Amazon PhotosPlus discontinuation: Difference between revisions
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Amazon PhotosPlus was a subscription-based service that offered users the ability to display their chosen photos on their devices as the "primary content" | [[Category:Service Siphoning]] | ||
[[Amazon PhotosPlus]] was a [[subscription-based service]] that offered users the ability to display their chosen photos on their devices as the "primary content." Additionally, it provided 25 GB of [[Amazon Photos]] storage, and cost $2 per month. Announced in October 2023,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sobolewski-Kiwerski |first=Adrian |date=18 Oct 2023 |title=What is Amazon PhotosPlus and what devices does it work with? |url=https://www.pocket-lint.com/what-is-amazon-photosplus/ |url-status=live |access-date=4 Apr 2025 |website=Pocket-lint}}</ref> [[Amazon]] sent an email informing its users that it was discontinuing the service,<ref>{{Cite web |last=@wheelsee |date=20 Aug 2024 |title=@smarthomemama @verge @reckless1280 @imdavidpierce well can’t say I didn’t see this coming. Amazon removing the key feature of the Amazon Echo 8 Show photo edition. |url=https://www.threads.net/@wheelsee/post/C-58LrqSbYW?xmt=AQGzdSySswLxRPEtQdHvzY0PMn5k0eXCG2lzMqmc0irZoIQ |url-status=live |access-date=4 Apr 2025 |website=Threads}}</ref> cancelling it on September 12, 2024. This event has been described as having features which match the definition of a [[retroactively amended purchase]].<ref name="foo">{{Cite web |last=Pattison Tuohy |first=Jennifer |date=29 Sep 2023 |title=Amazon will charge you to use its new Echo Show 8 as a digital photo frame |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/9/22/23885332/amazon-echo-show-8-photos-edition-digital-frame-price-fee |url-status=live |access-date=4 Apr 2025 |website=The Verge}}</ref> | |||
== | ==Background== | ||
The Amazon Echo Show 8 was a Digital Frame, launched at $149.99. For $10 more, | The Amazon Echo Show 8 was a Digital Frame, which launched at $149.99. For $10 more, customers could get the Amazon Echo Show 8 Photos Edition, which included 6 months of PhotosPlus and the ability to display photos as the "primary" content. Amazon spokesperson Courtney Ramirez<ref name="foo" /> confirmed that "Occasionally, Alexa will provide content suggestions based on a customer's interest. However, photos will remain the primary content." | ||
=== Features === | ===Features=== | ||
The Photos Edition with PhotosPlus subscription offered several specific features that made it stand out: | The Photos Edition with a PhotosPlus subscription offered several specific features that made it stand out: | ||
* Photos would rotate every 30 seconds indefinitely | *Photos would rotate every 30 seconds indefinitely | ||
* Photos remained primary content without switching to advertisements | *Photos remained primary content without switching to advertisements | ||
* | *25 GB of Amazon Photos storage included with the subscription | ||
* | *The ability to remotely add new photos to the device | ||
==Discontinuation of service less than a year after release== | |||
In March 2024, Amazon discontinued the sale of the Echo Show 8 Photos Edition hardware<ref> | In March 2024, Amazon discontinued the sale of the Echo Show 8 Photos Edition hardware.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roth |first=Emma |date=21 Aug 2024 |title=Amazon cancels the Echo Show 8 Photos Edition’s main feature — focusing on photos |url=https://www.theverge.com/2024/8/21/24225149/amazon-end-photosplus-subscription-echo-show-8-photos-edition |url-status=live |access-date=4 Apr 2025 |website=The Verge}}</ref> Five months later, in August 2024, Amazon announced the end of the PhotosPlus subscription service. | ||
[[File:Amazon_PhotosPlus_Discontinuation_Notice_2024.jpg|thumb|300px|Amazon's email notification to PhotosPlus customers announcing the service discontinuation, sent August 2024.]] | |||
=== Workarounds === | After Amazon cancelled the PhotosPlus service, the Amazon Echo Show 8 Photos Edition became functionally identical to the standard Amazon Echo Show 8,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Heinzman |first=Andrew |date=21 Aug 2024 |title=Amazon’s $160 Digital Photo Frame Will Soon Be Filled With Ads |url=https://www.howtogeek.com/amazon-cancels-photosplus-subscription/ |url-status=live |access-date=4 Apr 2025 |website=How-To-Geek}}</ref> with users forced to view advertisements and promotional content after three hours of photo display. | ||
==Customer response== | |||
The discontinuation caused substantial customer backlash,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Amazon discontinuing the Photos part of the Echo Show 8 Photos Edition |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/amazonecho/comments/1ex6ar4/amazon_discontinuing_the_photos_part_of_the_echo/ |url-status=live |access-date=4 Apr 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> particularly because: | |||
*Customers had paid a premium ($10) for hardware that would lose its primary distinguishing feature of avoiding ads | |||
*The product lifecycle had lasted less than one year | |||
*No refunds or compensation were offered for the hardware premium | |||
*No alternative was provided for viewers wanting to avoid ads on their photo display | |||
===Workarounds=== | |||
After discontinuation, Amazon suggested two alternatives for photo display, neither of which replicated the original functionality: | After discontinuation, Amazon suggested two alternatives for photo display, neither of which replicated the original functionality: | ||
* Using the standard photo frame feature by saying "Alexa, start Photo Frame" | *Using the standard photo frame feature by saying, "Alexa, start Photo Frame" | ||
* Accessing photos through Settings > Clock & Photo Display | *Accessing photos through Settings > Clock & Photo Display | ||
While users kept access to their | While users kept access to their 25 GB of Amazon Photos storage, the devices defaulted to showing ads and promotions after three hours of photo display, which removed the primary reason customers had chosen the Photos Edition variant. | ||
== References == | ==References== | ||
[[Category:Amazon]] | |||
[[Category:Incidents]] | [[Category:Incidents]] | ||
[[Category:Discontinued products]] | |||
[[Category:Discontinued | |||
[[Category:Discontinued subscription services]] | [[Category:Discontinued subscription services]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:Articles based on videos]] | ||
<references /> | |||
Latest revision as of 20:47, 4 April 2025
Amazon PhotosPlus was a subscription-based service that offered users the ability to display their chosen photos on their devices as the "primary content." Additionally, it provided 25 GB of Amazon Photos storage, and cost $2 per month. Announced in October 2023,[1] Amazon sent an email informing its users that it was discontinuing the service,[2] cancelling it on September 12, 2024. This event has been described as having features which match the definition of a retroactively amended purchase.[3]
Background[edit | edit source]
The Amazon Echo Show 8 was a Digital Frame, which launched at $149.99. For $10 more, customers could get the Amazon Echo Show 8 Photos Edition, which included 6 months of PhotosPlus and the ability to display photos as the "primary" content. Amazon spokesperson Courtney Ramirez[3] confirmed that "Occasionally, Alexa will provide content suggestions based on a customer's interest. However, photos will remain the primary content."
Features[edit | edit source]
The Photos Edition with a PhotosPlus subscription offered several specific features that made it stand out:
- Photos would rotate every 30 seconds indefinitely
- Photos remained primary content without switching to advertisements
- 25 GB of Amazon Photos storage included with the subscription
- The ability to remotely add new photos to the device
Discontinuation of service less than a year after release[edit | edit source]
In March 2024, Amazon discontinued the sale of the Echo Show 8 Photos Edition hardware.[4] Five months later, in August 2024, Amazon announced the end of the PhotosPlus subscription service.
After Amazon cancelled the PhotosPlus service, the Amazon Echo Show 8 Photos Edition became functionally identical to the standard Amazon Echo Show 8,[5] with users forced to view advertisements and promotional content after three hours of photo display.
Customer response[edit | edit source]
The discontinuation caused substantial customer backlash,[6] particularly because:
- Customers had paid a premium ($10) for hardware that would lose its primary distinguishing feature of avoiding ads
- The product lifecycle had lasted less than one year
- No refunds or compensation were offered for the hardware premium
- No alternative was provided for viewers wanting to avoid ads on their photo display
Workarounds[edit | edit source]
After discontinuation, Amazon suggested two alternatives for photo display, neither of which replicated the original functionality:
- Using the standard photo frame feature by saying, "Alexa, start Photo Frame"
- Accessing photos through Settings > Clock & Photo Display
While users kept access to their 25 GB of Amazon Photos storage, the devices defaulted to showing ads and promotions after three hours of photo display, which removed the primary reason customers had chosen the Photos Edition variant.
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Sobolewski-Kiwerski, Adrian (18 Oct 2023). "What is Amazon PhotosPlus and what devices does it work with?". Pocket-lint. Retrieved 4 Apr 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ @wheelsee (20 Aug 2024). "@smarthomemama @verge @reckless1280 @imdavidpierce well can't say I didn't see this coming. Amazon removing the key feature of the Amazon Echo 8 Show photo edition". Threads. Retrieved 4 Apr 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ 3.0 3.1 Pattison Tuohy, Jennifer (29 Sep 2023). "Amazon will charge you to use its new Echo Show 8 as a digital photo frame". The Verge. Retrieved 4 Apr 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Roth, Emma (21 Aug 2024). "Amazon cancels the Echo Show 8 Photos Edition's main feature — focusing on photos". The Verge. Retrieved 4 Apr 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Heinzman, Andrew (21 Aug 2024). "Amazon's $160 Digital Photo Frame Will Soon Be Filled With Ads". How-To-Geek. Retrieved 4 Apr 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Amazon discontinuing the Photos part of the Echo Show 8 Photos Edition". Reddit. Retrieved 4 Apr 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)