Amazon Unveils New Echo Speakers with Alexa+ AI and Omnisense Technology

[MacRumors]

Amazon today announced the launch of new Echo Dot Max, Echo Studio, Echo Show 8, and Echo Show 11 smart speakers, all of which are designed to work with Amazon's Alexa+ AI assistant.

The new speakers have faster chips with AI acceleration, and a custom sensor platform called Omnisense. Omnisense was created for ambient AI, and it leverages sensors and signals to act on events that are happening in the home. Amazon says it can do things like provide a reminder when a specific person walks in a room, or send an alert that the garage door is unlocked and it's after 10 p.m.

Amazon's updated Echo Dot Max and Echo Studio look like a cross between a HomePod mini and an older Echo device, featuring 3D knit fabric and a front-facing light ring with on-device controls. The Echo Dot Max has two speakers and a rearchitected sound system with fuller bass, while the Echo Studio offers spatial audio, Dolby Atmos, and immersive bass in a compact package. The Echo Show devices have an improved viewing experience, an integrated 13-megapixel camera, and an Alexa+ Home app for controlling all smart devices at once.

Amazon's Echo Dot and Echo Studio are relevant because the products compete directly with Apple's HomePod and HomePod mini. Apple doesn't have an Echo Show-like product yet, but a smart home hub with a screen is in the works and slated to launch next year.

Amazon plans to launch an Alexa+ Store in the near future, and it will offer access to thousands of devices and services that integrate with Amazon AI. Amazon is working with Bose, Sonos, LG, Samsung, BMW, and more to add Alexa+ into their products.

The Echo devices are available for pre-order starting today, and customers will get early access to Alexa+ with purchase. The Echo Dot Max is $100, the Echo Studio is $220, the Echo Show 8 is $180, and the Echo Show 11 is $220.

Article Link: Amazon Unveils New Echo Speakers with Alexa+ AI and Omnisense Technology

 

[implacablewombat]

That's no moon.

 

[Student of Life]

Im sure they made some improvements or whatever but with the ads they display on the echo they are dead to me. The same with Samsung putting ads on the fridge.

 

[usmaak]

Paying to put something in your living room that will advertise to you non-stop. Amazon Echo screen devices are trash. And Alexa+ is as dumb as most AI out there.

 

[turbineseaplane]

You could give me one of these and I'd just throw it in the trash.

I can't believe people pay to have these surveillance & advertising boxes in their houses.

 

[Slo Pesci]

imagine paying for an amazon ad billboard in your home

 

[shaun3000]

The one thing this does better than HomePod is the drop-in feature. I don’t know why Apple doesn’t add something like this. One-way voice messages doesn’t cut it. Oh and Alexa is miles ahead of Siri.

 

[Dorfdad]

I mean this is what Apple is going to release isn't it.

 

[boswald]

With all the ads and clumsy AI, using my OG HomePods - with Siri off - doesn’t seem so bad.

 

[3Gmatt]

Yeah, that’s a no from me dawg.

 

[captrlp]

Correction…Amazon unveils new personal data collection devices that also play music!!!

 

[hiphopdan]

upgraded my echos to early access Alexa+ earlier this week and immediately rolled them back. Instead of displaying the clock it was an even worse parade of ads and "tips" than it was before. Unusable.

 

[acblue94]

I mean this is what Apple is going to release isn't it.

In 10 years

 

[Boeingfan]

I've only ever had Echo's or Echo Dot's, and I like them. No advertising whatsoever unless you don't have Prime, and then all they advertise occasionally is Prime.

I'll be getting these, happily

 

[Boeingfan]

The one thing this does better than HomePod is the drop-in feature. I don’t know why Apple doesn’t add something like this. One-way voice messages doesn’t cut it. Oh and Alexa is miles ahead of Siri.

The drop in feature is fabulous: I'm a full time carer for my elderly Dad, and he and I drop in on each other to check-in or get help in the middle of the night etc..

I also love the whisper feature where you whisper something to her and she whispers back 😁

 

[iBreatheApple]

Im sure they made some improvements or whatever but with the ads they display on the echo they are dead to me. The same with Samsung putting ads on the fridge.

I came prepared to challenge people for talking 💩 about it when Amazon is already multiple generations in and Apple hasn’t released one… but I forgot all about the feeling when I saw a video ad appear on my kitchen echo show a couple months back. So yeah… they’re dead to me too. Been holding out for a long time for a screened HomePod and AI, and was wondering if I should just finally cave despite wanting to be out of the Amazon ecosystem for a while…but you brought me back to reality from the shiny new toys. Thanks!

 

[Apple.Fanatic]

I unplugged my Echo Show after Amazon decided to constantly push ads on the screen. I will NEVER purchase another until they wise up and stop the ads. Too bad, as I used to really enjoy having it in my kitchen.

 

[Apple.Fanatic]

I've only ever had Echo's or Echo Dot's, and I like them. No advertising whatsoever unless you don't have Prime, and then all they advertise occasionally is Prime.

I'll be getting these, happily

You didn't get ads because you didn't purchase a product with a screen. If you purchase the Echo Show, welcome to ad city, and it doesn't matter if you are a Prime customer or not. Amazon will push ads all day on the screen, and you can't disable them. Amazon could give me the Show for free, and I still wouldn't want it. Dot/speaker is the only choice imo if going with the Amazon voice assistant ecosystem since ads are extremely limited there.

 

[Boeingfan]

You didn't get ads because you didn't purchase a product with a screen.

Correct. If they did move down the path of pushing ads on the voice only units, I'd ditch them. We can always go full circle and physically turn on light switches, god forbid HAHA 😁

 

[progx]

You could give me one of these and I'd just throw it in the trash.

I can't believe people pay to have these surveillance & advertising boxes in their houses.

It's crazy the amount of research that's required to find one that isn't taking your videos. Amazon and Meta would be the last two companies I'd trust at all; I'd put Tesla at the top, then Google and Microsoft to fill out the top 5.

 

[TalkieToaster]

That's no moon.

I rushed to the comments to either make that comment or read it. I was not disappointed

 

[Corpuscle]

That's no moon.

What have you got against the Moon?

 

[picpicmac]

What have you got against the Moon?

 

[Johnny907]

About time they updated their Echo line. Going on what, five years now since the last legit upgrade?
For people complaining, the speakers are decent. I get why you would have an issue with the ad infused screens but I've been happy with the Echo line since it debuted, and frankly Alexa does things the first time I ask her. That alone is worth having two different brands of smart devices in my home.

 

[villagehiker]

Apple does better quality. While I am not married to Apple, my association with Apple began with the 1984 Macintosh. It cost 60K less than the more-or-less equivalent Xerox Star System I was considering for my publishing services business. It operated more smoothly. Everything worked together. The same applies today. Macintoshes—called Macs today—provide business value for eight or more years and very seldom need servicing. Today, I replace each Mac every eight years—sometimes a little sooner just for fun. But I am still using a 2008 Aluminum MacBook—the original aluminum Mac. It never goes on the web, but runs fine. I replaced its original hard drive with an SSD and run Snow Leopard. Snow Leopard is basically Darwin (Apple Unix) with a cool user interface. It does email, music, ebooks, photos, movies. It also runs TeX nicely and Perl, two of my primary publishing tools. My more modern system uses current Macs, iPhones, iPads, Homepods, Apple TV, HomeKit products… Everything works together well. Apple does not stick its ears and nose into my life. Amazon is cool for shopping, but I see no reason to use its electronic products, or products by Google or Meta—no way. I do like Alexa and do not trust Google or Meta. This is just my experience and preference. I am not the final authority on anything.