Amazon-owned Bee Introduces Two AI Note-taking Devices
Bee’s new wrist-worn Frontier and phone-mounted Eclipse arrive alongside a paid plan that adds productivity features and Amazon integrations.
Bee has introduced its first new devices since Amazon acquired the AI note-taking company last year. The Bee Frontier can be worn on a wrist or clipped to clothing, while the Bee Eclipse attaches magnetically to a smartphone. Both are designed to turn conversations into summaries and other useful notes.
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Two ways to carry Bee
The Frontier replaces Bee’s earlier Pioneer device, according to Engadget. Its module fits into a bracelet or clip and has a button for starting a note-taking session or using Bee’s Buzz assistant. Compared with the Pioneer, it is smaller and lighter, comes in more colors and adds IP67 dust and water resistance. It has two microphones with noise filtering, USB-C charging and an estimated seven-day battery life. TechCrunch lists its price as $74.99; it is available now on Amazon in Onyx, Lavender and Sage.
The $99.99 Eclipse is a credit-card-sized device that snaps onto the back of a phone. Engadget says it has three microphones and a claimed battery life of more than 21 days. It will come in Silver, Midnight, Honey and Blush, but Amazon has not given a specific availability date beyond “soon.” Both devices have a button to control listening and an indicator light that shows when they are summarizing a conversation.
Free features, Pro features and privacy
TechCrunch reports that Bee devices offer conversation summaries and recaps at no charge, along with 14 days of memory. Bee Pro costs $11.99 a month and adds unlimited conversation summaries, suggested to-dos, daily memories, conversation templates and integrations. According to Engadget, new customers receive a 30-day Pro trial, while early Bee customers will retain their existing features for free.
Pro’s connections include Amazon.com, Alexa+ and third-party applications, TechCrunch reports. Bee can also work with Gmail, Google Calendar and Microsoft Outlook to help draft emails, arrange meetings and identify action items. A redesigned mobile app and a new desktop app accompany the devices.
Privacy is a central issue for devices that listen to conversations. Bee told Engadget that it does not store audio and prompts users to obtain participants’ permission whenever recording begins. TechCrunch reports that audio is processed and deleted in real time, while transcripts are encrypted with keys controlled by the user’s device. An optional Alexa connection can use an Echo device’s Voice ID to recognize the user and capture conversations for Bee insights. Engadget notes that the Eclipse’s indicator light could be mistaken for a charging light because the device resembles a portable phone battery.
Where the devices fit into daily work
The features could be useful for people who want to revisit discussions or turn them into meeting invites and follow-up tasks. TechCrunch says Bee can surface action items through its productivity-app integrations. The reports do not establish how accurately the new devices will handle conversations in practice; Engadget says the Frontier’s noise-filtering performance still needs testing.
Sources
This story was compiled by AI from the reports below. Read the originals for the full details.