The good, the bad, and the ugly behind the push for more smart displays

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text-gray-350 text-base font-semibold uppercase">Story text</span> </div> <div class="grid grid-cols-3 items-center gap-3 px-5 py-2"> <label class="font-impact w-20 text-base font-semibold uppercase text-gray-100" for="text-settings-size">Size</label> <select name="text-settings-size" class="text-settings-size col-span-2 bg-gray-600 text-sm text-gray-300"> <option value="small">Small</option> <option value="standard" selected>Standard</option> <option value="large">Large</option> </select> <label class="font-impact hidden w-20 text-base font-semibold uppercase text-gray-100 md:block" for="text-settings-width">Width <span class="text-gray-400">*</span> </label> <select name="text-settings-width" class="text-settings-width col-span-2 hidden bg-gray-600 text-sm text-gray-300 md:block"> <option value="standard" selected>Standard</option> <option value="wide">Wide</option> </select> <label class="font-impact w-20 text-base font-semibold uppercase text-gray-100" for="text-settings-links">Links</label> <select name="text-settings-links" class="text-settings-links col-span-2 bg-gray-600 text-sm text-gray-300"> <option value="standard" selected>Standard</option> <option value="orange">Orange</option> </select> <div class="font-impact col-span-3 hidden text-sm font-semibold uppercase text-gray-400 md:block"> <span class="mb-0 italic">* Subscribers only</span><br>   <a href="/store/product/subscriptions/" class="text-green-400">Learn more</a> </div> <button class="font-impact text-settings-position col-span-3 mx-auto my-3 block rounded-sm border-2 border-green-400 px-3 py-1 text-base font-semibold uppercase text-gray-100" value="story"> Pin to story </button> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div x-data="{ open: false, toggle() { if (this.open) { return this.close() } // If we're inside main header, add a data attribute to the header if (this.$el.closest('#site-header')) { 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min-h-screen items-center justify-center" x-on:click="open = false" x-show="open" x-transition.duration.150ms> <div x-on:click.stop x-trap.noscroll.inert="open"> <span class="sr-only" :id="$id('modal-title')"> Search dialog... </span> <div class="search-wrapper relative z-[99999] w-screen p-5"> <div class="gcse-search"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </template> </div> <div class="h-5 w-[1px] bg-gray-400"></div> <div class="flex md:justify-center" data-modal-id="sign-in" x-data="{ open: false, init() { this.modalId = this.$el.dataset.modalId; }, show() { console.log(this.data); this.open = true; this.$dispatch('modal-opened', { panel: this.$refs.panel, modalId: this.modalId, }); }, hide() { this.open = false }, }"> <button type="button" aria-label="Sign in dialog..." class="whitespace-nowrap text-gray-300 hover:text-gray-100" aria-label="Open sign in dialog" x-on:click="show()"> Sign In </button> <template x-teleport="body"> <div class="fixed inset-0 z-[99999] overflow-y-auto" 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event.detail.panel) { return; } triggered = true; html = await (await fetch('/civis/login')).text(); // Parse html for form with action=/civis/login/login parser = new DOMParser(); doc = parser.parseFromString(html, 'text/html'); form = doc.querySelector('form[action="/civis/login/login"]'); // Remove autofocus and set focus to username field username = form.querySelector('input[name="login"]'); username.removeAttribute('autofocus'); document.querySelector('.sign-in-form').appendChild(form); username.focus(); " > <div class="sign-in-form"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </template> </div> </div> </header> <main class="main relative -mt-4 lg:mt-6" id="main"> <article class="double-column h-entry post-2063246 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-apple category-gadgets tag-amazon-2 tag-apple tag-google-2 tag-monitors tag-smart-home" data-id="2063246"> <header> <div class="my-4 bg-gray-700 pt-2 md:mt-10 md:pt-5 lg:pb-2 lg:pt-7"> <div class="mx-auto grid-cols-2 gap-8 md:px-5 lg:grid lg:max-w-5xl lg:px-8 xl:px-0"> <div class=""> <div class="mb-1 px-[15px] sm:px-5 md:px-0"> <div class="upper-deck font-impact inline-flex flex-row flex-nowrap items-center gap-2 text-left text-sm font-semibold uppercase leading-tight text-green-400"> <span class="upper-deck__icon"> <svg class="h-5 w-5" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 40 40"><defs><clipPath id="section-gadgets_svg__a"><path fill="none" d="M0 0h40v40H0z"/></clipPath><clipPath id="section-gadgets_svg__b"><path fill="none" d="M0 0h40v40H0z"/></clipPath></defs><g clip-path="url(#section-gadgets_svg__a)"><g fill="currentColor" clip-path="url(#section-gadgets_svg__b)"><path d="M38 22c1.1 0 2-.9 2-2s-.9-2-2-2h-2v-6h2c1.1 0 2-.9 2-2s-.9-2-2-2h-2V4h-4V2c0-1.1-.9-2-2-2s-2 .9-2 2v2h-6V2c0-1.1-.9-2-2-2s-2 .9-2 2v2h-6V2c0-1.1-.9-2-2-2S8 .9 8 2v2H4v4H2c-1.1 0-2 .9-2 2s.9 2 2 2h2v6H2c-1.1 0-2 .9-2 2s.9 2 2 2h2v6H2c-1.1 0-2 .9-2 2s.9 2 2 2h2v4h4v2c0 1.1.9 2 2 2s2-.9 2-2v-2h6v2c0 1.1.9 2 2 2s2-.9 2-2v-2h6v2c0 1.1.9 2 2 2s2-.9 2-2v-2h4v-4h2c1.1 0 2-.9 2-2s-.9-2-2-2h-2v-6zm-6 10H8V8h24z"/><path d="M24.7 17.3 20 12h-7.1c-.6 0-1 .4-1 1s.4 1 1 1h6.3l4.1 4.7L20 22h8v-8z"/><path d="m15.2 22.7 4.7 5.3H27c.6 0 1-.4 1-1s-.4-1-1-1h-6.3l-4.1-4.7 3.3-3.3h-8v8z"/></g></g></svg> </span> <span class="upper-deck__text"> Op-ed </span> </div> </div> <h1 class="mb-3 px-[15px] font-serif text-3xl font-semibold leading-none text-gray-100 sm:px-5 md:px-0 md:text-4xl lg:text-5xl"> The good, the bad, and the ugly behind the push for more smart displays </h1> <p class="text-gray-250 mt-4 px-[15px] text-lg leading-tight sm:px-5 md:px-0"> Opinion: Apple could really change the game here. </p> <div class="mt-2 px-[15px] sm:px-5 md:px-0"> <div class="font-impact text-xs font-semibold uppercase text-gray-300"><a class="text-orange-400 hover:text-orange-500" href="https://arstechnica.com/author/scharonharding/"> Scharon Harding </a> – <span class="whitespace-nowrap"> <time class="mr-[2px] inline-block cursor-default" title="2024-11-22T17:40:26-05:00" datetime="2024-11-22T17:40:26-05:00" x-data="{ compact: false, open: false, date: new Date('2024-11-22T17:40:26-05:00'), updatedTimestamp: false, format: function() { let dateFormat = { year: 'numeric', month: 'short', day: 'numeric' }; let timeFormat = { hour: 'numeric', minute: 'numeric' }; let formatted = this.date.toLocaleDateString(undefined, dateFormat) + ' ' + this.date.toLocaleTimeString(undefined, timeFormat); if (this.compact) { if (this.date.toDateString() === new Date().toDateString()) { formatted = this.date.toLocaleTimeString(undefined, timeFormat); if (this.updatedTimestamp) { formatted = 'at ' + formatted; } } else { formatted = this.date.toLocaleDateString(undefined, { year: 'numeric', month: 'numeric', day: 'numeric' }); } } if (this.updatedTimestamp) { formatted = 'Updated ' + formatted; } return formatted; } }" x-text="format()"> Nov 22, 2024 5:40 pm </time> <span class="text-gray-550">|</span> <a class="view-comments text-gray-300 hover:text-gray-500" href="https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/11/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-behind-the-push-for-more-smart-displays/#comments" title="109 comments"> <svg class="-mt-1 ml-1 mr-[2px] inline-block h-4 w-4" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 80 80"><defs><clipPath id="bubble-zero_svg__a"><path fill="none" stroke-width="0" d="M0 0h80v80H0z"/></clipPath><clipPath id="bubble-zero_svg__b"><path fill="none" stroke-width="0" d="M0 0h80v80H0z"/></clipPath></defs><g clip-path="url(#bubble-zero_svg__a)"><g fill="currentColor" clip-path="url(#bubble-zero_svg__b)"><path d="M80 40c0 22.09-17.91 40-40 40S0 62.09 0 40 17.91 0 40 0s40 17.91 40 40"/><path d="M40 40 .59 76.58C-.67 77.84.22 80 2.01 80H40z"/></g></g></svg> 109 </a> </span></div> </div> </div> <div class="min-h-1 mt-4 lg:mt-0"> <div class="relative aspect-video overflow-hidden"> <div class="ars-lightbox"> <div class="ars-lightbox-item"> <a data-pswp-width="2000" data-pswp-height="1125" data-pswp-srcset="https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/echo-show-21-16-9.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/echo-show-21-16-9-640x360.jpg 640w, https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/echo-show-21-16-9-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/echo-show-21-16-9-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/echo-show-21-16-9-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/echo-show-21-16-9-384x216.jpg 384w, https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/echo-show-21-16-9-1152x648.jpg 1152w, https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/echo-show-21-16-9-980x551.jpg 980w, https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/echo-show-21-16-9-1440x810.jpg 1440w" data-cropped="true" href="https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/echo-show-21-16-9.jpg" target="_blank" class="cursor-zoom-in"> <img width="640" height="360" src="https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/echo-show-21-16-9-640x360.jpg" class="absolute inset-0 w-full h-full object-cover hidden" alt="Amazon's Echo Show 21 with a remote." loading="eager" decoding="async" srcset="https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/echo-show-21-16-9-640x360.jpg 640w, https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/echo-show-21-16-9-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/echo-show-21-16-9-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/echo-show-21-16-9-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/echo-show-21-16-9-384x216.jpg 384w, https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/echo-show-21-16-9-1152x648.jpg 1152w, https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/echo-show-21-16-9-980x551.jpg 980w, https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/echo-show-21-16-9-1440x810.jpg 1440w, https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/echo-show-21-16-9.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" /> <img width="1152" height="648" src="https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/echo-show-21-16-9-1152x648.jpg" class="intro-image absolute min-w-full min-h-full h-auto object-cover" alt="Amazon's Echo Show 21 with a remote." loading="eager" decoding="async" fetchpriority="high" srcset="https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/echo-show-21-16-9-1152x648.jpg 1152w, https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/echo-show-21-16-9-640x360.jpg 640w, https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/echo-show-21-16-9-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/echo-show-21-16-9-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/echo-show-21-16-9-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/echo-show-21-16-9-384x216.jpg 384w, https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/echo-show-21-16-9-980x551.jpg 980w, https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/echo-show-21-16-9-1440x810.jpg 1440w, https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/echo-show-21-16-9.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1152px) 100vw, 1152px" /> </a> <div class="pswp-caption-content" id="caption-2063464"> <div class="caption font-impact mb-4 mt-2 inline-flex flex-row items-stretch gap-1 text-base leading-tight text-gray-300"> <div class="caption-icon bg-[left_top_5px] w-[10px] shrink-0"></div> <div class="caption-content"> Amazon's Echo Show 21. <span class="caption-credit mt-2 whitespace-nowrap text-xs"> Credit: Amazon </span> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="px-[15px] sm:px-5 md:px-0"><div class="caption font-impact mb-4 mt-2 inline-flex flex-row items-stretch gap-1 text-base leading-tight text-gray-300"> <div class="caption-icon bg-[left_top_5px] w-[10px] shrink-0"></div> <div class="caption-content"> Amazon's Echo Show 21. <span class="caption-credit mt-2 whitespace-nowrap text-xs"> Credit: Amazon </span> </div> </div></div> </div> </div> </div> </header> <div class="text-settings-dropdown-story mdl:absolute mdl:z-10 mdl:mb-0 mdl:mt-1 relative -mt-4 mb-2"> <div x-data="{ open: false, toggle() { if (this.open) { return this.close() } // If we're inside main header, add a data attribute to the header if (this.$el.closest('#site-header')) { this.$el.closest('#site-header').dataset.dropdownOpen = 'true'; } this.open = true }, close() { if (!this.open) { return; } // If we're inside main header, add a data attribute to the header if (this.$el.closest('#site-header')) { this.$el.closest('#site-header').dataset.dropdownOpen = 'false'; } this.open = false } }" @keydown.escape.prevent.stop="close($refs.button)" @focusin.window="! $refs.panel.contains($event.target) && close()" 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text-base font-semibold uppercase text-gray-100" value="nav"> Minimize to nav </button> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="mx-auto my-2.5 px-[15px] sm:px-5 lg:grid lg:max-w-5xl lg:grid-cols-3 lg:gap-6 lg:px-8 xl:px-0"> <div class="relative lg:col-span-2"> <div class="post-content post-content-double"> <div class="page-anchor-wrapper"><a class="" name="page-1" data-page="1" data-url="https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/11/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-behind-the-push-for-more-smart-displays/"></a></div> <p>After a couple of years without much happening, smart displays are in the news again. Aside from <a href="https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/08/tv-industrys-ads-tracking-obsession-is-turning-your-living-room-into-a-store/">smart TVs</a>, consumer screens that connect to the Internet have never reached a mainstream audience. However, there seems to be a resurgence to make smart displays more popular. The approaches that some companies are taking are better than those of others, revealing a good, bad, and ugly side behind the push.</p> <p>Note that for this article, we'll exclude smart TVs when discussing smart displays. Unlike the majority of smart displays, smart TVs are mainstream tech. So for this piece, we'll mostly focus on devices like the Google Next Hub Max or Amazon Echo Show (as pictured above).</p> <h2><strong>The good</strong></h2> <p>When it comes to emerging technology, a great gauge for whether innovation is happening is by measuring how much a product solves a real user problem. Products seeking a problem to solve or that are glorified <a href="https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/11/an-ad-giant-wants-to-control-your-next-tvs-operating-system/">vehicles for ads</a> and tracking don't qualify.</p> <p>If reports that Apple is working on its first smart display are true, there may be potential for it to solve the problem of managing multiple smart home devices from different companies.</p> <p>Apple has declined to comment on reports from <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-11-12/apple-home-hub-detailed-apple-intelligence-homeos-square-ipad-like-design">Bloomberg's</a> Mark Gurman of an Apple smart display under development. But Gurman recently claimed that the display will be able to be mounted on walls and "use AI to navigate apps.” Gurman said that it would incorporate Apple's smart home framework HomeKit, which supports "hundreds of accessories" and can control third-party devices, like smart security cameras, thermostats, and lights. Per the November 12 report:</p> <blockquote><p>The product will be marketed as a way to control home appliances, chat with Siri, and hold intercom sessions via Apple’s FaceTime software. It will also be loaded with Apple apps, including ones for web browsing, listening to news updates and playing music. Users will be able to access their notes and calendar information, and the device can turn into a slideshow display for their photos.</p></blockquote> <p>If released, the device—said to be shaped like a 6-inch iPhone—would compete with the Nest Hub and Echo Show. Apple entering the smart display business could bring a heightened focus on privacy and push other companies to make privacy a bigger focus, too. Apple has already given us a peek at how it might handle smart home privacy with the HomePod. "All communication between HomePod and Apple servers is encrypted, and anonymous IDs protect your identity," Apple's HomePod privacy policy <a href="https://support.apple.com/guide/homepod/privacy-and-security-apd99ee29027/homepod">states</a>.</p> <div class="ars-interlude-container in-content-interlude mx-auto max-w-xl"> </div> </div> </div> <div class="hidden min-w-[300px] justify-self-end bg-gray-100 dark:bg-gray-50 lg:block"> <div class="ad-wrapper is-sticky is-rail"> <div class="ad-wrapper-inner"> <div class="ad ad--rail"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ad-wrapper with-label is-fullwidth"> <div class="ad-wrapper-inner"> <div class="ad ad--mid-content"> </div> </div> </div> <div class="mx-auto my-2.5 px-[15px] sm:px-5 lg:grid lg:max-w-5xl lg:grid-cols-3 lg:gap-6 lg:px-8 xl:px-0"> <div class="relative lg:col-span-2"> <div class="post-content post-content-double"> <p>Apple's supposed smart display would also likely, and hopefully, leverage HomeKit Secure Video, which has already been adopted by non-Apple smart products and "ensures that activity detected by your security cameras is analyzed and encrypted by your Apple devices at home before being securely stored in iCloud," <a href="https://www.apple.com/privacy/features/">per Apple</a>. This could help address concerns around the security of things like managing footage from smart doorbells.</p> <p>Looking further ahead, I'm curious how an Apple smart display could impact Google's efforts here. Google hasn't released a new smart home display since 2019's Nest Hub Max. And with voice assistants like Google Assistant losing popularity, Google has seemed more interested in Pixel Tablets lately than smart displays. Recent sleuthing, however, has spotted code <a href="https://9to5google.com/2024/04/23/new-nest-audio-hub-max-spotted/">pointing to a new Nest Hub Max</a> amid suspicion that Google is <a href="https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/11/google-seems-to-have-called-it-quits-on-making-its-own-android-tablets-again/">canceling future Pixel Tablets</a>.</p> <p>If Apple put out its own smart home display, how might Google respond? And how might generative AI impact interest or final products from either side? Surely, the Nest Hub Max isn't where smart home hubs max out. </p> <div class="page-anchor-wrapper"><a class="record-pageview" name="page-2" data-page="2" data-url="https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/11/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-behind-the-push-for-more-smart-displays/"></a></div> <h2><strong>The bad </strong></h2> <p>Over the past couple of years, we've seen more web-connected desktop monitors released. <a href="https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/p/smart-devices/smart-office/thinksmart/lenovo-thinksmart-view-plus/len102e0008?srsltid=AfmBOorbUQoqC1jjyNKnJ8KxUx08gdVfyNrksXElFHtxJaMNsgAm9VLw">Some</a> were driven by the growth of videoconferences boosted by the pandemic. Others are more about providing access to common consumer apps, like Netflix, without needing to connect to a personal system. Neither gives me enough reason to put another device on my network.</p> <p>Smart monitors for videoconferencing could be useful for workplaces or for someone less technically inclined to see loved ones. But for most, a monitor dedicated to web calls isn't practical or necessary. The demise of devices like the <a href="https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2022/08/metas-portal-clings-to-relevance-by-turning-into-a-secondary-mac-pc-display/">Facebook Portal</a> and <a href="https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2023/01/lenovos-27-smart-display-has-a-4k-camera-fhd-resolution-for-2345/">Lenovo ThinkSmart View Plus</a> (which Lenovo is <a href="https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/p/smart-devices/smart-office/thinksmart/lenovo-thinksmart-view-plus/len102e0008?orgRef=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.google.com%252F&srsltid=AfmBOorbUQoqC1jjyNKnJ8KxUx08gdVfyNrksXElFHtxJaMNsgAm9VLw">no longer selling</a>) support that view.</p> </div> </div> <div class="hidden min-w-[300px] justify-self-end bg-gray-100 dark:bg-gray-50 lg:block"> <div class="ad-wrapper is-sticky is-rail"> <div class="ad-wrapper-inner"> <div class="ad ad--rail"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ad-wrapper with-label is-fullwidth"> <div class="ad-wrapper-inner"> <div class="ad ad--mid-content"> </div> </div> </div> <div class="mx-auto my-2.5 px-[15px] sm:px-5 lg:grid lg:max-w-5xl lg:grid-cols-3 lg:gap-6 lg:px-8 xl:px-0"> <div class="relative lg:col-span-2"> <div class="post-content post-content-double"> <p>Meanwhile, smart monitors like Samsung's M-series or LG's MyView-series have the same <a href="https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/08/tv-industrys-ads-tracking-obsession-is-turning-your-living-room-into-a-store/">ads and privacy concerns as smart TVs</a>. As we've discussed at Ars before, smart TVs are increasingly used to <a href="https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/10/streaming-industry-has-unprecedented-surveillance-manipulation-capabilities/">push ads and track users</a>, giving TV operating system (OS) owners, such as LG and Samsung, an alternative revenue stream from hardware sales.</p> <figure class="ars-wp-img-shortcode id-2063470 align-none"> <div> <img width="640" height="426" src="https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Untitled-640x426.jpg" class="none medium" alt="" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Untitled-640x426.jpg 640w, https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Untitled-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Untitled-768x511.jpg 768w, https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Untitled-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Untitled-980x652.jpg 980w, https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Untitled-1440x959.jpg 1440w, https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Untitled.jpg 1633w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"> </div> <figcaption> <div class="caption font-impact mb-4 mt-2 inline-flex flex-row items-stretch gap-1 text-base leading-tight text-gray-300"> <div class="caption-icon bg-[left_top_5px] w-[10px] shrink-0"></div> <div class="caption-content"> LG has a whole lineup of smart monitors like this one. <span class="caption-credit mt-2 whitespace-nowrap text-xs"> Credit: LG </span> </div> </div> </figcaption> </figure> <p>Samsung and LG smart monitors use the same OSes as their respective smart TVs. LG and Samsung TVs are better at keeping ads to a respectable minimum than other, often cheaper, TVs. However, LG and Samsung have been seeking ways to grow their ad businesses.</p> <p>For the most part, smart monitors don't seem to fill a gap in demand like a well-executed, privacy-focused smart home hub might.</p> <p>Interest in tracking users and selling ads via TVs is what has caused dumb TVs to be exceptionally hard to find. I'd hate for dumb <em>monitors</em> to be elusive one day, too.</p> <div class="page-anchor-wrapper"><a class="record-pageview" name="page-3" data-page="3" data-url="https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/11/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-behind-the-push-for-more-smart-displays/"></a></div> <h2>The ugly</h2> <p>Amazon markets its Echo Show displays as hubs for managing smart homes, calendars, and shopping lists. However, Amazon doesn't have a good reputation for maintaining user privacy. And with Amazon <a href="https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/07/alexa-had-no-profit-timeline-cost-amazon-25-billion-in-4-years/">under pressure</a> to make Alexa financially successful, it wouldn't surprise if more ads or subscription fees were eventually forced on Echo Show owners.</p> <p>This week, Amazon announced the Echo Show 21, its biggest smart display yet. The bigger size makes the device more appropriate for watching stuff on platforms like Netflix and (as Amazon would love) Amazon Prime Video. Since Amazon owns the Echo Show OS, it could track user habits to fuel its ad business to generate insight for its businesses. Additionally, Echo Shows encourage tasks like researching and saving recipes and making shopping and to-do lists—all representing e-commerce opportunities for Amazon.</p> </div> </div> <div class="hidden min-w-[300px] justify-self-end bg-gray-100 dark:bg-gray-50 lg:block"> <div class="ad-wrapper is-sticky is-rail"> <div class="ad-wrapper-inner"> <div class="ad ad--rail"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ad-wrapper with-label is-fullwidth"> <div class="ad-wrapper-inner"> <div class="ad ad--mid-content"> </div> </div> </div> <div class="mx-auto my-2.5 px-[15px] sm:px-5 lg:grid lg:max-w-5xl lg:grid-cols-3 lg:gap-6 lg:px-8 xl:px-0"> <div class="relative lg:col-span-2"> <div class="post-content post-content-double"> <figure class="ars-wp-img-shortcode id-2063465 align-none"> <div> <div class="ars-lightbox"> <div class="ars-lightbox-item"> <a data-pswp-width="767" data-pswp-height="431" data-pswp-srcset="https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/download.jpg 767w, https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/download-640x360.jpg 640w, https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/download-384x216.jpg 384w" data-cropped="false" href="https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/download.jpg" target="_blank" class="cursor-zoom-in"> <img width="640" height="360" src="https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/download-640x360.jpg" class="none medium" alt="Amazon Echo Show 21" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/download-640x360.jpg 640w, https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/download-384x216.jpg 384w, https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/download.jpg 767w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"> </a> <div class="pswp-caption-content" id="caption-2063465"> Amazon can use its smart display to track streaming habits. <div class="ars-gallery-caption-credit"> Credit: Amazon </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <figcaption> <div class="caption font-impact mb-4 mt-2 inline-flex flex-row items-stretch gap-1 text-base leading-tight text-gray-300"> <div class="caption-icon bg-[left_top_5px] w-[10px] shrink-0"></div> <div class="caption-content"> Amazon can use its smart display to track streaming habits. <span class="caption-credit mt-2 whitespace-nowrap text-xs"> Credit: Amazon </span> </div> </div> </figcaption> </figure> <p>Amazon says it doesn't sell customer data, but it also says it may use user data for targeted ads, to inform its own business decisions, and to share <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2021/10/20/22736658/amazon-product-opportunity-explorer-tool-sellers-amazon-basics-data">non-user-specific trends</a> with third parties.</p> <p>Amazon has also been building a <a href="https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/08/gen-ai-alexa-to-use-anthropic-tech-after-it-struggled-for-words-with-amazons/">generative AI version of Alexa</a> that is expected to require a subscription fee and seek more user information. However, Amazon hasn't done much to make Alexa easier to trust. As I wrote when Amazon <a href="https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2023/09/amazons-generative-ai-powered-alexa-is-as-big-a-privacy-red-flag-as-old-alexa/">first demoed gen AI Alexa</a>:</p> <blockquote><p>The use of visual IDs to enable using Alexa without a wake word heightens the dependence on cameras and microphones, yet Amazon hasn't disclosed any revamped approaches to customer privacy. The company was previously caught <a href="https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2019/07/amazon-confirms-it-keeps-your-alexa-recordings-basically-forever/">keeping recordings</a>, including <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/31/technology/amazon-25-million-childrens-privacy.html">children's</a>, forever, and Amazon workers have been caught <a href="https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2019/04/amazon-admits-that-employees-review-small-sample-of-alexa-audio/">listening to Alexa audio</a> and <a href="https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2023/06/ftc-amazon-ring-workers-illegally-spied-on-users-of-home-security-cameras/">spying on Ring users</a>. Alexa audio has even been <a href="https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2019/07/amazon-confirms-it-keeps-your-alexa-recordings-basically-forever/">used in criminal trials</a>. Amazon says it doesn't send images or videos to the cloud and emphasizes Echo Show devices' microphone/camera off button and integrated physical camera shutter.</p></blockquote> <p>The free version of Alexa is expected to stay available when the generative AI alternative releases. But it remains possible that Amazon could eventually lock feature features behind a paywall <a href="https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/08/amazon-is-bricking-primary-feature-on-160-echo-device-after-1-year/">or remove them</a>.</p> <h2>Smart displays push</h2> <p>With smart home enthusiasts more excited than ever <a href="https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2024/11/matter-1-4-has-some-solid-ideas-for-the-future-home-now-lets-see-the-support/">about Matter</a> and with smart display talk already on the rise, I'm expecting more discussion around what makes a good, bad, or ugly smart display in 2025.</p> <p>As tech companies push these devices out, Ars will focus on whether those devices are solving problems and if they're doing so with privacy and other user needs at the forefront. Smart displays built around company needs rather than users' will see limited interest from technologists.</p> </div> <div class="-mx-2.5 sm:mx-0"> </div> <div class="author-mini-bio"> <div class="flex flex-col items-start gap-5 border-t-4 py-5 dark:border-gray-700 sm:flex-row"> <div class="flex items-center gap-3"> <a class="relative block aspect-square h-24 w-24 shrink-0 overflow-hidden rounded-full border-4 border-green-400" href="https://arstechnica.com/author/scharonharding/"><img class="absolute left-0 top-0 min-h-full min-w-full object-cover" src="/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/scharon-harding-headshot.jpg" alt="Photo of Scharon Harding"></a> <div class="font-impact mb-0 text-left text-base font-semibold uppercase sm:hidden"> <a href="https://arstechnica.com/author/scharonharding/">Scharon Harding</a> <span class="block font-sans text-sm font-normal italic sm:inline-block">Senior Product Reviewer</span> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="font-impact mb-0 hidden text-left text-base font-semibold uppercase sm:block"> <a href="https://arstechnica.com/author/scharonharding/">Scharon Harding</a> <span class="block font-sans text-sm font-normal italic sm:ml-2 sm:inline-block">Senior Product Reviewer</span> </div> <div class="text-left text-base leading-5 text-gray-400" itemprop="description"> Scharon is Ars Technica’s Senior Product Reviewer writing news, reviews, and analysis on consumer technology, including laptops, mechanical keyboards, and monitors. She’s based in Brooklyn. </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="story-tools flex items-center justify-between border-t-4 text-sm dark:border-gray-700 sm:text-lg"> <a class="view-comments font-impact my-5 flex items-center gap-2 whitespace-nowrap font-semibold uppercase" href="https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/11/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-behind-the-push-for-more-smart-displays/#comments" title="109 comments"> <svg class="text-gray-300 hover:text-gray-500 h-6 w-6" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 80 80"><defs><clipPath id="bubble-zero_svg__a"><path fill="none" stroke-width="0" d="M0 0h80v80H0z"/></clipPath><clipPath id="bubble-zero_svg__b"><path fill="none" stroke-width="0" d="M0 0h80v80H0z"/></clipPath></defs><g clip-path="url(#bubble-zero_svg__a)"><g fill="currentColor" clip-path="url(#bubble-zero_svg__b)"><path d="M80 40c0 22.09-17.91 40-40 40S0 62.09 0 40 17.91 0 40 0s40 17.91 40 40"/><path d="M40 40 .59 76.58C-.67 77.84.22 80 2.01 80H40z"/></g></g></svg> 109 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The good, the bad, and the ugly behind the push for more smart displays - Ars Technica