Amazon, the giant e-commerce company, utilized every minute of its hardware event on September 20, 2018, in Seattle, and that too without using any filler. Dave Limp, Senior VP of Amazon Devices made over 60 announcements including new verticals of smart home products, Alexa-enabled devices, and upgraded features and services in the existing Amazon products.
“Customers tell us they love the convenience of being able to ask Alexa to show them things,” said Tom Taylor, Senior Vice President, Amazon Alexa. “We have thousands of engineers and scientists inventing [on Alexa] on behalf of customers, and today we’re excited to introduce even more features to help make customers’ lives simpler, safer, and more convenient.
Among the series of recently launched products, the following are the top five new Amazon products to look out for:
AmazonBasics Microwave is the Alexa-enabled device which lets the controller set the cooking start-time and end-time and opt for quick-presets through voice. Source: Amazon.com
Top New Amazon Products
AmazonBasics Microwave
Starting with the most sensational launch among all the new Amazon products, AmazonBasics Microwave is the new Alexa-enabled device which lets the controller set the cooking start-time and end-time and opt for quick-presets through voice.
It is currently available for pre-order at $60 and is expected to be shipped by November 14, 2018. But this Amazon microwave must be paired with Amazon Echo to take voice orders.
AmazonBasics Microwave’s dimensions are 17.3” x 14.1” x 10.1”, saving enough counter space. The Alexa-enabled appliance features 10 power levels, a kitchen timer, a child lock and an “Ask Alexa” button which must be pressed to link it with Echo. Then simply say, “Reheat coffee” or “2 minutes” and it will start microwaving. Amazon reiterated that it will add new quick-cook present on regular basis.
In addition, this Amazon microwave would never let you run out of popcorn. There is a dedicated “microwave popcorn” button which will keep track of how much popcorn is made and transfer this information to “Auto Popcorn Replenishment”. This, in turn, will automatically re-order the snacks, a system powered by Amazon Dash Replenishment technology.
Echo Auto
The trillion-dollar online shopping company designed a new gadget to place Alexa in your car, Echo Auto. It connects to car stereo through Bluetooth or 3.5mm auxiliary cable.
This Alexa-enabled car gadget’s size is 3.3” x 1.9” x 0.5”, occupying small space on the dashboard. One can pre-order Auto Echo only by invitation for an introductory price worth $25.
Echo Auto is equipped with eight microphone array to hear above loud music and road noise. It connects to Alexa through a mobile app and use your voice commands to play music via Spotify, Amazon Music, enquire weather updates, search nearest gas stations, open garage door, and make calls. The driver could also ask for directions from Auto Echo, for which Alexa will take the support of Google Maps, Apple Maps or Waze.
Amazon Smart Plug
With Alexa-powered Smart Plug, you can treat all of your home appliances as smart. Just plug any light/fan/other appliance into the Smart plug, and switch it on/off through voice only.
One can also create a schedule or routine for appliances on it, for example, turn on the coffee-maker in the morning. Amazon Smart Plug works through Alexa app too.
This Smart Plug can be pre-ordered now for $25 and it will release in the market on October 11, 2018.
Echo Sub
Amazon Echo Sub is a 6-inch woofer, which when paired with a compatible Echo device, can surround the room with loud acoustics, a limitation in existing Echo products. The users can connect the Sub wirelessly to two same Echo devices as left and right stereos and enjoy rich music experience.
The price of Amazon Echo Sub is $130. Presently it is available for pre-order and will arrive in the market on October 11, 2018.
Amazon FireTV Recast
As speculated earlier, Amazon launched a DVR box to give immediate access to watch, record, and replay “free over-the-air TV programs on Fire TV, Echo Show, and on compatible Fire tablet, iOS, and Android gadgets”.
“We are focused on making Fire TV an easy way to watch all the entertainment you love, whether it’s through streaming video services, cable and satellite providers, or even local broadcast stations,” said Marc Whitten, Vice President of Amazon Fire TV.
Available in two models, the all-new FireTV device comes with amazing capacities. It lets the owner record up to four shows altogether, and stream to any two compatible screens at a single time. It has a storage space of 500GB, facilitating to save up to 75 hours of HD recordings.
It also sits among the pack of new Amazon products which are powered by Alexa and thereby, you can voice control it to search TV shows or start recording programs.
The interested ones can pre-order Amazon FireTV Recast now for $230. The company is expecting it to ship it by November 14, 2018.
