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Home for the Holidays with Alexa Amazon’s Latest Echo and Fire TV Additions Provide a Head-Start on Holiday Shopping By Michael Heiss With autumn now officially here, it’s “that time of year again.” No, I don’t mean the time of year when you complain about holiday decorations because it is still October. It’s the holiday season, and though it will definitely be different this year, there will still be new products to consider. Thus, we’re in the midst of new product introductions. This time, it’s Amazon’s turn. Perhaps at the heart of Amazon’s home device strategy are the Echo devices and the Alexa ecosystem that drives them. If sewing is your pandemic therapy, I suggest making some larger socks to hang on the mantle, as these will be at the heart of many gift hints and requests. Indeed, the fabric is a key part of the new Echo products. As has been the case with both Amazon and Google smart speakers recently, the plastic body is covered with fabric. Much attention was paid to that and other sustainability features, such as a new low-power mode for all Amazon devices and a commitment that Amazon will eventually generate as much renewably sourced electricity as all of their devices consume. The new, fourth-generation Echo devices use that fabric to cover a new globe-shaped design that looks like someone took a Google Nest Mini and pumped it up like a balloon. However, the new look is very pleasing, and it has room to include a 3-inch woofer and dual tweeters. Also on board is a smart home hub powered by Zigbee, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Amazon Sidewalk, and Dolby processing that adapts the sound to the room. For late sleepers, the new Echo adds the “tap-to-snooze” feature of the current Echo Dot with clock.
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Residential Tech Today | Aug-Oct 2020
Rather than be a static device, the base on the new Echo Show 10 has a brushless motor and mechanism that, thanks to advanced processing tied to the 13MP wide-angle camera, makes it possible for the screen to rotate and follow you as you move.
For smaller footprint uses, there are three new Echo Dot models with the same fabric-covered, spherical design. Sound emanates from a 1.6inch front-firing speaker, and the Dot models also have the LED light moved to the bottom of the sphere. There will also be a new “Dot with Clock” model as well as the new “Kids Edition” models. With the unit’s cover picturing a panda or tiger, the shape works nicely with the concept. Included with those models is a oneyear subscription to Amazon Kids+ that provides access to child-friendly books from Audible, interactive games, and more. All-new Echo products are on pre-order today for delivery sometime in late October. The Dot will be $49.99 while the Dot with clock will be $59.99. Both flavors of the Echo Dot Kids Edition will also be $59.99.
Perhaps the biggest change to the Echo product line will be the all-new Echo Show 10. The third-generation product in this screen size is more than just an update to the industrial design. While the previous generations sat flat on a counter or surface, the new model has the screen mounted to a cylindrical base that, in turn, sits on the counter. Why the change and what’s in the base? Therein lies the power of the new Echo Show 10. Rather than be a static device, the base has the brushless motor and mechanism that, thanks to advanced processing tied to the 13MP wide-angle camera, makes it possible for the screen to rotate and follow you as you move. Walking around the kitchen while following a recipe? Moving to show something in the room while on a video call? This sophisticated, yet
