/MSFT-Quote"> here.</a></p>            <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/dell-dude-ben-curtis-today-2016-2">WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Here's what the 'Dude You're Getting A Dell' guy is doing today</a></h3>                                    Please enable Javascript to watch this video                    

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