Amazon quietly ends its student loan discount program
Just a few weeks ago, Amazon and Wells Fargo announced a program that would give Prime Student customers a modest 0.5-percent interest rate discount on new student loans. It appears that partnership is already over — the promotion’s original landing page now simply redirects to Amazon’s top “college deals,” with no mention of the discount on Wells Fargo’s loan page or on Amazon Prime. Neither company gave a reason for why the promotion ended so soon, but Wells Fargo flatly told Bloomberg that the “promotion for Prime Student members has ended.”
The original deal could be stacked with a automatic payment plan for a total interest rate reduction of 0.75-percent — available only to Amazon Prime Student subscribers who paid a $49 annual fee. On the surface, it seemed like a good discount, but consumer advocate warned that the Amazon advertising helped to bury the notoriously high interest rates associated with most private educational loans. In any case, the Amazon partnership is no more. Still looking for a loan? Then the old advice is still the best advice: look at federal loans. Their interest rates are always better.
Source: Bloomberg
Tech’s biggest names are working to regulate AI research
Artificial intelligence is hitting its stride, already giving us machines that can drive themselves, talk to us, fight in our wars, perform our surgeries and beat humanity’s best in a game of Go or Jeopardy. Five companies at the forefront of the technology industry have been meeting to discuss these advancements in AI and figure out how to regulate even more powerful systems in the future, The New York Times reports.
Researchers from Facebook, Alphabet, Amazon, Microsoft and IBM are looking at the practical consequences of AI, such as how it will impact transportation, jobs and welfare. The group doesn’t have a name or an official credo, but its general goal is to ensure AI research focuses on benefiting people, not harming them, the NYT says.
This isn’t a new battle cry for many AI scientists. In 2015, Elon Musk, Stephen Hawking, the founders of Google DeepMind and dozens of other researchers signed an open letter calling for robust investigations into the impact of AI and ways to ensure it remains a benign tool at humanity’s disposal. The industry partnership is notable because it represents a renewed, active effort among disparate tech companies to address these same issues.
The companies are expected to announce the group in mid-September, though it could grow in the meantime: Google DeepMind has asked to participate separately from Alphabet, its parent company, the NYT reports.
One of the people involved in the industry partnership, Microsoft researcher Eric Horvitz, funded a paper issued by Stanford University on Thursday called the One Hundred Year Study, which discusses the realities of AI and the importance of investigating its impact now. It also calls for increased AI education at all levels of government and outlines how to publish a report on the state of the industry every five years for the next 100 years.
The NYT notes that people in the technology field are worried about regulators jumping in to police their work on AI.
“We’re not saying that there should be no regulation,” University of Texas at Austin computer scientist Peter Stone tells the NYT. “We’re saying that there is a right way and a wrong way.”
This summer, Engadget dove into the ways AI is poised to change jobs, war, criminal justice, history and our everyday lives. AI is the focus of much deserved attention in the technology industry because it is infinitely promising — even if we won’t be uploading our consciousness to the cloud any time soon.
Source: New York Times
Omate Rise 3G smartwatch slaps Amazon Alexa on your wrist
Exactly nine months ago, Omate launched its Rise smartwatch with 3G radio, circular display, carbon fiber bezel and full Android 5.1 (not Android Wear) for a mere $199 (it’ll be $349 when it hits retail next year). If you missed out on it, here’s your chance again. The company is now back on Indiegogo with a new Limited Edition run of another 999 units for the same base price point, and this time, it’ll be bundled with Amazon’s voice assistant, Alexa. While the CoWatch was the absolute first smartwatch to integrate Alexa, the Rise is still the first 3G standalone smartwatch to achieve this. Omate CEO Laurent Le Pen also pointed out that unlike the CoWatch, his product will actually be certified by Amazon by the time it ships in December.
There are no changes in terms of hardware. You’ll still be getting a 1.3-inch, 360 x 360 round LCD, a MediaTek MT2601 chipset (dual-1.2GHz Cortex-A7 CPU, Mali-400 GPU), 512MB of RAM, 4GB of storage, a 580mAh battery and a Nano SIM slot — the first 499 units will come with a free Ting SIM card for the US. The 3.5G HSDPA radio will support either 1900MHz for the US or 2100MHz for elsewhere, and the same ol’ Bluetooth 4.1 plus 802.11b/g/n WiFi are here to stay. As before, the 22mm strap can be easily detached from the splash-resistant (1 ATM) polycarbonate body, should you wish to try other straps to suit your mood.
On the software side, even though the Rise works as a standalone Android device, it can also be set up to receive push notifications from phones running on either iOS 9 or Android 4.4 and above. Just note that the Rise doesn’t come with Google Play services, but it isn’t hard to get that fixed. Of course, the biggest selling point here is Alexa which now has over 2,000 skills from a variety of services such as Lyft, SmartThings, Capital One and Amazon (duh). On top of the usual commands for the likes of media playback, shopping lists, schedules, exchange rates, calculations and weather forecast, one Rise beta tester also linked his smartwatch to his Logitech Harmony hub via IFTTT, thus allowing him to use his voice to turn his entire TV set — including his Hi-Fi, PlayStation and Philips Hue lights — on and off, as shown in the above video.
It’s obviously exciting times for both Omate and Amazon, and as time passes, Alexa will become smarter and more practical. “With Alexa, we are just showing a glimpse of the future,” Le Pen added. But for now, if all goes well, the Rise Limited Edition will start shipping to backers in December.
Source: Indiegogo
Tado’s new thermostat listens to Siri and Alexa
Tado is no doubt celebrating today after its thermostat was selected above all others for O2’s new subscription-based smart home offering. That’s by no means the only Tado news from this year’s IFA, though, as the company today announced its third-generation smart thermostat. Pretty much nothing has changed from a hardware standpoint, with the main improvements being support for both Apple’s HomeKit and Amazon’s Echo platforms, allowing you to control your heating by talking to Siri or Alexa, respectively. IFTTT integration remains part of the feature set, and the new generation is also said to have improved energy efficiency algorithms.
Joining the third-gen thermostat are new radiator controls that replace existing, dumb valves. Similar to offerings from the likes of Honeywell and Heat Genius, these let you control the temperature of individual heating zones. Tado’s smart radiator valves can be paired with a thermostat, though they also work independently, connecting to your smartphone via a simple internet hub.
The third-gen thermostat will be available later this month for £199 outright, or to rent for £4 per month for the first year and £6 per month thereafter. The smart radiator system starter kit, which includes two valves and the internet bridge, is arriving slightly later, in October. You can rent the kit for the same price as a thermostat, or purchase it for £179, with each additional smart valve costing an extra £59.
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Source: Tado
Amazon Launches Dash Buttons in Germany, Austria, and the U.K.
Amazon has expanded its domestic goods-ordering Dash Buttons program beyond U.S. shores, bringing the devices to Germany, Austria, and the U.K. for the first time.
The buttons have been available in the U.S. since March of last year, and enable Amazon Prime customers to reorder specific household items like coffee, toilet paper, and washing up liquid by pressing a physical button that’s wirelessly linked to their Amazon account.
Amazon has added over 100 popular household brands to its Dash program in the 18 months since its launch, in a bid to make reordering goods online a seamless process. Daniel Rausch, Director of Amazon Dash, said of the launch:
“We’ve all experienced the frustration of running out of something we need—Dash Button and Dash Replenishment Service are designed to make that moment a thing of the past.
“Dash Buttons offer the convenience of 1-Click shopping from anywhere in the home — they can be placed near those frequently used items you don’t want to run out of, and when you see supplies running low, the Dash Button makes it easier than ever to order more. Just press the button and your item is on its way.”
Dash buttons cost $4.99 (£4.99 / 4.99 euros) each, but Prime members get the same amount discounted off their first order, making the first device essentially free.
Amazon also announced it is launching its Dash Replacement Service (DRS) in the above countries. DRS lets connected devices like water filters and printers link up to the Dash system, either by manufacturers incorporating manual Dash buttons into the hardware, or enabling the devices to automatically reorder supplies when they are running low.
Companies including Bosch, Siemens, Samsung and Whirlpool are currently working on integrating Dash Replenishment into their products, according to Rausch.
Amazon Prime costs $99 (£79 / 49 euros) and grants customers access to a range of Amazon services.
Tag: Amazon
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Amazon’s instant-order Dash buttons arrive in the UK
It’s hard to keep up with Amazon’s multi-pronged attack on British supermarkets. Prime Now, Pantry and Fresh — all of these services are starting to blend together into a giant forgettable mush. Luckily, there are now Dash buttons, a refreshingly simple product that’s been available in the US since March 2015. With its UK debut, Prime customers can press a tiny clicker in their home to instantly order new toilet paper, washing up liquid and other household supplies. It’s supposed to negate your weekly shopping list, while ensuring you never run out of the essentials.
Amazon’s tiny Dash buttons are brand-specific and require a little bit of setup. Each one needs to be connected to your WiFi network and you’ll need to specify the exact product you want to order inside the Amazon app. Once that’s done, you’ll receive a notification on your phone each time a button is pressed. The alert will include some basic information, such as the price and estimated delivery time, as well as the option to cancel the order. As an extra failsafe against troublesome family members, the button will only fulfil a new order once the previous one has been delivered.
Amazon says roughly 40 brands are on board for the UK launch, including Fairy, Kleenex and Neutrogena. More will be added over time, giving Prime customers greater choice over what products they’re buying. Each buttons cost £4.99, but Amazon will eat the cost by giving you £4.99 in free credit. They follow the Dash scanner, a handheld device that lets you order products by shouting for brands and scanning barcodes. Both the scanner and the buttons are optional, but they set Amazon apart from its traditional supermarket competition. Online delivery is all about convenience, and these experiences are designed to accentuate that.
To solidify its ‘press once to order’ vision, Amazon is offering the Dash button concept to appliance manufacturers. It’s called the “Amazon Dash Replenishment Service” and means the same functionality can be baked into home hardware. A coffee machine specialist like Nespreso, for instance, could designate one of its buttons to act as a restock shortcut. So far, only five companies have agreed to support the platform in the UK — Samsung, Bosch, Siemens, Whirlpool and Grundig. Amazon won’t say when we’ll see the first products with Dash integrated, but it shouldn’t be too long given appliances have already been unveiled for the US market.
Source: Amazon UK
Amazon is cracking down on counterfeit goods
Amazon is cracking down on more than just counterfeit reviews — the e-commerce juggernaut is waging a war against fugazi products, too. In order to sell Adidas, Asics, Hasbro, Nike and Samsung products, Amazon is asking for a $1,000 to $1,500 fee and a surfeit of paperwork according to CNBC. One of the publication’s anonymous sources provided a screenshot of the submission process for Samsung. The requirements? An invoice no more than 90 days old showing the purchase of at least 30 items, with at least five different products across the invoices.
The reaction from sellers has been understandably fraught, with many saying it’s going to cut directly into their bottom line. For its part, Amazon says that the change here is to protect customers and make sure they aren’t burned by a bad purchase.
“We want customers to be able to shop with confidence on Amazon,” a spokesperson said to CNBC. “For certain products and categories, Amazon requires additional performance checks, other qualification requirements, and fees.”
If that means fewer people wind up with knock-off goods, as a customer, it’s hard to complain. Just ask basically anyone who’s shopped on Alibaba. But! This will have an impact on smaller merchants, creating a schism between bigger sellers that can afford the fee and those who cannot. If this goes more widespread beyond things like running shoes or TVs and into smaller items like music and kitchen items, for example, it’s possible we could see less selection, higher prices and fewer sellers overall on the digital emporium.
Source: CNBC
Amazon and Pandora Nearly Ready to Launch Apple Music Rivals
Amazon and Pandora are closing in on licensing agreements with the world’s largest record labels to launch their own streaming music services later this year, reports Financial Times.
Both subscription-based services are expected to cost $9.99 per month, a price that has become the industry standard, and compete with heavyweights like Apple Music and Spotify.
Amazon’s offering could launch as early as September, according to the report, while Pandora is said to be making progress towards debuting its service later this year.
Reuters first reported Amazon’s plans to launch a standalone streaming music service in June, followed by a Recode report last week claiming the online retailer is also working on a $5-a-month subscription music service that will be exclusive to owners of the company’s internet-connected Echo speaker.
Amazon currently sells individual songs or albums through Amazon Music, while Amazon Prime subscribers can stream Amazon music, playlists, and radio stations for free, but the selection is limited compared to Apple Music and Spotify.
Pandora’s ambitions to launch its own subscription music service, likely based on its acquisition of “key assets” from Rdio in 2015, were first reported by The Wall Street Journal earlier this month. The company plans to offer two price tiers by also slightly tweaking its existing $5 per month ad-free option with select new perks like skipping songs and offline listening, the report said.
Pandora currently offers customers in the U.S., Australia, and New Zealand the ability to listen to free, ad-supported radio stations centered around particular artists or songs, rather than offering on-demand listening like Apple Music. By offering only randomized, radio-like stations that prevent users from playing specific songs, it has been able to bypass licensing agreements with major record labels.
Tags: Amazon, Pandora, Apple Music
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Tech giants pledge to close the gender pay gap
To celebrate Women’s Equality Day, President Obama has announced a group of 29 major US employers who have signed the White House Equal Pay Pledge and promised to help close the gender pay gap. On the list are 10 top tech giants including Apple, Facebook, Microsoft, Intel and IBM.
According to the White House, the pledge includes five key points:
- Acknowledging the critical role businesses must play in reducing the national pay gap.
- Committing to conducting an annual company-wide gender pay analysis across occupations.
- Reviewing hiring and promotion processes and procedures to reduce unconscious bias and structural barriers.
- Embedding equal pay efforts into broader enterprise-wide equity initiatives.
- Pledging to take these steps as well as identify and promote other best practices that will close the national wage gap to ensure fundamental fairness for all workers.
While Facebook and Microsoft confirmed earlier this year that they have no gender pay gap, the acknowledgement from Obama is sure to add a little credibility to those claims. Rounding out the rest of the tech-focused businesses who signed on today are: Akami Technologies, Dropbox, LinkedIn, MailChimp and MuleSoft. One company is conspicuously absent, however: Earlier this year, Amazon claimed it pays men and women equally, but only revealed its salary figures when the SEC came knocking.
Source: The White House
Amazon to open bookstores in Chicago and Portland
For an independent bookstore, few threats are bigger than Amazon. With its e-book store and brutally competitive print book prices, it can be hard for a family-run business to compete. Well, it’s only going to get tougher now that Amazon is expanding its footprint of physical stores. The company has confirmed it’ll be setting up shop in Chicago and Portland — these locations will be joining Seattle, which opened in November, New York and San Diego. The details of each store is under wraps, but it’s safe to assume they’ll be packed with Kindles and Kindle Fire tablets.
Amazon has built its business online, but seems to be learning that there’s value in having a physical presence too. Sales assistants can explain the advantages of a particular product or service — something that’s increasingly useful as it builds a whole range of Prime perks and premium, quick-turnaround delivery services. As for books, well, there’s something to be said about visiting a store and plucking an interesting novel off the shelf. Gazing at the cover, reading the blurb and flicking through the pages. (Sigh.) It’ll be a while before Amazon’s stores have that old, musty feel to them, but hey, they beat looking around a website for hours on end.
Source: Financial Times
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