Amazon warns expensive gadget will stop working forever overnight – exact date it will break and steps to get an instant refund

AMAZON has announced plans to discontinue its $2,350 security guard robot just 10 months after its launch.

The retail giant has launched Astro for Business about eight months ago as a security tool for small and medium-sized organizations.

Amazon is busting its Astro for Business robot less than a year after it was launched. The $2,350 ‘guard’ could patrol pre-programmed routes and record videoSource: Reuters

Equipped with a periscope camera and night vision technology, the robot can move along programmed routes, with the option of remote control using the appropriate application.

The company sent an email to employees and customers on Wednesday saying the devices would stop working on September 25.

In correspondence shared with The US Sun, Amazon’s Lindo St. Angel informed employees about the change in plans.

“I am increasingly convinced that the progress we are making in home robotics is an area where we should focus our resources,” wrote St. Angel, vice president of engineering at Lab126.

“To do this and further accelerate our progress, we have made the decision to end production of Astro on Business program to focus our efforts solely on creating the best consumer robotics products for home use.”

The company sent customers a similar email offering them a full refund and a $300 credit towards their purchase Amazon accounts.

“On September 25, Your Astro for Business The device will no longer function and your personal data will be deleted from it,” the email reads.

We encourage you to recycle your Astro for Business device and accessories via Amazon Recycling Program – Amazon covers the costs associated with shipping and recycling devices and accessories.

The company announced that it will no longer charge for subscriptions related to Astro for Business.

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These include Astro Secure, a feature that allows the robot to patrol non-standard routes and alert users to unidentified individuals.

Amazon is also ending support for Ring Protect Pro, which allowed Astro for Business owners to sync their robot with Ring security cameras.

The company said the recordings will continue to be available in users’ Ring apps until their subscription expires.

The tech giant appears to be focusing its attention on the home version of the robot, which was released in September 2021 and is still only available in limited quantitiesSource: Amazon

A consumer version of the robot was announced in September 2021, but progress on it has apparently stalled.

The so-called “home robot” is still available through Amazon’s Day1 Editions program, by invitation only.

The purchase price will be $1,599, plus additional fees such as a Ring Protect Pro subscription.

What’s happening with Amazon Astro?

After Amazon discontinues Astro for Business, the company is refocusing on the “home”

The robot, marketed under the slogan “Keep home closer,” was unveiled in 2021 and is still available exclusively to Amazon Day1 Editions members.

Day1 products are invite-only. Prospective users can request an invite to a product for a chance to get early access and share feedback.

Unlike Astro for Business, the consumer version is designed for home monitoring.

It can operate in single-story rooms, patrolling areas up to 325 square meters.

Users can control the robot remotely and program their own routes, similar to Astro for Business.

The device also comes with Alexa integration, so it can “read out rush hour traffic updates or remind you to feed your pet.”

The robot can follow the user, playing music or video from speakers, and can also make calls, send messages, set off alarms and perform other actions.

The company notes that it can carry a number of accessories, including a blood pressure monitor and a dog camera “that throws treats for your pet.”

Purchase includes a 30-day subscription to Ring Protect Pro.

Users can also set “out of range” zones in the Astro app and turn off microphones, cameras, and motion with “one touch of a button.”

The Holy Angel seemed to allude to upcoming events.

“Like all of you, I am a big fan of the long-term approach. benefits “What robots will offer our customers and the advancements in generative AI make it even more exciting,” he wrote in an email.

“There is still a lot of work to do, but I am excited about this change and where it will take us. Next “stage of our journey.”

The customer email offered an “automatic invitation to the Astro Day 1 Editions program” for users who want to “continue their Astro journey at home.”

The company encourages business owners to recycle the robot through Amazon’s recycling program, and Amazon covers the costs associated with doing so.Source: Amazon

All signs point to the company shifting its focus to a home version of the robot and potentially integrating a generative version of Alexa with artificial intelligence.

Amazon plans to unveil a more “conversational” version of its virtual assistant later this year, amid growing competition from industry leaders such as OpenAI.

Users will be able to unlock these advanced features characteristics with a monthly subscription fee.

The company plans to enable Alexa to do things like make restaurant reservations and display “a concise summary of trending news.”