In front of holiday shopping seasonAmazon on Wednesday unveiled several new or updated devices: a Kindle e-reader, Echo smart speakers, Ring and Blink security cameras, Fire TVs and accessories, and Eero networking hardware.
More specifically, the Scribe Kindle promises a compelling alternative for note taking, and the new Halo Rise The sleep tracker clock will give you sleep metrics without having to wear a smartwatch. For a full read of the event, you can check out the archived version of our Amazon live blog.
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See all the products announced at Amazon’s Devices event
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The Kindle Scribe is also a highlight of Amazon’s Sustainability Efforts. Meanwhile, the company plans to integrate the Matter standard into Echo and Eero products this year, with broad support in 2023, to make them more compatible with other smart home brands.
The company also wants to be part of your lifestyle, integrating everywhere as part of the “ambient environment” with “ambient intelligence”. The latter translates to more AI in its products, like its new Alexa Shop the Look (“Alexa, show me the one-shoulder top!”) and free Fire TV streaming on the Echo Show 15.
astro, Amazon’s home robot, will get new features, like new caregiver alerts and pet detection (with video!). Amazon has also extended its integrations with Virtual Security Guard so you can monitor your small business.
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Amazon launches Kindle Scribe with a stylus
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To light up
Amazon
Price: $340 (pen included)
Release date: Later in 2022
The latest addition to the Kindle family is a 10.2-inch E Ink e-reader that uses a battery-less EMR stylus. A premium version of the stylus supports erasing and offers a programmable button for an additional $30.
EMR is the technology used by Wacom in its high-end graphics pens, so you’re guaranteed to have an enjoyable writing experience. This is a real advantage for note taking and annotation.
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Amazon’s Halo Rise is a smart bedside lamp that follows…
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Halo
Amazon
Price: $140
Release date: Q4
Designed to be an alternative to Amazon’s Halo Band for those who prefer not to wear a wristband or smartwatch at night but still want to monitor their sleep, the Rise is sunrise alarm clock with sensors that capture information about your movements and your environment – and just yours, not your partner’s. It’s time to learn a new word: polysomnography.
It also works with relevant Alexa routines and security.
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Amazon introduces the new Echo Dot and Echo Studio
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Echo
Amazon
Price: Echo Dot, $50; Echo Dot with clock, $60; Echo Dot Kids, $60
Release date: On pre-order now
The newest entry-level Amazon smart speaker has much better bass output, retaining the same design and color range (charcoal, glacier white, or deep ocean blue). The Echo Dot with clock adds $10 to the $50 price of the Echo Dot for timing.
The clock can also show you more information. More stitches in the stitch! The Dot generally has more grip latitude and temperature control. Echoes can also function as mesh Wi-Fi extenders for the Eero mesh system. The latter will also be a software update to the latest generation Echo models.
There’s also a new Echo Dot Kids, also for $60, redesigned with new purple dragon and teal owl themed designs and new voices.
Amazon
Price: $200
Release date: October
Along with a new Ice White option, all Echo Studios will get a software upgrade with spatial sound and a better optimized frequency range.
Amazon
Price: $55
Release date: to confirm ; sign up to be notified
As well as a sleeker new device, there are plenty more Alexa features, including hands-free messaging, music controls, Whole Foods order notifications and personalized assistance.
Fire TV and accessories
Amazon
Price: 65 inches, $800; 75 inches, $1,100
Release date: October
The Omni QLED versions of the Fire TV Omni aren’t just upgraded to QLED screens over the current Omni, they have sensors to detect when you’re in the room to trigger the display of artwork (for free) , widgets or other content using a set of new sensors. The TV now supports adaptive brightness based on ambient light.
Amazon
Price: $140
Release date: On pre-order now
The updated Cube adds notable new features to the video-streamer-slash-Echo: upscaling to 4K (which also improves overall video quality), an HDMI input with global control of entertainment devices and processing of upscaling to other devices, Wi-Fi 6E support, an additional USB port and more. It’s also faster than before and has a sleeker design.
Amazon
Price: $35
Release date: November 2022
Alexa Voice Remote Pro’s secret weapon is the ability to locate the device with a voice command. It also has motion-activated backlighting and buttons you can program to open specific apps or perform Alexa commands.
Eero Network
Amazon
Price: $300 for a 3 piece set
Release date: October for licensed installers, Q1 2023 for ISP partners
‘PoE’ stands for ‘power over the internet’, which is exactly where the new Eero WiFi 6 mesh router system comes from: it draws power from an Ethernet connection rather than an outlet.
Ero
Price: $650
Release date: Q1 2023; sign up to be notified
The Eero PoE Gateway is a high-powered hub for powered-over-Ethernet devices. It supports incoming internet speeds of up to 10 Gbps and supports PoE power output of up to 100 watts.
Blink and ring security
Blink
Price: $100
Release date: Q4
The wired floodlight camera provides 2,600 lumens of light whenever it detects motion with no batteries required, and you can view the feed on a compatible Fire TV or Echo Show smart display with quick voice control via Alexa.
Blink
Price: $30 or $60 included with camera
Release date: On pre-order now
What it says on the box: This is a motorized mount for the Blink Mini that lets you pan left and right, and tilt it up and down via the app for a better remote viewing.
Price: $230
Release date: Pre order now
Beyond Spotlight Cam Plus and other standard Ring features, it offers 3D motion detection to display an aerial, bird’s-eye view when it detects motion. A new Audio Plus feature promises to make it easier to hear noises picked up by the camera’s built-in microphones.
Ring
Price: $30
Release date: Pre order now
An update to its panic button for Ring Alarm users, which you can keep on a bedside table or mount on a nearby wall. It activates your home’s security alarm and can be configured to trigger specific medical or fire emergency assistance.
