Amazon has turned its Fire TV Cube streaming machine right into a thin consumer optimized for Amazon Web Services (AWS).
Amazon’s Workspaces Thin Client additionally helps Amazon’s Workspaces Web, for accessing digital desktops from a browser, and AppStream.
The laptop is a Fire TV Cube with a brand new software program stack. All the {hardware}—from the 2GB of LPDDR4x RAM and 16GB of storage, to the Arm processor with 8 cores, together with 4 working at as much as 2.2 GHz—stay an identical whether or not shopping for the machine as an Alexa-powered entertainment-streaming machine or thin consumer laptop. Both the Fire TV Cube and Workspaces Thin Client run an Android Open Source Project-based Android fork (for now).
In a weblog put up asserting the machine Sunday, Amazon stated its thin consumer targets companies with excessive worker turnover, similar to name and cost processing facilities, the place AWS clients say it may be exhausting to recuperate costly, work-issued gadgets. As many as 70 p.c of laptops despatched from corporations to distant staff are by no means seen by corporations once more, Muneer Mirza, AWS’ end-user compute basic supervisor, claimed to The Register.
“Lots of instances they discover these gadgets stroll out the door when the workers stroll out the door,” AWS Chief Executive Adam Selipsky advised SiliconANGLE.
Amazon stated it got here up with the Workspaces Thin Client after talking with AWS enterprise clients, particularly ones giving out laptops, tablets, and different gadgets to staff working remotely and in locations like contact facilities, customer support operations, and hospitality with “lots of to tens of 1000’s” of staff.
Amazon’s weblog additionally pointed to financial savings advantages in comparison with pricier company-issued laptops or desktops and the safety advantages of worker gadgets that do not retailer information regionally and solely run IT-approved software program.
Changing focus
Amazon’s “new” machine comes close to the tip of a tough 12 months for Amazon’s client tech division. The Workspaces Thin Client is the primary time Amazon has “tailored a client machine into an exterior {hardware} product for AWS clients,” as per the corporate’s weblog.
But this is not the primary time Amazon has despatched a product seemingly meant for client use to the enterprise aspect. On November 15, Amazon introduced that its Astro residence robotic, which by no means noticed basic client availability, would grow to be a enterprise safety resolution that encourages subscription-based add-ons, like customized and scheduled robotic patrol routes.
This additionally is not the primary time an Alexa client product has discovered secondary objective. At the tip of final 12 months, for instance, Amazon up to date the Echo Show 15 sensible show to work like a transportable Fire TV.
Amazon has been diverting sources from its gadgets division over the previous 12 months. There have additionally been studies of Amazon pushing for cheaper gadgets. Last week, Amazon introduced “a number of hundred” layoffs within the gadgets and companies division as Amazon focuses extra on generative AI. This is after Amazon’s gadgets and companies enterprise already endured 2,000 layoffs early this 12 months, in addition to layoffs introduced in late 2022.
Amazon’s client tech enterprise has been additional rocked by a $46.7 million judgement towards Amazon over an Alexa patent dispute. This 12 months additionally sees the departure of division head David Limp.
Fire TV units and streaming gadgets have typically felt like a relatively extra constructive space for Amazon gadgets, with Amazon in March claiming to have bought over 200 million items globally. Amazon is attempting to work its approach into the small, however evolving, marketplace for thin clients and digital desktops. By repurposing Fire TV Cubes, Amazon can restrict its monetary danger.
Amazon Workspaces Thin Client begins at $195. Amazon sometimes sells the present Fire TV Cube for $110 to $140.