par Over the past few years, Amazon has transformed from an online retailer into an online retailer … which also manufactures various items. And like any other hardware company, this means hosting annual events to showcase the latest and greatest tech. The last hardware event was on Amazon on Thursday, as the company showed off the latest Alexa devices, Ring, and more. Here’s everything the retail giant has had to show.
Amazon Echo
Amazon completely redesign the Amazon Echo. The new device eliminates the cylindrical design of the Echo speakers from the start in favor of a new spherical design. The standard Echo also showcases the benefits of the previous generation Echo Plus, including the Zigbee hub for the smart home and a bridge to the new Amazon Sidewalk shared network, which will be launched later this year. This means you don’t have to shell out extra cash for a more expensive device just to get the smart home connection you need.
And the new Echo is even more powerful. It’s powered by Amazon’s new AZ1 Neural Edge processor, which is built for faster machine learning. This means it should respond to your voice faster and take control of smart home devices faster. And like the previous-generation speakers, they are relatively inexpensive – at only $ 100. It’s available to order today with handover beginning « later this year ».
Amazon Echo Dot
The Amazon Echo Dot is also getting a design update. The Echo Dot looks a lot similar to the full size Echo, except for the smaller one. It doesn’t have the same features as the smart home hub, but Amazon says it will offer a more complete frequency response than the previous generation devices.
There’s also an Echo Dot Kids Edition, which features fun designs and can help kids with homework, set alarms, and more. The Kids version supports various parental controls and voice profiles – so the device can automatically switch between responses it gives to parents and children.
The new Echo Dot costs $ 50, while the Echo Dot with Clock and Echo Dot Kids Edition costs $ 60. It’s available to order today, and once again, Amazon says delivery will begin « later this year. »
Amazon Echo Show 10
Next up is the new Amazon Echo Show 10, designed to show you what you need it for, no matter where you are in the room. The device screen can actually rotate and will follow you around the room, so you can always reach it when you need it. The engine is designed to be quiet, so you can’t really hear it when you turn it on, and like the previous generation Echo Show 10, it has a 10-inch display and “Alexa built in. It also has a 13 mega pixel camera for better video calls. According to Amazon, all What is processed on the machine is local – so it won’t transfer to the cloud.
For the new model, Amazon has added a host of video services to the Echo Show. For example, it supports Zoom and Netflix. So you can watch videos while cooking or participate in Zoom calls when you are away from the computer. And you can use the Alexa app to rotate the camera even when you are not around, giving the device camera-like security features.
The new Echo Show will be available for $ 250, and Amazon says it will start shipping – you guessed it – « just in time for the holidays. »
Amazon Luna
Like Apple and Google before it, Amazon enters the world of game streaming. The new service is called Amazon Luna, and Amazon says it is a cloud-based gaming service designed for instant play. There is also a large selection of games available for Luna, including some AAA titles like Control, Resident Evil 7, etc. Amazon has teamed up with Ubisoft to get titles like Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla, Luna + is available for $ 6 a month.
Alongside the current service, Amazon is launching a Luna console. It offers all the buttons and controls you’d expect from a game console, but under the hood Amazon’s Cloud Direct technology offers, which means it connects directly to Amazon servers rather than a local machine. This helps reduce latency and means you don’t have to reconnect the console every time you upgrade to a new device. Expected price for the console is $ 50.
Luna will be available for Fire TV, PC, Mac, iPhone and iPad via web apps. Amazon says it will support Android « soon ». Customers can request early access to the service now, but it is unclear when it will be fully launched.
Amazon Fire TV
Some updates will be rolling out to Amazon’s Fire TV line soon. For starters, Fire TV generally gets a major interface update to provide a more personalized and intuitive experience. You will be able to add multiple profiles to your streaming device, which allows Amazon to recommend different content to different users. It also supports features like picture-in-picture mode and the new Alexa interface that won’t necessarily take up the entire screen, depending on what you ask of it. This means you can continue to watch and interact with Alexa at the same time.
There’s also a new Fire TV stick. The new device features a new quad-core processor that Amazon says is 50% more powerful than the previous generation model, and it supports 5GHz Wi-Fi networks for better connectivity. Not only that, but you’ll also get Dolby Atmos support and volume controls straight from the remote control for most televisions, speakers, and receivers. The new Fire TV Stick is available for $ 40 and will start shipping to select countries next week.
Then there is the new Fire TV Lite, which is cheaper than the standard Fire TV. It supports Full HD resolution – so you won’t get 4K video – but it still supports HDR and has a new remote control, called Alexa Voice Remote Lite. The Fire TV Stick Lite costs $ 30.
Ring Always Home Cam
Amazon owned Ring also has some updates. That is, the company is embarking on … drones? The new Ring Always Home Cam is essentially a security camera in a drone that flies around your house when you are not around. This is great for things like checking to see if the oven has been left on. The device can follow a pre-set path, and in combination with Ring Alarm, it will move to specific locations when alarm sensor is triggered. The camera only records when in flight and when not in use it stops. The actual camera has a 1080p sensor. The device’s battery life is only about five minutes, but Amazon says it’s designed to last for about one minute at a time.
The device costs $ 250 and will be available in 2021.
Ring Car Security Products
Ring’s next major frontier is automotive safety. There are three new safety products available from Ring Auto, the first being the Ring Car Alarm. The car alarm plugs into the vehicle’s OBD II port, which has 99% of cars on the road, and it can alert you about a break-in or towing of your car or an accident. Ring Car Alarm also integrates with other Ring and Alexa products, so when an event occurs, it can send alarms via Alexa. The device connects via the new Amazon Sidewalk shared network, which will be launched later this year. The car alarm will cost $ 60 and will be available in 2021.
Next up is Ring Car Cam, which is a security camera that monitors your car when you are not around. The device also monitors for scratches and intrusion attempts, and connects to Wi-Fi or LTE if you get the optional calling plan. The car’s camera supports Alexa and can call for help from first responders in the event of an accident. It also has a new traffic stop function, with which users can request the camera to record traffic stops and send it to the cloud. Car Cam will cost $ 200 starting in 2021.
Finally, Ring Car Connect, which supports specific cars, starting with Tesla, and allows users to view images from their cars’ built-in cameras directly from the Ring app. The service is an API and not a physical device, so it will only support certain models – but as more camera vehicles launch, the number supported is expected to increase
Eero 6 and Eero Pro 6
Amazon-owned Eero was supposed to release updates for its Wi-Fi routers, and it did so at an Amazon event. The major update here is that the Eero 6 and Eero Pro 6 support the new Wi-Fi 6 standard and support simultaneous connection of up to 75 devices at a time.
Eero Pro 6 is a tri-band network router with integrated Zigbee Smart Hub. One router covers 2,000 square feet, two 3,500 square feet, and three covers 6,000 square feet.
The standard Eero 6 is designed for homes with connections up to 500Mbps. Its coverage is slightly smaller, at 1,500 square feet, but its two-piece case can cover 3,000 square feet and three packages up to 5,000. It also has Zigbee’s smart hub, much like the Pro model.
Eero 6 starts at $ 129 for a single bundle, $ 199 for a two-pack, or $ 279 for a three-pack. Eero Pro 6 starts at $ 229 for a single device, $ 399 for a package, or $ 599 for a triple-pack.
Updates to Alexa
Alexa is about to get smarter. Amazon is rolling out updates that help Alexa learn better, listen better, and respond better. Now, if Alexa doesn’t understand something, she will ask for clarification and will remember your response to future orders.
Not only that, but Alexa can now also respond to commands without the user necessarily having to use the wake-up call all the time. One of Amazon’s demos was asking Alexa to « join the conversation, » and then Alexa uses machine learning to determine when to talk to her and what actions to take. It’s an impressive update and should make normal communication with Alexa a little easier.
There are also other updates. Alexa Guard (a set of advanced home security features available for free on Echo devices) will now hear more sounds, including things like dog barking, baby crying, and more. The company also announced the « Guard Plus » program that can intelligently protect your home by doing things like playing a dog barking on the speaker when it sees someone walking in front of your door. The new Guard Plus service costs $ 4.99 per month.
Amazon also takes Alexa privacy a little more seriously. You can now ask Alexa to delete any records she has, and Amazon says it will proactively ask you to review your privacy settings.
