“I ended up unplugging my devices.” On social networks like Reddit, the testimonials do not stop coming. Users complain about the overabundance of advertising for Amazon’s connected products, particularly the Echo Show connected speakers/displays.
“I already unplugged my Echo Show 5 when my alarm turned into an annoying ad,” complains a self-described “reasonable” user. Because since what appears to be a recent update, an ad can play after the music used to wake you up. At issue is the use of Amazon Music to select an alarm clock (which has a semi-free version with advertising).
An abusive advertising experience
This is not the only anomaly observed. One user explains that he simply wanted to add an item to his shopping list and turn on a light in his house, before an announcement played “for a long minute without the possibility of being interrupted.” A very problematic element, to which is added a sound volume much higher than that of the previous program or the Alexa voice assistant.
Amazon has also reportedly increased the number of ads displayed on the screen of its Echo Show if you are within a few centimeters of the device: “Advertising is just one part of the experience and helps customers discover new content and products that may interest them,” Amazon explains in a statement to Ars Technica.
A brief answer, which says nothing about a possible increase in advertising on their different devices: “If customers don’t like a suggestion, they can swipe the screen to move on to the next one or send a review.”
Note in passing that these ads are part of a fairly large campaign available in the United States. Its goal is to promote Alexa+, Amazon’s personal assistant, whose paid version is described as “smarter.” It is currently not available in Europe.
For Amazon, this story is not the first. Advertising is an integral part of the business model of some of its devices. On Kindle e-readers, you can benefit from a preferential rate if you agree to display ads for books other than the one you are currently reading. The same goes for the Echo Show, which annoys users, some of whom have spent several hundred dollars to connect their home.
Source: BFM TV
