Amazon's surprise hardware event: the 14 biggest ads

Today, Amazon has organized a hardware event loaded with new product announcements. We had new Echo speakers, a new Echo Show and even a microwave.

In many ways, the sprawling event was a demonstration of Alexa's magnitude over the four years since the introduction of Amazon's voice assistant in 2014. The technology has evolved far beyond its first capabilities on the original Echo speaker.

Here are all the biggest announcements:

New point of echo

Amazon says he "went back to the drawing board" when designing the new Echo Dot. The company says it has a larger 1.6-inch driver, 70% stronger than the previous model and a much clearer sound. It retains the Bluetooth and Aux outputs if you want to connect it to a larger speaker that you already have.

The new Echo Dot costs the same price of $ 49.99. Preorders start today and are shipped in October.

Amazon

Auto Echo

Amazon claims to have built the latest mobile device to take Alexa on the road. Echo Auto will be available by invitation for $ 24.99 before being extended to all customers and going to $ 49.99.

Echo Auto connects to Alexa via your phone and plays on your car's speakers. It has eight microphones that, according to the company, can make your voice heard, even on road noise and music. You can do all the usual Alexa orders, and when you ask for instructions, Echo Auto will send you to Google Maps, Apple Maps, Waze, or whatever your favorite navigation app.

Amazon

Echo input

The new and tiny echo input is intended to be connected to speakers that you already have. there is not one integrated. It contains a network of far field microphones for Alexa controls, but in a form factor more streamlined and simpler than the point. The echo input is only 12.5 mm. He will arrive later this year for $ 34.99.

Amazon

Second Generation Echo Plus with Local Voice Control

The reshaped Echo Plus looks a lot more like the standard Echo-covered fabric for a more user-friendly look in your living room. It has a better sound and, like last year's model, can serve as a hub for your smart home gadgets. There is also an integrated temperature sensor that can trigger Alexa routines depending on the room temperature. Priced at the same price of $ 149.99, Echo Plus goes pre-order today and ships in October.

Amazon has also introduced new local voice commands that debut with Echo Plus; If your Internet is off, you can still control smart devices with this speaker. Amazon begins with "some of the most used controls like lights" and will extend local voice commands to other devices over time.

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Echo Sub

If there is one thing missing from the Echo speakers, it's the bass. To help solve this, Amazon launches the Sub Echo at $ 129.99. When paired with an Echo or Echo Plus, the Echo Sub fills the bottom of the scale, making your music much more complete.

Amazon

Second generation echo show

Amazon's smart display has been enhanced with a larger screen – now 10 inches – and better sound. And similar to Echo Plus, it can serve as a hub for a smart home. It's also the best Alexa device to hear your voice; Amazon claims that the eight-microphone network of the new Echo Show is the best pickup system that it has ever shipped.

Amazon adds web browsers (including its own browser Silk and Firefox) to the Echo Show. And the company has announced a Skype app for this device that will allow users to make video calls directly to the show – in addition to offering the same "in" video chat features as last year.

The second generation Echo Show will cost $ 229.99. Preorders begin today and will be available in October.

Amazon

Alexa Guard

Amazon is slowly moving towards home security with Alexa Guard. The new feature "integrates Echo devices, smart lights, and security service providers to help customers protect their home while they're away."

When Guard is on, Alexa can send you smart alerts with audio clips when specific sounds are detected, including glass or smoke or CO2 alarms. Just set your Echo device to "When you go saying, Alexa, I'm leaving" and Alexa will tell you if your Echo devices are detecting an unusual sound.

Alexa Guard also has an outdoor lighting mode that uses automatic learning to turn on and off your smart lights "according to seemingly natural patterns" to prevent break-ins and theft.

AmazonBasics Microwave

Amazon's AmazonBasics brand is launching a new microwave oven that takes advantage of the new Alexa Connect kit, which will also be made available to third-party device manufacturers. The kit includes a Wi-Fi and Bluetooth LE module containing software – written and managed by Amazon – that automatically and securely connects to cloud services managed by Amazon. the microwave connects to your Echo devices via Bluetooth.

So, how can this improve a kitchen appliance, ask yourself? AmazonBasics Microwave includes "dozens of fast cooking voice presets, so you can cook just by asking Alexa." There is an integrated Ask Alexa button on which you can press and say simple commands such as "two minutes and 30 seconds on the media". speed up the process of warming your food.

The microwave oven will cost $ 59.99 when shipped later this year, and you can preorder it today.

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Echo wall clock

The new Amazon wall clock is similar to the microwave – I know, that sounds strange – in that it connects to your Echo speakers via Bluetooth. The big tone here is that you can set timers, alarms and change the time using your voice and Alexa commands.

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Amazon goes after Sonos with the enhancement of multi-room audio and Echo Link / Link Amp

Sonos and Amazon are partners of all kinds. Alexa is the voice assistant of Sonos One and Sonos Beam. But today, Amazon has made it clear that it wants to do its business own much more powerful multi-room audio feature. The third-party speakers with Alexa will soon be grouped together in a global configuration – much like the Echo speakers can do today.

Amazon

The echo link (above) is "designed to connect to a receiver or amplifier, with multiple digital and analog inputs and outputs to ensure compatibility with your existing stereo equipment." there are no built-in microphones here; instead, Echo Link is only used to "allow you to control music selection, volume, and multi-room playback on your stereo with your Echo or Alexa app."

If you have passive speakers, the Echo Link Amp adds "a built-in 60-channel 2-channel amplifier" to the equation. The concept of these two products is similar to that of Sonos Connect and its recently announced amplifier.

Amazon

Fire TV Recast brings Hertzian channels (ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC) to Fire TV

If streaming applications are not enough to meet your video streaming needs, Amazon's new Fire TV Recast will add OTA channels to the mix – and a DVR to record. It is essentially an ultra-powerful Slingbox designed for Amazon's ecosystem, which allows you to "watch, record, and replay free wireless programming to any Fire TV, Echo Show, and tablets and mobile devices. Fire compatible. this thing, and Amazon says that it will help customers find the best place to put it (for optimal reception of channels) during setup.

A two-tuner model will allow you to record two shows at once and includes 500 GB of DVR space for $ 229.99. A four-tuner version with 1 TB of storage is also coming soon.

Fire TV Recast channels are integrated directly into the Fire TV channel guide. You can also program and delete records using Alexa. It is planned to send before the holidays.

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Frustration Free configuration with Wi-Fi Simple configuration

Amazon has announced what it calls "a trip of several years so that the configuration of all types of electronic devices is as simple as plugging them to the wall." The effort is nicknamed Frustration Free Setup. The biggest novelty announced today is what Amazon calls Wi-Fi Simple Setup.

Now, compatible devices will be able to access the Wi-Fi credentials stored on your Amazon products so that they can automatically connect to the Internet a few seconds after being connected. Amazon claims that its customers have already safely stored more than 100 million Wi-Fi connections. Identification information in the "locker".

Amazon Smart Plug

This new product at $ 24.99 is exactly what its name suggests: it's a plug compatible with Alexa. So, you can ask Alexa to turn on or turn off anything plugged into the Smart Plug wherever you are. And it supports the Wi-Fi auto setup mentioned above. Pre-orders will begin today and the $ 24.99 Smart Plug will be available in October.

Amazon

Ring Stick Up Cam

Ring Ring Up Cam will be available in wired and battery configurations – both for $ 179.99. According to Amazon, the Stick Up Cam can be used both indoors and outdoors and can be integrated with the Bell Alarm if used inside the home. He will come later this year.

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