Amazon is proving determined to take over your home, announcing six all-new devices. These Alexa-powered gizmos come in all shapes and sizes, and are priced competitively. All but the Amazon Buttons are now available to pre-order.
Have a browse at the rundown below, and see how Amazon plans to enhance your at-home experience.
Echo (2nd Generation) – $99.99 – Releasing October 31, 2017
“With improved sound, powered by Dolby, and a new design.
Amazon Echo is a hands-free speaker you control with your voice. Echo connects to the Alexa Voice Service to play music, ask questions, make calls, send and receive messages, provide information, news, sports scores, weather, and more — instantly. All you have to do is ask.
Echo is also an expertly tuned speaker that can fill any room with immersive sound. It has seven microphones and beamforming technology so it can hear you across the room — even while music is playing. When you want to use Echo just say the wake word “Alexa” and Echo responds instantly.”
Echo Plus (with Philips Hue Bulb) – $149.99 – Releasing October 31, 2017
“Echo Plus is a hands-free speaker you control with your voice, with a built-in smart home hub. It connects to the Alexa Voice Service to play music, ask questions, make calls, provide information, news, sports scores, weather, and more—instantly. All you have to do is ask.
Echo Plus has 360° room-filling sound, and can hear you from across the room from any direction. It is always getting smarter as Alexa continues to add additional features. With a built-in smart home hub and simple setup for compatible connected devices, starting your smart home or integrating into your existing system is now easier than ever.”
Echo Spot – $129.99 – Releasing December 19, 2017
“Echo Spot brings you everything you love about Alexa, in an all-new stylish and compact design that can show you things. Just ask to see the weather, get the news with a video flash briefing, set an alarm, see lyrics with Amazon Music, see your calendar, browse and listen to Audible audiobooks, and more. Personalize your Spot with a collection of clock faces to suit your style or set a photo background from Prime Photos. Plus, make calls to friends and family or make video calls to anyone with an Echo Spot, Echo Show, or the Alexa App.
Echo Spot features 2nd generation far-field technology with four microphones, beamforming technology, and enhanced noise cancellation, so it can hear you from across the room—even while music is playing. If you have more than one Echo, Alexa responds intelligently from the Echo you’re closest to with ESP (Echo Spatial Perception).”
Fire TV with 4K Ultra HD and Alexa Voice Remote – $69.99 – Releasing October 25, 2017
“Fire TV connects you to a world of entertainment. With a compatible 4K Ultra HD and High Dynamic Range (HDR) TV, watch as thousands of movies and TV episodes come to life in vibrant colors and detailed contrast. Find your favorites with universal voice search across more than 140 integrated channels and apps or discover new content with personalized recommendations on the home screen.”
Echo Connect – $34.99 – Releasing December 13, 2017
“With Echo Connect and a compatible Echo device, you can ask Alexa to call anyone using your home phone service—all you have to do is ask. Because Echo Connect uses your home phone number, either landline or VoIP, friends and family recognize the call. Answer your home phone on your Echo from across the room, so you can easily talk to anyone hands-free when you’re busy making dinner or away from the phone.
With the Alexa App, the contacts on your mobile phone stay in sync with Alexa, so you never have to look up a number stored on your phone. When you receive a call from someone in your contact list, Alexa will announce who is calling.”
Echo Buttons – $19.99 – Releasing TBA
“Echo Buttons, an Alexa Gadget, deliver a new way to play games through your compatible Echo device. Each button illuminates and can be pressed to trigger a variety of game play experiences powered by Alexa. Bring back game night with a variety of Alexa Skills such as Beat the Intro from Musicplode, Dungeon Escape, and Sounds Fun with Mike Epps from Ground Control. Echo Buttons will be available as a pair for $19.99.”
