Triby is a new device that takes Amazon's Echo Alexa AI and packs it into a different shell, keeping the essential features.
Alexa is regarded as a bold step towards the future of computing, due to its versatility and capabilities. The virtual assistant can engage in small talk, can stream music and is even able to make dinner suggestions thanks to the connection with Amazon's cloud.
Now, a French company took the developed platform and gave it a new spin.
Meet Triby, a $199 speaker from Invoxia, specifically crafted for the kitchen. In the retro design, the coding team fitted the Alexa Voice Service, not without help from Amazon itself.
Unique Features
One main plus of Triby is that, unlike the Amazon Echo, it features a screen. Nothing fancy, but the simple e-ink display can instantly give info about current time, date and temperature.
There is a pseudo-whiteboard component to the screen, too. By using the companion app, users may draw or write short messages that get posted on the display. Thanks to the Wi-Fi connection embedded into Triby, you can write mementos on your refrigerator-mounted Triby from anywhere.
A quirky element of Triby is its signaling of sent messages. After you press "Send," the speaker makes a little noise and pops out a yellow flag from its side. As a housemate reads your message, they simply press the flag back and can send you a proper emoji to let you know they acknowledged your text.
More additional features land on Triby due to the Wi-Fi connectivity. The pre-installed call function allows you to ditch your landline. One button triggers a voice call to a contact of your choice. This can be extremely helpful for families with children, where a button can be assigned to call mom or dad immediately.
It should be mentioned that all calls go through the Triby app, virtually making it unavailable to Android or Windows Mobile users. The manufacturer promised that Android support is scheduled for this year. This lets users enjoy Spotify playlists or Internet radio stations.
Looking at the above features, it seems that Triby sets itself apart from the predictability of Echo models.
"With the built-in magnets on the Triby, the kitchen is an obvious home for the little speaker," James Risley from GeekWire notes.
Alexa Makes It Or Breaks It
Alexa implementation remains the main reason why users should consider purchasing the gadget for their kitchen. The virtual assistant is ideal for the environment: it can convert measurements instantly and is able to set timers on the go. The audio streaming should keep you entertained while you do the dishes or cook a delicious meal for the whole family.
By tapping into the Amazon Prime Music library, kitchen chores simply become a fun activity.
Luckily for mobility enthusiasts, Triby pulls juice out of a battery. This means that you can drag it around the house and still get every voice-activated Alexa feature you need. The sound quality is not stellar, but for radio purposes most audiophiles would agree that it is a good choice.
It should be noted that the responsiveness of the Amazon Echo is smoother than that of Triby.
"She didn't hear me as regularly as the Echo version, and I had to repeat my requests a lot of the time," points out Dan Ackerman from CNET.
Alexa Voice Services are also a bit lackluster, at least when it comes to using Spotify Connect.
Conclusion
Overall, the Triby appears to be a promising way to use Alexa outside the Echo. As Amazon supports more ventures to experiment with Alexa through the Amazon Alexa Fund, we could see the AI spread to other useful devices.
