{"id":9636,"date":"2019-09-26T09:08:45","date_gmt":"2019-09-25T23:08:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/reckoner.com.au\/?p=9636"},"modified":"2019-09-26T09:08:45","modified_gmt":"2019-09-25T23:08:45","slug":"glasses-a-homepod-competitor-rings-more-amazon-go-ham-at-hardware-event","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/reckoner.com.au\/news\/glasses-a-homepod-competitor-rings-more-amazon-go-ham-at-hardware-event\/","title":{"rendered":"Glasses, a HomePod competitor, rings & more \u2013 Amazon go HAM at hardware event"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Amazon<\/p>\n

Amazon held their annual hardware announcement event in Seattle today announcing a slew of products, that in stark contrast to last year’s miss-mash of crap, are generally well thought out and things people might actually want!\u00a0<\/p>\n

Echo Dot 2019<\/h3>\n

\"Echo<\/p>\n

The new Echo Dot may look familiar but it has a hidden secret behind its woven material exterior. Hidden beneath it you’ll now find a small LED display that is used to display the time, temperature and alarms. The top of the Dot can also be used as a snooze button should you being using your Echo Dot as an alarm clock, which is kind of neat too.<\/p>\n

The new Echo Dot for 2019 is priced at US$60 (~A$89) and available to order immediately.<\/p>\n

Echo Studio<\/h3>\n

The Studio is Amazon’s attempt to compete in the high-end smart speaker market. Pitting itself directly against Apple’s HomePod and Sonos’ suite of voice assistant enabled speakers.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Image: The Verge<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Studio has 3 mid-range speakers and a 5.25″ sub for bass. It supports Dolby Atmos and is easily connected to Amazon’s Fire 4K TV devices. Similarly to Sonos’ TrueTone tuning the Studio will map out the room it’s placed in and adapt its sound accordingly. It does this dynamically and will remap the room whenever it notices a change in its environment.<\/p>\n

The Echo Studio has an RPP of US$200 (~A$295), which has it sit above some Sonos speakers but below Apple’s HomePod.<\/p>\n

Echo Glow<\/h3>\n

\"Echo<\/p>\n

Designed for children the Echo Glow is a smart lamp that resembles a sort of glowing sphere that can change colours and flicker like a campfire. It can be turned on or off and have its mode changed via Alexa (of course) as well as act as a timer.<\/p>\n

One of the cheaper products announced today it’s also unlikely to be sold outside of the 110V market.<\/p>\n

Echo Loop<\/h3>\n

The first of Amazon’s “invite only” products is the new Echo Loop. Available to persons whom Amazon deem worth of inviting to buy it the Echo Loop is a smart ring that brings Alexa to your finger tips.<\/p>\n