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Amazon’s gadgets don’t have to be pretty so long as they’re cheap
We've reached peak consumerism. At Amazon's event this week, it announced a whopping 70 new features and devices, including three new speakers, a revamped FireTV, an in-car dongle, an updated smart display and ... a microwave. The company is squeezing its Alexa assistant into every appliance imaginable, and doesn't care how the devices look, so long as you want to buy them. And at prices much lower than the competition, Amazon's products are especially compelling for those looking for decent, affordable solutions to short-term problems. You'll probably buy these things for your dorm or rental apartment, then try to sell them on Craigslist when you're ready for a permanent upgrade.
If Amazon wants Alexa everywhere, it needs better language support
I can't profess to fully understand all of the complexities of localizing services for various languages, nuances, accents and dialects where voice recognition is concerned. However, with Amazon's Alexa ambitions ramping up after its hardware event Thursday, it's worth questioning why the voice assistant's language support is so abysmal.
Amazon's new Echo lineup targets Google, Apple and Sonos
It wouldn't be an Amazon event without a slew of new Echo devices, and this time is no different. The company announced not one, not two, but seven new Echo products at an event today in Seattle. Not only are there now new versions of the Echo Dot, the Echo Plus and the Echo Show, Amazon also introduced several new Echo companions that you can use to bring Alexa to every room in your house -- and even your car.
For Amazon, better skills mean bigger ad revenue
Amazon is improving its Alexa voice assistant with each new update, enabling more natural conversation patterns and upgrading the system's ability to understand complex or vague questions. All of this is great for people who are sick of screaming, "ALEXA," and repeating commands a dozen different ways before the device actually does what it's supposed to. However, these upgrades are also good for advertisers -- and, by association, Amazon.
Amazon's Alexa-powered microwave is pretty unnecessary
One of the most surprising announcements from today's Amazon event was a microwave oven, of all things. It's part of the AmazonBasics line of products, and you can use it for reheating food, making popcorn or, you know, using it for whatever a normal microwave would do. Except there's one special thing about it -- it works with Alexa. And while that might sound like a cool thing at first, I can't help but think it's really quite unnecessary.
Here's every Alexa device Amazon announced today
Amazon caused a few gasps at its Alexa event Thursday when it revealed it had 70 things to announce. If that sounds like a lot to take in, fret not -- not all of those were hardware announcements. We've rounded up all of the Alexa-infused products Amazon showcased, including speakers, an in-car device and, um, a microwave?
Amazon's 2018 Echo Show finally gets it right
When the original Echo Show debuted last year, plenty of people (including us) made fun of its chunky and bulky design. Well, Amazon must've taken those comments to heart, because the new Echo Show is decidedly much better looking. While the older Echo Show might've reminded us of mall kiosks, the newer Show looks a bit more like a smaller, cuter TV.
Amazon's Echo Auto puts Alexa in any car
A growing number of cars have Alexa built-in, but what if yours doesn't? Amazon has its own solution: Echo Auto. The new peripheral uses your phone's cellular connection (through a Bluetooth link) to provide Alexa voice commands in vehicles where they normally wouldn't be an option. The device is ready as soon as you start your vehicle, and it now uses location-based routines to trigger events based on where you are. The lights can come on at home when you're about to pull into the driveway, as an example.
Amazon's new Echo Show packs a larger display and improved audio
Amazon's seemingly non-stop device announcements now include a revamp of its first smart display. The internet giant has unveiled a second-generation Echo Show that ditches the (frankly boring) look of the original in favor of a minimalist design with a much larger 10-inch display. And there's a good reason for that display -- the Echo Show offers web browsers (both Amazon's own Silk and Firefox) to help you watch YouTube and access other services that aren't built-in. It's also helpful for newly-added Skype video chat support, Vevo music videos and even live TV through new Hulu and NBC integrations as well as a just-introduced Fire TV Recast DVR peripheral.
The new Ring Stick Up Cam works with Ring Alarm security system
Amazon is rolling out a bunch of new gadgets today, a few of which are focused on home security. Among those is a new Ring Stick Up Cam, which will come in both wired and battery-powered versions. It can be used indoors or outside, comes in black and white and will be able to work alongside the Ring Alarm security system when used indoors. These are the first cameras from Ring that are meant for indoor and outdoor use and they'll feature motion detection, 1080p HD resolution, night vision, two-way talk, a siren and a wide viewing angle. Users will be able to program them to start recording once Ring Alarm is triggered.
Alexa Guard makes your Echo a home security device
Amazon got into the home security game this year, first by buying Ring and then through the launch of full home security packages. As part of its massive Alexa event today, the company is announcing a new security feature that anyone with an Alexa device can take advantage of. It's called "guard mode," and it can be activated whenever you tell Alexa that you've left your house. It's made up of a few smart alerts, specifically when your Echo (or other Alexa speaker) hears the sound of breaking glass or detects an alarm from a smoke or CO2 detector. In any of those cases, it'll record a clip of the sound and send it to your phone so you are aware of the alert.
There's even an Alexa-enabled Amazon wall clock
Amazon has grand plans to connect every single device in your home to the Alexa ecosystem. Today it expanded this reach to your walls with the Echo Wall Clock, which looks a lot like a standard analog clock, until you start some timers. The clock tracks any timers you've set via a series of LEDs around the rim, plus it automatically updates the time whenever Daylight Savings rears its sleep-stealing head.
The AmazonBasics Microwave is powered by Alexa
Amazon is continuing its quest to make as many of its own Alexa devices as possible, launching a slew of new gadgets and features at its event in Seattle today. One of the more unusual announcements is the new AmazonBasics microwave, which, predictably, you can control with Alexa.
Amazon's smart plugs put Alexa in every power socket
As if having access to Alexa on your phone and in your speakers or even car weren't enough, Amazon now has a way to put its digital assistant in literally every room of your house. At its press conference in Seattle on Thursday, Amazon unveiled its latest connected home product, Smart Plugs. These devices don't technically have Alexa on-board, but you can control them with Alexa through Echo speakers or your smartphone.
Amazon's Echo Input offers Alexa for your existing speakers
The latest gadget Amazon is shoehorning Alexa into is an audio dongle called the Echo Input. The $34.99 media bridge has line inputs, Bluetooth and a far-field mic. Think of it like a combo Chromecast Audio and Google Home Mini, but without the speaker and sold by Amazon versus Google and you've got the basic gist.
Amazon's Echo Link is its answer to high-end audio
While the Echo Dot's ability to plug into existing speakers is nice, it's not something fans of high-end audio would hook up to their home theatre. If you're the type of person that scoffs at the tiny sound coming out of the company's voice-powered speakers, Amazon is hoping to win over those audiophiles with two new devices: The Echo Link Amp and Echo Link.
Amazon's new Echo Plus has a better speaker and temperature sensor
The rumors of a big Amazon hardware event were true, and we're getting a look at all the Alexa-focused devices the company is showing off for the upcoming holiday season. Even though it's only been a year since Amazon released the Echo Plus -- a more expensive version of its standard speaker with a smart hub built in -- the company is announcing a new version today. It still has the smart hub, but Amazon says it'll be a lot better for music playback, something that's been a theme throughout many of the announcements the company has made so far.
Amazon's Echo Sub adds some much-needed bass to its smart speakers
The Echo is a fine enough smart speaker, but what it's lacking is any sort of oomph in terms of sound quality. That's why Amazon will release the Echo Sub this October. The diminutive bass-maker features 100W of power, a 6-inch downward firing woofer and will work when paired with either a lone Echo or a pair, for a true 2.1 stereo setup. The stereo pairing feature is brand new, as well. Prior, you could only group separate Echo devices together for multi-room listening. More than that, Amazon is opening up its multi-room API to third parties.
Amazon's new Echo Dot offers better sound at the same price
As rumored, Amazon isn't playing around and it's getting ready to launch a slew of Alexa-powered devices. First up, it's a new Echo Dot, which the company says offers better sound than before and it's still only $50. According to Amazon, this Dot is 70 percent louder compared the previous model, thanks to a 1.6-inch driver that's designed to deliver more powerful sound with lower distortion and "enhanced" bass. It also comes with an upgraded appearance, featuring a fabric coat that makes it look more stylish than the existing plastic hockey puck.
Amazon's Alexa event will take place today at 1:00 PM ET
For those who've been wondering just when Amazon's mysterious event is going to be, you need wait no longer. That day is today, and it'll take place in the company's Seattle headquarters at 1:00 PM ET / 10:00 AM PT. We don't know too much about what will be unveiled just yet, but if it's anything like last year's event, chances are good that Alexa will be the prevailing theme.