Essential introduces smart speaker that often works via local network

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Android founder Andy Rubin has launched a smart speaker in addition to the Essential Phone with his new company Essential. The Essential Home contains a large round screen and runs on Ambient OS. This operating system works as much as possible via the local network.

The smart speaker is intended to act as a hub for all smart home devices. It can be concluded from the renders on the Essential website that the speaker can be used to operate lamps, play music and get answers to questions. A timer can also be set and the device can show that the time has expired with flashes of light, among other things. During calls, the speaker will automatically mute the volume. The Essential Home can be operated both with voice and via the large round touchscreen. It is still unknown where and when the Essential Home will be released and for what price.

The device runs on a new operating system: Ambient OS. With this operating system, Essential distinguishes itself from the smart speakers from Amazon and Google, in the sense that Ambient OS will make much less use of internet access. Where possible, Ambient OS will control the operation of the various devices via the local network, instead of using APIs ‘in the cloud’. User data will also be stored locally as much as possible. The voice assistant, which uses artificial intelligence, will also run locally on the device itself.

Another characteristic feature of the Essential Home is that Ambient OS does not necessarily direct smart home devices itself, but often suggests users to perform a certain action. According to Essential, the speaker can map a user’s routine based on choices made and based on that make suggestions in an abnormal situation, such as the message that a lamp has remained on that probably should have been turned off.

On Tuesday, Android founder Andy Rubin’s company also introduced a new smartphone, the Essential Phone. Available from Tuesday in the US for $699, this titanium-body device is distinguished by its large 5.7″ display and very small 2.5mm bezels on the sides and top of the device. smartphone has a magnetic connector on the back that allows modules and accessories to be attached to extend the functionality of the phone.Essential has already released a 360-degree camera module that can be attached to the phone via this connector.

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