Tim Cook in China for Third Time This Year, Trump Threatens 10% China Tariffs, Amazon Invests Another $4B in Anthropic
We kick off today’s update with my thoughts on Tim Cook’s third visit to China in 2024 and what appears to be political maneuvering and massaging tied to President Trump winning a second term. The discussion then turns to Trump threatening a 10% tariff put on Chinese goods. We conclude the update with Amazon putting more money in Anthropic.
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Amazon Unveils Updated Echo Spot, Amazon’s Data Center Spending Aggressiveness, Amazon’s AI Predicament
Today’s update will have an Amazon theme. We begin with my thoughts on Amazon bringing the Echo Spot back. The discussion then turns to Amazon’s shocking level of data center spending commitments. We conclude with Amazon finding itself in an AI predicament involving Alexa and AWS.
Hello everyone. Today’s update will have an Amazon theme. Let’s jump in.
Amazon Unveils Updated Echo Spot
In a press release issued yesterday, here’s Amazon:
“Introducing the all-new Echo Spot, the latest addition to Amazon’s lineup of Alexa-enabled devices. Echo Spot is a sleek new customizable smart alarm clock, featuring a variety of custom-designed clock faces and fun colors. It’s built for the nightstand, with a display that makes it easy to set and view alarms, see the time, weather, or song titles at a glance, and a directional speaker that delivers vibrant sound.
Echo Spot is available now in Black, Glacier White, and Ocean Blue, for $79.99—but Prime members can get it for just $44.99 through July 17, in celebration of Prime Day.
The all-new Echo Spot builds on what our customers loved most about the original product—like the semi-spherical shape, access to Alexa, and the compact and vibrant display—and reimagines it with even better visuals and improved audio quality.”
While the timing for a launch via press release is ludicrous – right smack in the middle of U.S. vacation season – the launch is being timed to coincide with Prime Day occurring in mid-July.
In addition to Amazon bringing the Echo Spot out of retirement (it was discontinued in 2019 after just two years on the market), it's the second new / updated device that Amazon is launching with Panos Panay heading the company’s devices division. The Echo Hub was the first back in February.
A few things jump out at me about this updated Echo Spot.
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Amazon’s Product Event, Missing Amazon Buzz
The update goes over Neil’s thoughts on Amazon’s product event at HQ2 in Virginia.
Hello everyone.
Following Apple’s product event last week, Amazon and Microsoft held their respective fall product events this week. Today’s update will be focused on Amazon’s event. We will cover Microsoft’s event next week.
Let’s jump right in.
Amazon’s Product Event
Heading into Amazon’s event (video here), expectations were muted. Back in August, David Limp, who has been overseeing Amazon’s consumer gadget strategy for years, announced he was leaving the company.
Late last year, Amazon announced that it was refocusing its HW efforts as part of a broader expense reduction initiative that impacted the entire company. Said another way, CEO Andy Jassy was going to adjust Limp’s portfolio. It wasn’t likely that Amazon would announce products this week that would shock and awe.
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