Amazon has just announced an all-new line-up of Echo devices and Alexa features – giving you even more ways to access Alexa at home or on-the-go.
All-new Amazon Echo
£89.99
Available today for pre-order at www.amazon.co.uk
Shipping 16th October 2019
The next generation Amazon Echo features an updated fabric design with options suitable for any style – including Twilight Blue, Charcoal, Heather Grey and Sandstone. Echo has the same audio architecture as Echo Plus, including a 3-inch woofer and increased back volume so that the bass feels stronger and the mids and highs are clearer.
Echo Flex
£24.99
Available today for pre-order at www.amazon.co.uk
Shipping 14th November 2019
Echo Flex – a plug-in smart speaker with Alexa – is the most affordable way to add Alexa to any space in your home. It plugs directly into a standard electrical outlet, making it perfect for places where cords can be a hassle, such as a hallway. Simply ask Alexa to control compatible smart home devices, make an announcement, or check your favourite sports team’s score and responses will come through the small speaker on the device that’s been optimised for Alexa’s voice. It also has a built-in USB port so you can easily charge your phone or add an optional accessory, such as a Smart Night Light or Motion Sensor, all while using only one outlet.
Echo Dot with Clock
£59.99
Available today for pre-order at www.amazon.co.uk
Shipping 16th October 2019
The Echo Dot with clock adds a simple, bright LED display to Amazon’s best-selling Echo device – making it the perfect addition to a bedside table or countertop. The LED display automatically adjusts based on the brightness of the room, so you can easily see the time. To see the outdoor temperature, set a morning alarm or set a pasta timer, all you need to do is ask. You can also tap the top of the device to conveniently snooze an alarm.
Echo Show 8
£119.99
Available today for pre-order at www.amazon.co.uk
Shipping 21st November 2019
Echo Show 8 is Amazon’s most versatile smart display yet – with an 8-inch HD screen, crisp and powerful audio and a camera with a built-in cover. Simply ask Alexa to play your favourite episodes of The Marvelous Mrs Maisel or Carnival Row on Prime Video. Thanks to the Echo Show 8’s integration with BBC Good Food, it’s also now easier than ever to find and cook along with your favourite recipes. With WikiHow, you can also access hundreds of how-to videos by voice – just ask to see videos on anything from how to meditate or cut up a mango to how to open a tight jar.
Echo Studio
£189.99
Available today for pre-order at www.amazon.co.uk
Shipping 7th November 2019
Echo Studio offers immersive 3D audio, pairs with select Fire TV devices for audio playback and brings you a smart home hub. With five built-in directional speakers, it has been purposefully engineered to create premium sound with space, clarity and depth – bringing you closer to your favourite artists and songs, allowing you to experience music the way that artists intended. Echo Studio automatically senses the acoustics of your space and fine-tunes audio playback to deliver optimal sound – no matter where you put the device in the room. It also has a built-in Zigbee smart home hub which can be used to control compatible smart home devices – making it the perfect addition to your family or living room.
“We love hearing feedback from customers about how they use Alexa throughout their day—whether that’s listening to music, dropping in on a loved one, trying out a new recipe or playing a game with the family,” said Jorrit Van der Meulen, Vice President, Amazon Devices International. “We hope these new Echo devices will give customers even more ways to access Alexa—whether that’s through the best-sounding Echo yet—Echo Studio, the reimagined Echo and Echo Dot, new designs like Echo Show 8 and Echo Flex or new experiences for Alexa on-the-go with Echo Buds.”
Echo Buds
£119.99
Coming soon to www.amazon.co.uk
Shipping TBC
Echo Buds are truly wireless earbuds with Bose Active Noise Reduction technology and hands-free access to Alexa. Designed for wherever your day leads you, each earbud has microphones that work together to reduce ambient noise. All you have to do is ask to hear your favourite playlist, check your calendar or order an Uber. The latest Bose Active Noise Reduction Technology means you can minimise the noise around you in a crowded coffee shop or open office space – just double tap either earbud to turn Active Noise Reduction on. Sweat-resistant and IPX4-rated to withstand splashes or light rain, Echo Buds also have up to five hours of music playback or four hours of call time with one full charge. The included charging case holds up to three additional charges, which means 15 additional hours of music.
New Alexa features – alongside a new lineup of Echo devices, Amazon today announced ways that Alexa is getting smarter, making life more convenient and giving customers, even more, control over their experience:
• Alexa can recommend routines
Customers around the world regularly use routines to execute multiple smart home commands with a single utterance and now Alexa is able to recommend routines that you may want to set up based on your daily habits. For example, if a customer sets their alarm for 6 AM and then immediately asks for the weather every day, Alexa will suggest setting up a routine so that the alarm is always set and the weather plays as soon as it goes off. When Alexa asks if you would like a routine set-up, just say “yes,” and the routine is ready to go.
• Alexa can tell you about her responses
Alexa will soon offer two new voice-based features that provide customers with more transparency over the responses they get. If a customer is curious to understand what Alexa heard when you asked her to tell you the news or play a specific song, customers will be able to say, “Alexa, tell me what you heard” and Alexa will read back your most recent voice request. You will also be able to ask, “Alexa, why did you do that?” and Alexa will provide a short explanation about her response to your last voice request. This feature will be rolling out in the coming weeks.
• Additional control for customers—Auto-Delete Voice Recordings
Alexa and Echo devices are built with multiple layers of privacy protections. Earlier this year Amazon introduced the ability for customers to say, “Alexa, delete everything I said today,” and “Alexa, delete what I just said” to make it easier for customers to delete their recordings. Today we’re taking it one step further with Auto-delete. Available later this year, customers will be able to choose to have their voice recordings older than three or 18 months automatically deleted on an ongoing basis. This feature will be available in addition to the ability to access and delete utterances individually, or all at once, which customers have today.
Availability
The all-new Amazon Echo, Echo Flex, Echo Dot with clock, Echo Show 8 and Echo Studio are available for pre-order starting today and will start shipping to UK customers later this year. Echo Buds will be available in the UK later this year and customers can sign up at www.amazon.co.uk/echobuds to be notified when they become available.
The new devices announced today join Echo Dot, Echo Plus, Echo Show, Echo Show 5 and Echo companion devices to create the Echo family of devices. Amazon also introduced new Alexa features that will soon roll out to Echo devices. Read more at www.amazon.co.uk/AmazonDevices.
