Amazon Reveals New Alexa-Compatible Echo Speakers, Subwoofer, Amplifiers, Microwave, Wall Clock, and More

[MacRumors]

Amazon held a big hardware event today at The Seattle Spheres, located at Amazon's headquarters campus in Washington state. The event was notable for Amazon, with senior vice president of Amazon Devices Dave Limp stating that it marked the largest number of devices and features that Amazon has ever debuted in one day.

The first product unveiling was a new and upgraded Echo Dot, which includes a brand new mic array for better performance. The company says the driver is much larger -- increasing from 1.1" to a 1.6" driver -- resulting in more powerful sound with lower distortion, enhanced bass reproduction, and increased overall max volume.

Echo Dot​

Through all of the upgrades, Echo Dot's footprint still hasn't increased and the price will remain at $49.99, just like previous generations. The new Echo Dot ships in October, and pre-orders go up today.

There's also a new mainline Echo device, the new Echo Plus. This generation has more powerful sound with stronger bass and clearer playback. There's a new equalizer feature that lets you use your voice to adjust the bass and treble through Alexa, a built-in smart home hub so you can set up devices by stating "Alexa, discover my devices," and an integrated temperature sensor so you can trigger routines based on how cool or hot the room is.

Image via The Verge​

Echo Plus will cost $149.99 and is up for pre-order today before its October launch.


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Article Link: Amazon Reveals New Alexa-Compatible Echo Speakers, Subwoofer, Amplifiers, Microwave, Wall Clock, and More

 

[bigboyz12000]

Amazon taking over the world, the new Google? Interesting.

 

[thedarkhalf]

Alexa, Release a crap ton of new products that most people don't want or need...

Alexa.. I was joking!!

 

[MacHiavelli]

Why do Amazon products always look so tacky?

 

[The Game 161]

Does it still send private text messages to your contacts without your knowledge though?

 

[555gallardo]

I hope they sell Talking Toilet Bowl as well. Getting tired of reading my Marvel comic books over and over again.

 

[neoelectronaut]

****, I waited too long to sell off my unwanted Echo Dot.

 

[fourthtunz]

Having a hard time containing my meh.

 

[macduke]

Great. Now when I buy a new house (~10 years away), I'm going to have to go around and either buy new appliances or open the devices and remove the microphones and cameras that are tracking my every move inside my own home. I've even seen Alexa powered light switches. Ecobee even tried to send me one for free to test. I politely declined and told them exactly why.

 

[tobefirst ⚽️]

Well, I guess I'll be the first to say that I'm excited about some of these products. A better sounding echo dot? A larger screen echo show? A bridge to my stereo receiver? Yes, please. I also like the idea of integrating Alexa with things that would just be around the house, like the wall clock. Instead of having to have a dot in that room, I could just put a clock up.

 

[kerpow69]

The microwave is particularly stupid. You still have to walk up to it to put your food in. At that point how hard is it to punch in 30 seconds?

 

[apolloa]

That new Echo Show is now actually useful, the Recast device is also awesome, you can use Alexa to record programmes.. yeah that will rock, but it needs to be able to record Amazon live shows too like the tennis they recently had, and allow you to live pause it.

 

[RickInHouston]

Boy, at this stage of the game apple better make their own everything because you guys don't want it if it doesn't have an apple logo on it.

 

[James_C]

Yes they are not attractive products, but Amazon clearly wants to make its stamp on Smart Homes, at these prices it is not too difficult to have one in every room. Can't really say the same with the HomePod which is too expensive for most people to have one in every room. I fear Apple is losing the home automation battle, its been too slow and too expensive.

 

[WiiDSmoker]

The microwave is particularly stupid. You still have to walk up to it to put your food in. At that point how hard is it to punch in 30 seconds?

Incredibly hard if you have a handicap

 

[chrisdazzo]

Privacy- and security-wise, I still don't want an Echo or Ring in my house... but that's just me.

 

[djeeyore25]

I like the concept of the Fire TV Recast. I'll have to see how well it works once it's released.

 

[TxExCxH]

Wow, Amazon really knows how to keep the leaks of their upcoming products contained! I had no Idea any of these products were about to be announced. Apple could learn something. /s



...I kid, I know nobody cares about their products.

 

[kerpow69]

Incredibly hard if you have a handicap

Yeah, thats true.

 

[steve knight]

my wife has been having more and more issues with the alexa devices. they activate with nothing even close to alexa or computer we have them set for. often they fail to work with sonos anymore even just lowering the volume often fails. not sure if we will buy anymore products.

 

[robbyx]

Sonos has nothing to worry about from the HomePod at the moment, but these new Echo devices are a serious threat, especially the Link Amp. I think Apple is making a huge mistake by not releasing a similar HomePod product. Hopefully they will one day.

Many of us want a complete home audio system where we can choose our speakers. There’s a reason Sonos has done well in the high end market. They have products that appeal to home owners, people who are far more likely to invest in high end and built-in speaker systems. When I bought my house and remodeled it, I added built-in speakers with Sonos Connect Amp boxes. I have one Play5 to use in rooms without built-in speakers or for when I’m out on the deck.

Smart speakers don’t interest me. I don’t want the speaker part, just the smart part. Sonos is getting there but their Alexa support is mediocre. Now here comes Amazon with a product that does the same thing as the Sonos Connect Amp, costs half the price, and features a no-compromise Alexa experience. Sonos should be very worried. By offering a solution aimed more squarely at home owners and smart home designers, Amazon is going to further strengthen their grip on that industry.

 

[Return Zero]

The only thing that interests me is the sub. I hope an Airplay 2 subwoofer hits the market soon... HomePod can crush some serious bass, but not at loud volumes.

 

[bbeagle]

Boy, at this stage of the game apple better make their own everything because you guys don't want it if it doesn't have an apple logo on it.

Why do you say that?

Me and my wife have iPhones and iPads, but we also have Sonos speakers around my house which are integrated with Alexa. I have Samsung TVs. I have Bose headphones. I'm interested in products that work well.

We had Android tablets that my kids got for Christmas. They were junk, had all sorts of issues, so we got them iPads, and no problems now.

I like products that work well, not specifically Apple.

 

[technicalFoozle]

No new eReaders... that is an old product line.

 

[cjboffoli97]

A bunch of devices endlessly listening and recording everything you say and then commoditizing that to serve Amazon's thirsty greed? Um, no thank you. I'll stick with Apple, the company that Edward Snowden himself has called a pioneer in the field of privacy.