During an event organized in Seattle (Washington, United States), Amazon unveiled several new products in its Echo line, devices that use the personal assistant Alexa to obtain information and control WiFi bulbs, thermostats and other connected household items. to the Internet. Jeff Bezos' company has shown many innovations: some are futuristic (or try to be), while others are the evolution of products already in circulation and which have been updated. Amazon aims to become more and more present in homes with Echo and Alexa, becoming the reference point for assistants for the home, a sector in which it competes above all with Google.
Echo Studio
It is the first Amazon home speaker designed for listening to high fidelity music, so with a higher quality than what you get with the classic Echo. The new device is designed especially for those who will use Amazon Music HD, the new variant of the service to listen to streaming music offered by Amazon, which includes lossless versions of the songs (i.e. with their lossless compression, as is the case with normal audio files. ). It has a slightly larger size than the other Echos, due to the arrangement of the speakers inside, more powerful and oriented in different directions. Like other speakers of this level, Echo Studio uses its microphones not only to receive voice commands, but also to calibrate song playback.
Echo Studio costs 199.99 euros and can be pre-ordered already. , awaiting its release on November 7th.
Echo Show 8
It is a new “smart” device for the home with an 8-inch screen, which is halfway between the classic 10-inch Echo Show , 1 inch and the smaller Echo Show 5. The screen has HD definition and the device has a video camera, which can be physically obscured with a shutter for those who prefer not to be surprised with privacy. As on the other video models, the Echo Show 8 also gives the possibility to consult the Web, use some applications and start video calls, which can now be grouped by involving all the members of your family who own an Echo.
Echo Show 8 will be available from the end of November in the United States at a price of $ 129.99, price and release date in Italy have not yet been disclosed.
Echo
The classic version of Echo, Amazon's best-known speaker, is now in its third generation: it offers better sound quality, including playback more accurate and realistic bass. There are not many other innovations compared to the previous models, except the addition of a color and of course a greater power of the device.
Echo costs 99.99 euros, can already be pre-ordered and will be available from the next 16 October.
Echo Dot
Amazon has unveiled a new version of Echo Dot, its smallest speaker for the home, now equipped with a clock on the front. The time is shown thanks to a series of LEDs and the rest of the device has a design that is the same as the models without a clock. The LEDs can show the time, alarm setting, countdown when starting a timer and the temperature in the city where you are. It also has a button to snooze the alarm for nine minutes, like a normal bedside alarm clock.
Echo Dot with clock costs € 69.99 and can already be pre-ordered, pending its arrival the next one. October 16. Amazon will also continue to sell the classic Echo Dot, for € 59.99.
Echo Flex
It is perhaps the most interesting novelty presented by Amazon yesterday. Echo Flex is a sort of “smart plug” that contains a small speaker inside and therefore the ability to take advantage of Alexa's features. The idea is to offer a device that can be plugged into any socket at home, so as to have one in every room and always have the ability to send voice commands.
At the bottom of the Echo Flex there is a USB socket, which can be used to connect your smartphone and charge it, or to add other modules to the device. For now, the accessories presented are two: a motion sensor and a night light. However, Amazon intends to make the device accessible to other developers, who can then design other modules.
Echo Flex costs 29.99 euros and can be pre-ordered, pending its release on November 14th.
Echo Loop
Amazon also unveiled the Echo Loop, a small ring to wear and which allows you to have Alexa close at hand. The device connects to your smartphone and can be used for making calls by placing the ring to your ear. For now it is an experimental product, it costs $ 129.99 in the US and it is not yet clear when and if it will be sold outside an invitation-only program.
Echo Frames
They are another experimental product: a pair of glasses in which a device has been inserted to always have Alexa available. The idea is to be able to use it to obtain information, control other devices and answer phone calls without directly using the smartphone. The Echo Frames are also experimental and will be sold as part of an invitation-only program, priced at $ 179.99.
Echo Buds
They are wireless earphones with similar functionality to Apple's AirPods, but a little cheaper. They take advantage of a noise canceling system and, depending on the smartphone you use, can interact with other voice assistants in addition to Alexa, such as Siri and the Google Assistant.
Echo Buds cost $ 129.99 and they will be available from the end of October in the United States, while the price and date of sale for Italy are not known.
Echo Glow
It is a small lamp that can be controlled via the other Echos. The light, not very intense, is produced by some LEDs and can be of various colors. The device was designed to illuminate children's rooms, or to accompany listening to music through Echo devices with some lighting effects. Echo Glow is currently only available in the US for $ 29.99.
Eero
Amazon presented a new version of Eero, a brand it recently acquired and which produces devices (routers) to access the Internet and offer better coverage WiFi inside your home. A new network can be set up in about ten minutes and the devices integrate Alexa into them, to interact more easily with the personal assistant. Eero is modular: you can add more devices according to the needs and the size of the space in which you want to use the WiFi. Eero basic model costs 109 euros, while Eero with three access points 279 euros.
Amazon Smart Oven
Last year Amazon presented a “smart” microwave, which gave the possibility to cook with the help of Alexa regarding recipes and cooking times. The company unveiled a new oven, the Amazon Smart Oven, which brings together a microwave and a traditional oven with different functionalities. It must be connected to a real Echo to work and costs $ 249.99 in the US, while it is unclear if and when it will be sold in Italy.
Fetch
Amazon introduced Sidewalk, a new low-bandwidth radio system that allows you to connect and monitor devices from a considerable distance. The first application of this new solution is Fetch, a sort of tracker that can be applied to your dog's leash to keep it under control. The system works up to over a kilometer away and according to Amazon the coverage can be extended as other users adopt it. For now, it is only available in the United States and on an experimental basis.
Ring
During the presentation in Seattle, Amazon also presented some news related to Ring, its company that deals with home security systems, and which has recently ended up at the center of several controversies for its controversial app for neighborhood surveillance. The most important news is a new version of the Ring Stick Up Cam, now available in both a battery-powered and a solar panel-powered edition, for use in outdoor areas. The camera is used to monitor the interior and the perimeter of the house: when it detects movement, it sends a notification to your smartphone informing you that something is happening while you are not at home.
Stick Up Cam Battery costs 99 euros, while the version with solar panel is sold at a price of 149 euros. The classic version to be connected to an electrical outlet costs 99 euros. All models can be pre-ordered and will be available from 23 October.
Alexa
Amazon has also worked on something less tangible, but still the foundation of all new devices: its personal assistant. The company announced that it has improved Alexa's voice, making it less metallic and more natural, able to respond to requests in more than one language. In the coming months, the voices of some famous people will also be added, produced starting from their tone of voice and then processed by an artificial intelligence. Among the first available voices will be that of Samuel L. Jackson.
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