As I’ve been using the Rabbit R1 for the past week, I’ve been asked the same question over and over again. “What is that? What does it do?” And each time, I struggled to find a concise answer.
That’s because the Rabbit R1 isn’t your typical technology product. It’s not a phone, but it’s meant to do some of the same things as a phone, but faster and more naturally. It’s still a long way from fulfilling that promise, but you can read more about that in my review. While this device is expected to evolve and improve over time, we do not recommend purchasing it now.
Rabbit R1 does not run on traditional operating systems with apps. Instead, the software is powered by AI that is trained to use apps and services on your behalf. Rabbit founder and CEO Jesse Lyu likens this to handing your phone to a friend to order takeout.
Here’s a breakdown of what you need to know about Rabbit R1.
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How much does Rabbit R1 cost?
Rabbit R1 costs $199 and does not require a subscription. However, unless you tether the Rabbit R1 to your phone’s mobile hotspot, you’ll also need a data plan for the Rabbit R1 if you use it on the go. Some of the services you may want to connect to R1, such as Spotify and Midjourney, require a subscription.
What’s in the box?
In addition to the device itself, it comes with a transparent protective travel case that can also be used as a kickstand for the Rabbit R1. It looks similar to a cassette tape case, but fits perfectly with the Rabbit R1’s retro design. This device does not come with a charging cable, but you can power it using any USB-C cable.
What can you do with Rabbit R1?
Currently, Rabbit R1 answers questions, calls Uber, orders DoorDash, plays music on Spotify, translates audio, generates images with Midjourney, identifies nearby objects with its camera, and uses voice You can record notes. Your phone can already do these things, but Rabbit is positioning his R1 as a way to perform these tasks faster and more efficiently. (Again, my experience so far has not found that to be true).
Rather than opening an app and swiping to select, you primarily control Rabbit R1 by holding the side button and speaking like a walkie-talkie. But there’s also a scroll wheel if you need to navigate on-screen menus, like your Spotify queue, settings options, or food selections in DoorDash. Shake R1 twice to access the settings menu.
So far, I’ve found the R1 to be most useful for scanning and asking questions about objects and points of interest in the environment. However, it was sometimes unable to recognize certain landmarks, such as the New York Stock Exchange. I also couldn’t get Uber to work properly, but the company has issued an update that may help with this.
Rabbit also plans to update R1 with more features over time. During the company’s launch keynote on April 23, founder and CEO Jesse Liu said features such as travel planning, reminders, calendar and contacts support are expected in summer 2024. He said that it has been done. We are also developing smart home features, shopping features, and ways to teach R1 to perform certain tasks within the Teach Mode app and service. The company also plans to add video messaging, third-party payment, and navigation features to Rabbit R1.
Which third-party services does Rabbit R1 support?
According to Rabbit’s online portal, known as Rabbithole, R1 currently supports Uber, Spotify, Midjourney, and Doordash. You can connect accounts for these services to your device when you set up R1.
According to the company’s keynote, support for Amazon Music and Apple Music is in development, and Yelp functionality is expected to be introduced in summer 2024. The company also plans to add support for Airbnb, Lyft, 1Password, OpenTable, Ticketmaster, and Uber Eats.
Does that mean Rabbit knows my login name and password?
The company says it won’t store login credentials for connected apps or services, instead using the service’s own authentication system to link accounts. So, for example, if you connect your Uber account to Rabbithole, it will use Uber’s authentication system, he says. When he went through the setup process, linking his account to Rabbithole was like logging into Uber or Doordash through a web browser.
Can I use Rabbit R1 as a phone?
The Rabbit R1 isn’t technically a phone, but you can insert a SIM card into it. However, calls and text messages are not supported at this time.
How can I see the questions I asked Rabbit?
The Journal section of the Rabbithole web portal displays the visual searches you perform using the R1’s camera, as well as the voice notes you record. These can be removed from the website at any time.
However, Rabbithole currently does not save voice queries and there is no way to save answers for later reference. A Rabbit spokesperson said the company plans to add this feature in a near future update.
What is the battery life of Rabbit R1?
The Rabbit R1’s battery life was initially very poor, lasting barely half a day. It can also passively drain when not in use. However, the company issued an update to address this on April 30th. Battery life seems to have improved significantly, and on a day of very light use, the R1 had 83% battery left by 5:34 p.m.
Wait, I thought I saw something about Rabbit R1 being just an Android app?
The answer is a little complicated. The Rabbit R1 launcher Android package (APK) file is a file that contains all the resources and elements needed for an Android app to be properly installed on the device, and was installed on the Google Pixel 6A, according to Android Authority. The outlet posted a video of what appears to be the Rabbit OS operating system running on the phone, with the volume up key acting as a push-to-talk button on his R1, and answering questions.
However, the report also states that other features, such as Spotify integration, are likely not to work as they require certain system-level permissions that cannot be granted on a mobile phone.
In response to the, Rabbit Inc. said this in X. “We are aware of the existence of several unofficial Rabbit OS app/website emulators.” It also said that the service won’t work properly if you use a “local pirated APK” because you won’t have access to the “appropriate OS and cloud endpoints,” adding, “Rabbit OS is customized for R1, and third-party It does not support APKs – party clients. ”
You can read Rabbit’s full response below.
We will update this story with more information about R1 as more devices are updated in the future.
Rabbit R1 AI assistant looks really retro with its orange color
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