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History of video games/Platforms/Amazon Glow

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History

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Development

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The Glow was developed by the "Grand Challenge" lab of Amazon.[1] Development began with a circa 2017 concept video calling device with a playful laser pointer.[2][Note 1]

Launch

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The Glow had a limited release in September of 2021 for 249.99, then saw a release to the general public in May 2022 at a higher price of $299.99 USD.[3][4]

Around October 4th, 2022 Amazon Prime members were able to buy the Glow for $149.99 USD.[5][6]

Discontinuation

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Around October 5th, 2022 support for the Glow was announced to end on December 31, 2022.[7] Customers were issued refunds for their purchase.[8] The discontinuation was compared by Ars Technica to the Fire Phone.[9] The Verge speculated that sales of the Glow may have been poor.[10]

Technology

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Output

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The Glow used a projector in conjunction with a conventional display.[11][12] The conventional display was 8 inches (200 mm) across and positioned in the stand of the downward facing projector.[13]

Input

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The Glow had a built in camera.[14] The Glow had a scanning function, allowing it to incorporate existing arbitrary toys and objects into its software.[15] This could be seen as an unusual take on the "Toys to Life" genre, as such concepts of the era typically required specialty toys.

Software

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The Glow was dependent on cloud services to function.[8]

Games

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Notes

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The Amazon Glow was a different device than the Amazon Echo Glow.

References

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  1. ↑ Soper, Spencer; Day, Matt (4 October 2022). "Amazon Discontinues Glow Video-Calling Device for Kids" (in en). Bloomberg.com. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-10-04/amazon-is-killing-the-glow-calling-device-for-kids. 
  2. ↑ Roettgers, Janko (May 25, 2022). "Amazon Glow: A video calling device for kids, explained - Protocol" (in en). www.protocol.com. https://www.protocol.com/entertainment/amazon-glow-development-story. 
  3. ↑ Mlot, Stephanie (October 5, 2022). "Amazon Axes Kid-Focused Glow Smart Display" (in en). PCMAG. https://www.pcmag.com/news/amazon-axes-kid-focused-glow-smart-display. 
  4. ↑ Palmer, Annie (October 4, 2022). "Amazon axes Glow video-calling device for kids" (in en). CNBC. https://www.cnbc.com/2022/10/04/amazon-axes-glow-video-calling-device-for-kids.html. 
  5. ↑ Velasco, John (October 4, 2022). "Amazon Glow Interactive Projector For Kids Just Got Its Biggest Discount Ever". finance.yahoo.com. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/amazon-glow-interactive-projector-kids-184702975.html. 
  6. ↑ Moon, Mariella (October 5, 2022). "Amazon is killing its interactive Glow video device for kids". Engadget. https://www.engadget.com/amazon-discontinue-interactive-glow-video-device-for-kids-094054631.html. 
  7. ↑ Perez, Sarah (5 October 2022). "Amazon kills its interactive, video-calling device, Amazon Glow, launched last year". TechCrunch. https://techcrunch.com/2022/10/05/amazon-kills-its-interactive-video-calling-device-amazon-glow-launched-last-year/. 
  8. ↑ a b Tuohy, Jennifer Pattison (20 October 2022). "Amazon Glow will glow no longer". The Verge. https://www.theverge.com/2022/10/20/23415167/amazon-glow-support-discontinued-refund. 
  9. ↑ Harding, Scharon (5 October 2022). "Amazon’s Glow goes the way of the Fire Phone and dodo" (in en-us). Ars Technica. https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2022/10/amazon-discontinues-glow-video-calling-gadget-for-kids-after-one-year/. 
  10. ↑ Peters, Jay (4 October 2022). "Amazon gives up on the Glow, its kid-focused video calling device". The Verge. https://www.theverge.com/2022/10/4/23388233/amazon-glow-discontinued. 
  11. ↑ Griffith, Eric. "Amazon Glow Review" (in en). PCMAG. https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/amazon-glow. 
  12. ↑ Musil, Steven (October 4, 2022). "Amazon Pulls the Plug on Kids' Interactive Gadget Glow" (in en). CNET. https://www.cnet.com/tech/computing/amazon-pulls-the-plug-on-kids-interactive-gadget-glow/. 
  13. ↑ Hurler, Kevin (5 October 2022). "Amazon Kills Glow, Its Ugly Video Calling Gadget For Kids" (in en). Gizmodo. https://gizmodo.com/amazon-kills-glow-ugly-video-call-kids-device-1849618587. 
  14. ↑ Carey, Bridget (March 29, 2022). "Amazon Glow Review: A Better Way for Kids to Video Chat with Family" (in en). CNET. https://www.cnet.com/home/smart-home/amazon-glow-review-connects-family-does-what-zoom-and-facetime-cant-do-and-its-wonderful/. 
  15. ↑ Randazza, Janelle. "Amazon Glow Review: A smart device for kids - Reviewed". www.reviewed.com. https://www.reviewed.com/parenting/content/amazon-glow-review. 
  16. ↑ Hollister, Sean (28 September 2021). "Amazon Glow is a video chat gadget with built-in games to keep kids engaged". The Verge. https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/28/22695707/amazon-glow-video-chat-kids-games-price-features-release-date. 
  17. ↑ Prospero, Mike (29 March 2022). "Amazon Glow review: Pandemic playtime" (in en). Tom's Guide. https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/amazon-glow. 

Reference Notes

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  1. ↑ The Protocol story states the concept dated "nearly five years ago", and the story was published on May 25, 2022 - thus the concept is dated circa 2017.
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