Everything we know about Aloha, Facebook’s mysterious movie talk device

Aloha will contest directly with the Amazon Echo Display. Screenshot/Amazon

Facebook is working on an unreleased movie talk device called Aloha, people familiar with the matter told Business Insider.

The device is still being developed and is presently on track to debut in May 2018, the people said, albeit the release date could switch.

Aloha represents Facebook’s very first serious foray into selling consumer hardware. The company’s Oculus subsidiary embarked selling the high-end Rift VR headset in January 2016, but Facebook hopes that Aloha will have more mass market appeal.

With a large touchscreen, speakers, and camera for making movie calls, the device is intended to challenge directly with the $229 Amazon Echo Showcase, which was released in June.

While details about Aloha (including the name) may switch before it sees the light of day, here’s what people familiar with the device told Business Insider about the device:

• Work on Aloha began after Facebook executives spotted the success of Amazon’s very first Echo, and now the Echo Display is seen internally as Aloha’s main competitor.
• Aloha will be the very first product to come out of Building 8, Facebook’s top-secret consumer hardware lab lead by ex-Darpa and Google exec Regina Dugan. Facebook recently put longtime VP Andrew Bosworth in charge of all of the company’s consumer hardware, including Oculus and Building 8.
• The device will feature a large touchscreen along with a camera and speakers and be capable of recognizing people when they step into view. 13-inch and 15-inch versions of the device are in the works.
• The magic of Aloha lies in its camera, which one source described as an "AI cameraman." Facebook has hired top computer vision and AI experts to make the camera automatically framework shots and recognize objects in view. The device is intended to be used in the home and has been tested in kitchens, bedrooms, and living rooms.
• Aloha will require either a Facebook or Messenger account to work, and will hook into the proprietor’s list of Facebook friends. That integration would let Aloha recommend that you begin a movie call with another Aloha possessor if both of you are present, for example. One thing that is not yet clear is how Aloha will treat situations involving numerous users in a house with individual Facebook accounts.
• The voice assistant Aloha runs on is loosely based on M, the AI talk bot assistant Facebook developed for Messenger. Opening up an audio version of M to commerce would permit Aloha owners to make purchases with their voice, as can be done with the Amazon Echo.
• Facebook has looked at selling Aloha for as much as $499 but hasn’t landed on a final price point.
• Aloha will be sold in stores and online. Facebook has considered selling Aloha through pop-up stores and inwards existing retail stores like Best Buy. The plan is to sell the device in North America and Europe at very first.
• One hurdle Facebook has faced in building Aloha is consumer mistrust of Facebook protecting user privacy. The company conducted marketing studies for project Aloha and received terrific concern that Facebook would use the device to spy on users.
• To assuage concerns about privacy, Facebook has considered creative ways to market Aloha, including pitching it as a device for letting the elderly lightly communicate with their families.

Besides Aloha, Facebook’s Building eight is developing a separate wise speaker without a screen that works more like the very first Amazon Echo. A hexagonal design for the speaker has been considered, and Facebook plans to sell it for less than Aloha.

Facebook declined to comment on Aloha and any unreleased hardware.

Details about Aloha, the secret movie talk device from Facebook s Building eight

Everything we know about Aloha, Facebook’s mysterious movie talk device

Aloha will challenge directly with the Amazon Echo Demonstrate. Screenshot/Amazon

Facebook is working on an unreleased movie talk device called Aloha, people familiar with the matter told Business Insider.

The device is still being developed and is presently on track to debut in May 2018, the people said, albeit the release date could switch.

Aloha represents Facebook’s very first serious foray into selling consumer hardware. The company’s Oculus subsidiary embarked selling the high-end Rift VR headset in January 2016, but Facebook hopes that Aloha will have more mass market appeal.

With a large touchscreen, speakers, and camera for making movie calls, the device is intended to challenge directly with the $229 Amazon Echo Display, which was released in June.

While details about Aloha (including the name) may switch before it sees the light of day, here’s what people familiar with the device told Business Insider about the device:

• Work on Aloha began after Facebook executives witnessed the success of Amazon’s very first Echo, and now the Echo Display is seen internally as Aloha’s main competitor.
• Aloha will be the very first product to come out of Building 8, Facebook’s top-secret consumer hardware lab lead by ex-Darpa and Google exec Regina Dugan. Facebook recently put longtime VP Andrew Bosworth in charge of all of the company’s consumer hardware, including Oculus and Building 8.
• The device will feature a large touchscreen along with a camera and speakers and be capable of recognizing people when they step into view. 13-inch and 15-inch versions of the device are in the works.
• The magic of Aloha lies in its camera, which one source described as an "AI cameraman." Facebook has hired top computer vision and AI experts to make the camera automatically framework shots and recognize objects in view. The device is intended to be used in the home and has been tested in kitchens, bedrooms, and living rooms.
• Aloha will require either a Facebook or Messenger account to work, and will hook into the proprietor’s list of Facebook friends. That integration would let Aloha recommend that you commence a movie call with another Aloha proprietor if both of you are present, for example. One thing that is not yet clear is how Aloha will treat situations involving numerous users in a house with individual Facebook accounts.
• The voice assistant Aloha runs on is loosely based on M, the AI talk bot assistant Facebook developed for Messenger. Opening up an audio version of M to commerce would permit Aloha owners to make purchases with their voice, as can be done with the Amazon Echo.
• Facebook has looked at selling Aloha for as much as $499 but hasn’t landed on a final price point.
• Aloha will be sold in stores and online. Facebook has considered selling Aloha through pop-up stores and inwards existing retail stores like Best Buy. The plan is to sell the device in North America and Europe at very first.
• One hurdle Facebook has faced in building Aloha is consumer mistrust of Facebook protecting user privacy. The company conducted marketing studies for project Aloha and received staggering concern that Facebook would use the device to spy on users.
• To assuage concerns about privacy, Facebook has considered creative ways to market Aloha, including pitching it as a device for letting the elderly lightly communicate with their families.

Besides Aloha, Facebook’s Building eight is developing a separate wise speaker without a screen that works more like the very first Amazon Echo. A hexagonal design for the speaker has been considered, and Facebook plans to sell it for less than Aloha.

Facebook declined to comment on Aloha and any unreleased hardware.

Details about Aloha, the secret movie talk device from Facebook s Building eight

Everything we know about Aloha, Facebook’s mysterious movie talk device

Aloha will contest directly with the Amazon Echo Display. Screenshot/Amazon

Facebook is working on an unreleased movie talk device called Aloha, people familiar with the matter told Business Insider.

The device is still being developed and is presently on track to debut in May 2018, the people said, albeit the release date could switch.

Aloha represents Facebook’s very first serious foray into selling consumer hardware. The company’s Oculus subsidiary embarked selling the high-end Rift VR headset in January 2016, but Facebook hopes that Aloha will have more mass market appeal.

With a large touchscreen, speakers, and camera for making movie calls, the device is intended to rival directly with the $229 Amazon Echo Showcase, which was released in June.

While details about Aloha (including the name) may switch before it sees the light of day, here’s what people familiar with the device told Business Insider about the device:

• Work on Aloha began after Facebook executives eyed the success of Amazon’s very first Echo, and now the Echo Demonstrate is seen internally as Aloha’s main competitor.
• Aloha will be the very first product to come out of Building 8, Facebook’s top-secret consumer hardware lab lead by ex-Darpa and Google exec Regina Dugan. Facebook recently put longtime VP Andrew Bosworth in charge of all of the company’s consumer hardware, including Oculus and Building 8.
• The device will feature a large touchscreen along with a camera and speakers and be capable of recognizing people when they step into view. 13-inch and 15-inch versions of the device are in the works.
• The magic of Aloha lies in its camera, which one source described as an "AI cameraman." Facebook has hired top computer vision and AI experts to make the camera automatically framework shots and recognize objects in view. The device is intended to be used in the home and has been tested in kitchens, bedrooms, and living rooms.
• Aloha will require either a Facebook or Messenger account to work, and will hook into the proprietor’s list of Facebook friends. That integration would let Aloha recommend that you embark a movie call with another Aloha possessor if both of you are present, for example. One thing that is not yet clear is how Aloha will treat situations involving numerous users in a house with individual Facebook accounts.
• The voice assistant Aloha runs on is loosely based on M, the AI talk bot assistant Facebook developed for Messenger. Opening up an audio version of M to commerce would permit Aloha owners to make purchases with their voice, as can be done with the Amazon Echo.
• Facebook has looked at selling Aloha for as much as $499 but hasn’t landed on a final price point.
• Aloha will be sold in stores and online. Facebook has considered selling Aloha through pop-up stores and inwards existing retail stores like Best Buy. The plan is to sell the device in North America and Europe at very first.
• One hurdle Facebook has faced in building Aloha is consumer mistrust of Facebook protecting user privacy. The company conducted marketing studies for project Aloha and received breathtaking concern that Facebook would use the device to spy on users.
• To assuage concerns about privacy, Facebook has considered creative ways to market Aloha, including pitching it as a device for letting the elderly lightly communicate with their families.

Besides Aloha, Facebook’s Building eight is developing a separate brainy speaker without a screen that works more like the very first Amazon Echo. A hexagonal design for the speaker has been considered, and Facebook plans to sell it for less than Aloha.

Facebook declined to comment on Aloha and any unreleased hardware.

Details about Aloha, the secret movie talk device from Facebook s Building eight

Everything we know about Aloha, Facebook’s mysterious movie talk device

Aloha will challenge directly with the Amazon Echo Showcase. Screenshot/Amazon

Facebook is working on an unreleased movie talk device called Aloha, people familiar with the matter told Business Insider.

The device is still being developed and is presently on track to debut in May 2018, the people said, albeit the release date could switch.

Aloha represents Facebook’s very first serious foray into selling consumer hardware. The company’s Oculus subsidiary commenced selling the high-end Rift VR headset in January 2016, but Facebook hopes that Aloha will have more mass market appeal.

With a large touchscreen, speakers, and camera for making movie calls, the device is intended to challenge directly with the $229 Amazon Echo Demonstrate, which was released in June.

While details about Aloha (including the name) may switch before it sees the light of day, here’s what people familiar with the device told Business Insider about the device:

• Work on Aloha began after Facebook executives eyed the success of Amazon’s very first Echo, and now the Echo Showcase is seen internally as Aloha’s main competitor.
• Aloha will be the very first product to come out of Building 8, Facebook’s top-secret consumer hardware lab lead by ex-Darpa and Google exec Regina Dugan. Facebook recently put longtime VP Andrew Bosworth in charge of all of the company’s consumer hardware, including Oculus and Building 8.
• The device will feature a large touchscreen along with a camera and speakers and be capable of recognizing people when they step into view. 13-inch and 15-inch versions of the device are in the works.
• The magic of Aloha lies in its camera, which one source described as an "AI cameraman." Facebook has hired top computer vision and AI experts to make the camera automatically framework shots and recognize objects in view. The device is intended to be used in the home and has been tested in kitchens, bedrooms, and living rooms.
• Aloha will require either a Facebook or Messenger account to work, and will hook into the proprietor’s list of Facebook friends. That integration would let Aloha recommend that you embark a movie call with another Aloha possessor if both of you are present, for example. One thing that is not yet clear is how Aloha will treat situations involving numerous users in a house with individual Facebook accounts.
• The voice assistant Aloha runs on is loosely based on M, the AI talk bot assistant Facebook developed for Messenger. Opening up an audio version of M to commerce would permit Aloha owners to make purchases with their voice, as can be done with the Amazon Echo.
• Facebook has looked at selling Aloha for as much as $499 but hasn’t landed on a final price point.
• Aloha will be sold in stores and online. Facebook has considered selling Aloha through pop-up stores and inwards existing retail stores like Best Buy. The plan is to sell the device in North America and Europe at very first.
• One hurdle Facebook has faced in building Aloha is consumer mistrust of Facebook protecting user privacy. The company conducted marketing studies for project Aloha and received staggering concern that Facebook would use the device to spy on users.
• To assuage concerns about privacy, Facebook has considered creative ways to market Aloha, including pitching it as a device for letting the elderly lightly communicate with their families.

Besides Aloha, Facebook’s Building eight is developing a separate brainy speaker without a screen that works more like the very first Amazon Echo. A hexagonal design for the speaker has been considered, and Facebook plans to sell it for less than Aloha.

Facebook declined to comment on Aloha and any unreleased hardware.

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