The Echo Look

I’m working on a full review-type-thing of the Look, but who really cares about that? I’m sure people will want to see the insides of it, though.

The most interesting two things on it are an Intel RealSense SR300 module (minus its visible light camera), and what’s basically a full Intel PC motherboard. In fact, here are the main specs:

• Intel Atom x5-Z8350 (SR2KT) @ 1.44Ghz (1.91Ghz burst)
• 8GB Samsung eMMC Flash NAND Storage
• 8GB Elpida LPDDR3 RAM
• Broadcom 802.11ac + 802.11b/g/a/n + Bluetooth (Not sure of the version)

The hardware is fantastically made and well put together, and overall is very clever considering they stuffed all of it into a diminutive cylinder!

The Reassembly

I did put the Look back together after all was said and done. And I think there were only like 2 screws left over! :]

Unfortunately it didn’t work for very long, nor very reliably. Something about hacking off all the shielding and generally manhandling all the components maybe had something to do with it.

But if you wanted to see a Look’s boot-up and camera sequence with its proverbial shirt off (the LEDs being the only real aspect of interest), then here’s your chance! Yay.

IC List

This is by no means comprehensive, but it covers all the major stuff with applicable part numbers:

• Intel Atom x5-Z8350 (SR2KT)
• Samsung 8GB Flash NAND (KLM8G1GEME)
• Elpida 8GB LPDDR3 (F8164A3MA-GD-F)
• TI PMIC (SND9039A2)
• Winbond 16mbit Flash Memory (25Q16FW1Q)
• Intel RealSense (SR300)
• Broadcom WLAN + BT (BCM43570KFFB8)
• Dual Diaphragm Speaker (?)
• Camera – 1080p? (?)
• Discrete microphones x 4 (?)

Closeups

Here are some shots of the components. I’m warning you, the linked files are fairly hi-res, so beware if you’re on a low-power mobile device. But hey, at least you’ll get some good detail.

If you’re curious as to the relative scale of each component, the full-size photos were all shot using the same camera setup and position. This means that there’s pretty much a 1:1 correspondence in scale between the various images. (Not true for the thumbnails, tho.)

Also of interest:

• The “flash” illumination LEDs consist of 4 pairs of warm and cool white. As such, the Look can output light at varying color temperatures, probably in the area of 2700K – 5000K (that’s just a guess). From looking at high frame rate video, it appears that they are PWM-controlled, so the 4 LEDs of each temperature could be set to varying degrees of apparent brightness.
• The blue “Echo ring” LED packages have red, green, and blue chips (sorta your standard RGB dealies). There are only 6 of them, but they do a very good job of making a convincingly smooth chasing effect when viewed through the front cover.
• The WiFi (and possibly BT) antennae are at the bottom of the unit.

Stay Tuned

As I get questions and/or investigate further on my own impetus, I’ll update this page. And as I said, there’s a forthcoming “full” review of the Look. Don’t forget to subscribe and yadda yadda yadda follow blech burp social media blah blah. (Just google ScottDotDot if you really want to.)

Background

I should point out that I knew next to nothing about the Echo when I pre-ordered it. I knew next to nothing about it when it arrived. I figured I’d take the approach of someone that just got this thing as a gift or something.

Amazon Echo Unboxing

I unbox the Echo and spend some time setting it up. It did not go well.

Then I attempted to interact with Alexa. I suppose I’m just accustomed to Google, because I can ask it a variety of free-form questions and most of the time it comes up with the correct answer. Alexa seems to be far more finicky about phrasing and command syntax. Which is just what you want from a user-friendly tube that ominously glows at you from the center of your living room.

Then the Rest of the Review

I just don’t get the Echo. Fine, it can play music and it can control all of your lights a limited number of brands of lights.

For home automation though, I’d want something more discrete. Something integrated into the house, not an obvious cylinder that I have to explain to everyone.

For listening to music I’m fine with a Bluetooth speaker.

If I have extemporaneous questions for the internet I can always ask the Google that’s in my very pocket (or glued to my hand).

I am Hopeful

Amazon does publish an API for Alexa. After making the video I signed up for their developer program. It’s been about a week, and I still haven’t heard back.

However, I’m hoping that the community will come up with some killer apps, and that home automation compatibility will increase.

But in the meanwhile of my daily life, Alexa remains a novelty. My living room and my workstation in my basement already have better speakers than the Echo’s. So she doesn’t do me much good for music, and she still can’t answer questions better than my phone.