– Integrate the latest hardware technology, strengthen voice recognition-connection
– Maximize speech recognition with six high-performance microphones, voice recognition beamforming, and echo cancellation feature
LOS ANGELES, CA, November 29, 2020 /Neptune100/ — A smart speaker that responds to your voice accurately in any situation has appeared.
Kakao Enterprise (CEO Baek Sang-yeop) released Mini Hexa, a smart speaker equipped with the AI platform Kakao i on Oct. 26.
Mini Hexa is Kakao’s fourth smart device to be released following Kakao Mini, Kakao Mini C and Mini Link. The Mini series has evolved into various forms to improve convenience by implementing AI in all daily life.
As the name suggests, Mini Hexa has a hexagonal exterior design. The advantage is that it can be easily mounted anywhere in the house with a more compact size and design than Kakao Mini and Kakao Mini C.
It also gathers the latest hardware technology to improve speech recognition accuracy, connection speed, and stability compared to existing products.
Six high-performance microphones were used to maximize the voice recognition rate with the voice recognition beamforming and echo cancellation feature. It responds by recognizing the exact direction of the person who gave the voice command accurately, whether it was a small whisper or from far distance or noisy environment.
The connectivity with various devices has also been further strengthened. By separating the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth antennas, the network speed and stability were improved. By mounting Qualcomm’s Smart Audio 400 Platform, it supports upgraded performance, connectivity, and audio functions.
External speakers and smartphones can be controlled with stable connection. Kakao Enterprise’s devices can be easily connected with just the voice command “Connect mini link (device name).”
If you use Mini Hexa, you can use various and convenient features provided by Kakao i. Like Kakao Mini, you can check and send KakaoTalk messages, and you can listen to music or receive recommendations. In addition to knowledge/life information like news, exchange rates, stock prices, and fortunes, • alarm/memo registration • home exercise • delivery food ordering • transportation/direction information • language dictionary • movie/TV information are also available.
Frequently used commands can be used by pressing the Quick Button located in the center of Mini Hexa. After adding the Hey Kakao chatbot as a friend in KakaoTalk, you can set your own commands by talking to the chatbot. When you press the Quick Button after setting, the answer to the command is automatically executed.
You can execute multiple commands at once, and you can use this in situations where it is difficult to give voice commands. For example, you can register two commands, “How’s the weather today?” and “Tell me the news,” in the quick button, and by pressing the quick button, today’s weather and news will be played in sequence.
Kakao Enterprise said, “We have upgraded Kakao Mini and Kakao Mini C by adding a compact design, advanced voice recognition performance, and quick button. It will function as a life assistant that provides everything from life information to entertainment.” The company added, “In the future, we will continue to evolve devices based on the reactions and needs of users.” Mini Hexa will start selling at KakaoTalk Gift Shop at 9:00 am on Oct. 26. It consists of the body, cable, and adapter, and the price is 59,000 won.
Kakao Enterprise is based in Pangyo, Pangyo Technovalley is the Asia Tech Hub where more than 1,200 companies in IT, CT, and BT sectors with innovative products and technologies are gathered. Located just south of the Seoul metropolitan area, easy transportation access and infrastructure provides the best environment for Korean companies to conduct businesses.
Various high-tech companies are located here, with more than 64 thousand full-time workers with a vast majority in their 20s and 30s. By industries, companies in the high-tech industry are made up of IT companies, content technology companies, biotechnology companies, and nanotechnology companies.
With the support from innovative companies with global capabilities like Kakao, NHN Entertainment, AhnLab, Krafton, NCSOFT, Nexon, and Hancom at hand, companies in Pangyo Technovalley made over 100 trillion in revenue this year. A 20% increase from last year, it is expected to become one of the best IT clusters in Korea in near future, along with advanced technology research institutes like Advanced Institute of Convergence Technology, KAIST, ETRI, and KETI working together to develop the relevant technologies further.
“Is it the Kakao style?”
Kakao krew is often challenging themselves. Our view, behavior, and vision have already been imbued with the Kakao style, a naturally mastered and embodied essence to create a better world. We will never stop starting from basics and pondering our next move. That is Kakao’s style.
