Tech

Here's everything Amazon announced at its big Echo launch event

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Amazon Echo
Amazon

It's been a while since we've seen so many products announced at one time from any company. 

Amazon announced a slew of new products on Wednesday, including new Echo devices that house Amazon's smart voice-activated assistant Alexa, as well as some nifty new features.

Business Insider's Matt Weinberger got some hands-on time with all the new devices, which replace and refresh some older Echo models while also adding brand-new members to the Echo family.

The company also announced a new Fire TV that will make the most of the latest video standards. 

Plus, Alexa was also added to a very special fish-related product, which you'll see at the end of this roundup. 

Here's what we thought of all the new Amazon products announced on Wednesday.

 

 

The all-new Amazon Echo

new Echo, All Colors
Amazon

This new Echo is way smaller — it's only slightly taller than a soda can, and the base fits in your palm. It's hard to gauge in the controlled conditions of an Amazon demo area, but the sound quality does seem noticeably improved from the old model. It also sports a faster processor, which Amazon says makes Alexa's voice recognition better and more reliable. 

It also sports a pair of nifty side-perks:

First, you can choose between six casings for your Echo, including a wood veneer and a full fabric covering. If you get bored, you can swap. The casings seem to be high-quality when we looked at them in-person, which is nice if you're going to place the Echo in your living room. Second, unlike the old Echo, this new one sports an auxiliary jack to plug in your own speakers.

How to get it: The new Amazon Echo is available for preorder Wednesday for $99 (down from $199 for the previous model). Check out more details about Amazon's new Echo

Echo Plus

Echo Plus, Silver
Amazon

The new $149 Echo Plus keeps the original Echo's design, but it comes with better sound, as well as a built-in smart home hub to control your smart home devices, like smart lightbulbs, smart door locks, and smart thermostats. 

The original Echo could also control your smart home devices, but you needed to install the appropriate app, or skill. "There's no apps, there's no skills, it just works out of the box," said Dave Limp, Amazon's senior vice president in charge of Alexa.

While we didn't get to try out those smart home smarts, we can attest that the device looks great up close, and wouldn't feel terribly out of place in your kitchen or on a bookshelf. Also, like the all-new Echo, the Plus sports an auxiliary jack for external speakers.

How to get it: It's available starting on Wednesday at $149, in silver or black. Check out more details about Amazon's new Echo Plus

Echo Spot

Echo Spot, Black
Amazon

The new $130 Amazon Echo Spot is a small device with a circular 2.5-inch display that's a mixture of the Echo Dot and Echo Show

With the Spot, you'll be able to make video calls with its built-in camera and speakers, and it can be connected to speakers using a 3.5mm AUX cord or via Bluetooth. It looks like it could make a great, albeit expensive, bedside alarm. 

The Echo Spot also supports certain screen-based apps: You can check your calendar, watch Amazon Prime video, or even read restaurant reviews on Yelp, among other things. 

Importantly, Amazon tells us that the Echo Spot will have better sound quality than the Echo Dot — but you'll still want a $99 Echo or $149 Echo Show if you want the music to fill a room.

And yes, you'll be able to dim the screen at night so you can sleep. 

How to get it: The Spot will go on pre-order on Wednesday, and will become available to buy in December. 

Echo Buttons

Echo Buttons
Amazon

Amazon's new $20 Echo Buttons are glowing single-button devices that come in packs of two. They're designed to be used for simple family-style games like buzzers for trivia games or Simon Says. 

The buttons are actually really fun to press, with a satisfying "click" when you push it down. Plus, they flash pretty colors. 

How to get it: The new Echo Button will be available to buy in the holiday season. Check out more details about the Echo Buttons here

Echo Connect

Echo Connect
Amazon

The $35 Amazon Echo Connect turns any Echo model into a landline phone. It connects to your home's phone jack and to your Echo, and you'll be able to place or receive phone calls using your home's landline number.

Unfortunately, we didn't get a chance to try this one out. But it's a really interesting idea that speaks to Amazon's vision of the Echo as a communications device.

How to get it: The Amazon Echo Connect is available for pre-order starting Wednesday. Check out more details about the Echo Connect here

A new Fire TV

new amazong fire tv
Amazon

Amazon's new $69 Fire TV streaming box is smaller than previous models, and it can stream video in 4K and HDR, the new dominant standards in ultra-high definition video. You'll be able to control the new Fire TV with your voice using an Echo device.

In a demo, videos were indeed crisp and clear, provided you have a TV that supports 4K and HDR. And giving the device commands via Alexa was smooth, so you can just say "rewind 20 seconds" or "play 'Grand Tour.'" Otherwise, it doesn't appear to be vastly different than existing Fire TV models.

How to get it: The new Fire TV is available to pre-order starting Wednesday and will be available to buy later this year. Amazon is also offering bundles that include the new Fire TV and an Echo Dot for $79.

Check out more details about Amazon's new Fire TV.

Alexa will come included with BMW and Mini cars starting in mid-2018

BMW Z4 Concept
BMW

With Alexa in BMW and Mini cars, you'll be able to use Alexa in a similar way you would at home with an Echo device. For example, you'll be able to ask Alexa for directions, make phone calls, play music, and control your smart home devices. 

We tried using an Echo Dot in a car, which isn't quite the same thing as having Alexa built into the car,  but we found it incredibly useful. 

Alexa will be compatible with future Big Mouth Billy Bass devices

Billy Big Mouth Bass
Amazon

Oh thank goodness, we thought the day would never come. 

Amazon's voice assistant, Alexa, will be compatible with future versions of Big Mouth Billy Bass, Amazon's David Limp announced on Wednesday. 

The new Big Mouth Billy Bass will connect to your Echo via Bluetooth, and it'll lip-sync and move to the music playing from your Echo.

The new and Alexa-improved Big Mouth Billy Bass will be available to buy later this year. 

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Matt is a former Deputy Editor, Tech based in San Francisco. Matt came to Business Insider in 2015 from IDG Enterprise, where he reported on application development and new enterprise technologies for CITEworld, Computerworld, and Networkworld.
Antonio Villas-Boas was a consumer tech expert with over a decade of experience testing and reviewing smartphones, tablets, computers, smartwatches, and phone carriers.ExperienceAntonio joined the Business Insider team in 2015 as a tech reporter on the news desk and moved to the service journalism team in 2020. During his time as Business Insider’s senior tech reporter, Antonio developed industry-leading battery-life tests for smartphones and tablets, and covered and reviewed hundreds (if not thousands) of products from major brands like Apple, Google, Samsung, and OnePlus since as far back as Samsung’s Galaxy S6, the original Apple Watch, and the very first Google Pixel. This decade-plus of experience has given him tremendous insights into what consumer tech truly stands the test of time and what will be irrelevant in just a few years' time (RIP The Pebble).Antonio is also an experienced deal hunter, surfacing the best discounts on phones, laptops, and smartwatches for readers during sale events like Prime Day, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday. Previously, Antonio was a consumer-electronics analyst at PCMag and ran his own blog. Why you can trust AntonioAntonio approaches all his reviews not only as a tech expert but as a consumer himself. He reads every word of fine print in the phone carrier plans he reviews, and is deeply skeptical of deals that promise you the latest iPhone model for free. (Spoiler: it might be “free,” but you could be stuck with it for three years.)He largely recommends less expensive and small-scale fixes to upgrade your existing tech before considering buying the latest and flashiest in new tech. Antonio believes his role as the go-to “tech guy” for his family and friends extends to his readers as well; he only recommends products that have stood up to the testing process.Scripps News, NewsNation, Fox 5 DC, NBC LX, and Rich DeMuro’s “Rich On Tech” radio show have requested his commentary and expertise. ExpertiseHis expertise includes:
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