Facebook today announced a new invasion into the home with the Portal.  Did I say invasion?  I meant, new screened assistant, similar to the Amazon Echo Show

I will say that the Portal has some features that I haven’t seen on a device like this before with the ability for the camera to zoom and focus on you.  Facebook says that you can move freely and the camera will “follow” the action.

I find this pretty creepy, but I haven’t actually messed around with it.  

I’m sure that Facebook wouldn’t abuse it’s users… right?  Right?!

The Portal comes hot on the heels of the redesigns Amazon Echo Show, which has a bigger screen, better sound system, and all for the same price.

It took me a long time to really get into the assistant-in-a-can device like Amazon’s Alexa, the Google Home, and the HomePod.  I couldn’t understand why anyone would want one of these devices when you most likely always have your phone on you.  I had a phone and an Apple Watch on my wrist.  

It wasn’t until the HomePod came (I know, I’m an Apple shill) that I jumped in.  The assistant wasn’t what drew me in though, it was the reviews of the quality of music that came with it.  The idea of having the assistant in the house was a bonus.

I don’t think the HomePod is the greatest device ever, and I think it needs to improve a lot before I would actually recommend someone to get one, but that’s an article for another day.

Here I am now though, and I see the invasion of the screened-canned-assistant.  I’m back to where I started with the lady-in-the-can with these devices.

I can imagine using one of these in the kitchen and I’m sure that it could really help with cooking and controlling things (especially the Amazon microwave they announced a couple of weeks ago). 

What I can’t imagine is using one of these to watch things on.  Quick glances at the device could probably provide some great information, especially if you don’t have a Smart Watch, but doing a video call or watch youtube on one of these devices just seems wrong to me.

That all makes the new Echo Show a bit frustrating: it’s better to look at, better to listen to, and nicer to use, but it still can’t do all of the things I reasonably expect a big, internet-connected display on my kitchen counter to be capable of.

Dan Seifert of the Verge

I feel like these products are still finding their feet though and I’m sure I’ll get the point of it one day.  Right now though, I’ll do my video calling on my phone/tablet/or computer and watch my videos on my TV/computer/tablet.

I’m not trying to bash on these product categories either.  I’d like to see how they develop.  I am amazing at how many of these things are popping up.

I will say that I do use an old iPad in the kitchen many times, but that’s more to look up recipes than to watch videos or video chat.  

All of this is not even taking privacy into account.  

I hardly trust Facebook on my devices, and I definitely wouldn’t want to trust them in my home listening all the time.  Amazon might be a little different, but I’m sure they are selling me out as well.

This is another reason I went with the HomePod.

What do you think?  Do you have a screened assistant in the home?  Do you want one?  What would you want it to do?

Would you like a HomePod review?

Let me know in the comments.