Amazon reveals new Alexa devices, including round Echos and new Show that follows you around the room showing Netflix
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Amazon has revealed new Alexa devices including a new Echo that follows users around the room showing Netflix.
The reveal came during a major Amazon Devices event during which it also showed off new Fire TVs, a security camera for the car and a surveillance drone that flies around your house.
It also redesigned its Echo range of devices, turning them from the famous cylinders of different sizes into round orbs that service much the same function.
They include the larger “Echo”, as well as the Echo Dot and Echo Dot with clock, which can show the time , temperature and other information through a display in its grille. All of those are now round.
The new Echo Show has much the same shape as the existing ones: a small television-style display with speakers built in. But it now also has a motor that allows it to rotate around the room, so that whatever it is showing can be seen wherever you are.
Both the screen and its speakers will swivel around as people move, and the screen will be able to track them as they do.
That now includes Netflix, which can be requested through Alexa. Until now, Amazon’s devices have mostly only been able to show films and TV shows from its own Prime streaming service as well as others like Hulu, but its big competitor will now be available on the Echo Show.
The new Echo Show 10’s camera also moves, allowing to be used for video calling. That camera can be accessed remotely through the Alexa app, allowing it to be used as a security camera.
The new Echo costs £89.99 and the Echo Dot costs £49.99 or £59.99 with the clock. They are available for pre-order now with the devices shipping “later this year”.
The new Echo Show will cost £239.99 and come in two colours. The company has not announced a release date, asking people to sign up for notifications when it is available, but the new Echo Show features will arrive on the other devices “by the end of the year".
Alexa also redesigned the Fire TV software design, and introduced an updated Fire TV stick that it claimed is “50 per cent more powerful”, with the ability to support both HDR video and Dolby Atmos audio.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments