Amazon surprise material event starts at 1 pm ET

It is 6 am here in Seattle and we are two hours away from an unannounced event at Amazon's headquarters. The agenda of the day?

"We'll be launching new features and new products related to the Amazon business", read the invitation in my inbox. (I'll share my blog with my colleague Ben Fox Rubin and the trusty ninja Tyler Lizenby.) Surprise!

Well, the predictable kind of surprise, at least. Last September, Amazon unveiled its second-generation Echo smart speaker in the same way a group of other new Alexa gadgets, including Spot Echo touch screen alarm clock and the Echo Plus the smart-home hub, as well as the Alexa-equipped Cube TV Fire. The month before that saw the arrival of the second generation Echo Dot.

Reading in progress:
Look at this:

Amazon can bring Alexa to high-end audio

2:01

What is less predictable is exactly what we should expect to see today, because it seems like we could see a lot of it. CNBC is already reporting that Amazon has no less than eight new Alexa gadgets are expected to come out this year — all of an Echo subwoofer at an Alexa microwave (that "Echo Sub" appeared briefly on the website of Amazon UKas well as an Alexa smart plug for good measure). On top of that, we saw Leakage of images of a third-generation Echo Dot this Amazon would have also cooked.

Will all of these rumored devices make their debut? I guess at least one couple is not yet at the prototype stage, but again, Amazon has recently made the habit of throwing several ideas to the wall to see what's left. Everything is possible when you are a company of one trillion dollars, I suppose.

Prediction: Today's event will attempt to reinforce some of Alex's potential vulnerabilities in what has rapidly become one of the hottest categories of technology. Amazon must be at least slightly concerned about Google's growing presence in the rear-view mirror after the search giant surpassed Amazon in smart-speaker sales in the first quarter of the year.

The momentum has not slowed since, with new touch screens compatible with Google Assistant such as the Lenovo Smart Display and the JBL Link View proving more convincing than Alexa's touch screen Echo Show for ever. More of these are en route, including the LG Smart Display and maybe even a Google smart first-party display, each of which could challenge the Echo range on the front of the sound quality, just like the King Google Home Max and hit hard Sonos One I already have it.

Meanwhile, Apple has the skin in the game of smart speakers thanks to the HomePod, and the voice assistant of Samsung Bixby also wants to make its way to the market.

With such new competition for the crown of Alexa, it would certainly not be the worst time for Amazon to play defense with a brand new range of Echo devices just in time for the holidays. Whatever the planning of Amazon, we will be there in the room to share it with you in a few hours. For now, here's a quick overview of what we might see apart from these other rumors.

Echo Dot 3.0?

$ 50 the second generation Echo Dot is Amazon's best-selling Alexa gadget, making it the most important piece in the Alexa lineup. But last year, Echo, the second generation, abandoned the black and white plastic in favor of a fabric structure more in line with the Google Home and Home Mini Smart speakers – who let the Echo Dot feel a bit dated in comparison.

That's one of the reasons I think the recent leak suggesting that Amazon is working on a third generation, Dot, the body is probably legitimate. These leaks also suggest that the new Dot would offer improved sound quality, which would help it compete better with the friendly Home Mini. My question: If a new Echo Dot is coming soon, can Amazon reduce costs by less than $ 50?

We see him today: 85 percent

A new and improved echo show?

Let's face facts: the equipped touch screen Echo Show Amazon probably did not hope that would be the case. The most expensive gadget Alexa that Amazon has ever released, the Show was positioned as the showstopper of the Alexa lineup, and the interest for this device seemed high. preorders have piled up. But the visual interface was disappointing (and still does), and is fighting with Google on YouTube limited his initial call as well. A little more than a year later, you will regularly find the Echo Show marked 50% or more, something we have not seen with other Alexa gadgets from Amazon.

Is Amazon Cleaning House ahead of an update? I would give it a little better than the average odds, especially given what we've seen to convince new competitors powered by Google Assistant such as the Lenovo Smart Display. If these prove popular and the smart screens category takes off, then Amazon will want something convincing, able to come with it. The first-generation Echo Show no longer looks like this device, and no third-party Alexa touchscreen is suitable either. This means that the timing is good for Show 2.0 – or at the very least, important updates to the user interface of the existing model.

It would not be the first time that Amazon was quickly reorganizing an Alexa gadget. The original Echo Dot debuted in march 2016 – the second generation model arrived at half the price six months later and helped Amazon blunt the beginnings of the Google Home. Time will tell if Amazon has something similar for the Echo Show today, but with Alexa's touch screen just a step away from the curve at this point, I'd say the odds are good.

We see him today: 60 percent

A new echo too?

the Amazon Echo second generation debuted last September – about three years after the introduction of the first echo. If you think that gives you a low chance of seeing a third-generation Echo this morning, I would say you're probably right. With the interchangeable fabric shells and all the features of Alexa onboard, the Echo is always looking for what smart home buyers are looking for – and at $ 100, the price always seems more or less correct.

That said, I would not exclude it completely. If the third-generation Echo Dot leak mentioned above is accurate, it would appear that Amazon has made some changes to the overall look and feel of Echo. Publishing a new Echo with similar design changes could help maintain consistency (and prevent the current Echo from feeling obsolete by comparison).

I might also consider that Amazon publishes an updated Echo with a new hardware tip or two to help curb Google's momentum. the Echo Plus I felt too expensive for me at $ 150, but his addition of a Zigbee radio for smart lights and smart locks without an extra hub is a nice feature. That would make a lot of sense in a third-generation Echo at this price of $ 100, especially since Amazon is focusing more on home delivery and smart home security. Other unique additions, such as an integrated motion detector that can automatically turn on room lights when you enter, can also help keep Echo on the move.

We see him today: 40 percent

Tap returns?

Announced with the Echo Dot in 2016, Smart portable, battery powered Tap smart speaker from Amazon never really felt like a blood member of the Alexa appliance family. (The fact that his name is "Tap" and not "Echo Tap" certainly did not help.) But even if it's an offshoot of Alexa, he still seduced people who are looking for the flexibility of their smart speaker. and the opportunity to take them home or even outside.

The appeal of portability aside, Amazon no longer manufactures Tap – instead, it sells existing and refurbished products. With a lot of competition powered by battery from third party Alexa gadgets not made by Amazon, as good as popular portability portals for Echo DotAmazon may simply put an end to the conference, but I also think there is a chance that a new version will arrive. A better battery life and better sound quality, or even a waterproof design that can withstand the weather or your pool, would be good improvements. And finally, calling him Echo Tap would give him the pedigree he deserves as one of Amazon's oldest Alexa gadgets.

We see him today: 10 percent

Other potential surprises

All projections aside, chances are good that the Amazon event this morning includes at least a surprise or two (microwave or other). After all, remember the Echo buttons and replacing the phone. Echo Connect? Both made their debut last September, and no one has seen either.

I'm also curious to see if Amazon has new plans for the Video doorbell or the new Ring alarm security kit, which still does not work with Alexa despite the fact that Amazon bought Ring last February. I also long wondered if Amazon would ever release its own line of low-cost smart bulbs like Amazon Basics and other smart gadgets designed specifically for Alexa, even if it would certainly discourage third-party retailers. Amazon put so much effort into the yard. With the high-end and high-fidelity competition of the Apple HomePod and the Google Home Max challenging Alexa in terms of sound quality, could a "Echo Max" of better quality also be in the mix? Seems likely that's precisely what the Alexa subwoofer is all about.

Beyond Alexa, Amazon also has the opportunity to introduce a new Fire TV streaming device, or perhaps an update to the Kindle or Fire tablet lines. After all, Amazon's invitation to the event only promises "new features and new products related to Amazon's business." Note that you do not see the words "Echo" or "Alexa".

Heck, we have even heard whispers that Amazon is interested in taking a second shot at the Fire phone – although I would throw the odds of seeing anything on this front today at less than 1 percent.

Amazon does not comment on speculation on new products, but we will not have to wait much longer before showing us the products. Stay tuned to CNET for the latest live updates from Amazon HQ, with the coverage of our live blog starting at 10:00 am Pacific Time.

Originally released on September 8th.
Update, September 20th: September event confirmed.

Amazon has accidentally revealed an Echo subwoofer and a smart plug

Amazon's new buying experience is Scout, and you can try it now