At its Fall Hardware Event 2020, Amazon announced a variety of devices and services, including cloud gaming service, home drone security, all-new Echo 4th generation, in-car security system, and much more.
Every year, the tech industry announces a myriad of exciting products during the fall. Last week, a series of mega-events were held by Apple, Facebook, and Sony, where each company revealed an array of exciting hardware products. On September 24, 2020, Amazon took the virtual stage at the Amazon Fall Hardware Event 2020 to unveil its brand new products.Â
Interestingly, instead of live-streaming to the world, the event was invite-only, where Amazon unveiled its products to a handful of media invitees virtually. The e-commerce giant launched a collection of futuristic Amazon devices and services, including the Luna gaming service, Echo devices, Ring home security drone camera, and updates for Alexa. Let’s find out more.
1. New Echo Devices Unveiled
For years, Amazon has been ruling the smart speaker market populated with industry heavyweights, including Google, Apple, Alibaba, and Baidu. To strengthen its foothold in the market, Amazon announced the ball-shaped 4th-gen Echo. The new Echo boasts a new spherical design for maximum audio quality. It comes with a 3.0-inch woofer, a built-in smart home hub with support for Zigbee, Bluetooth Low Energy, and Amazon Sidewalk. The product is priced at $99.99 and is available for pre-order from September 24, 2020.
Additionally, Amazon debuted sleek, compact new Echo Dot and Echo Dot with a clock for $49.99 and $59.99, respectively. The devices are available for pre-order from September 24, 2020.Â
Interestingly, the company announced some exciting products for children as well. Amazon redesigned the Echo Dot kids edition with a spherical shape, animal-themed design, and added kid-friendly features, such as reading Sidekick and voice profiles for children. A kids’ edition of Echo Dot, costing $59.99, is available for pre-order from September 24, 2020.
2. Major Alexa Upgrades Announced
Amazon has taken a major step in conversational AI to make Alexa more natural and interactive. The company has launched natural turn taking in Alexa to enable users to interact with Alexa at their own pace. Also, Amazon has introduced teachable AI in Alexa, allowing customers to directly teach Alexa and make her smarter.
The company wroteOpens a new window , “As Alexa continues to become more natural to interact with, we wanted to take it a step further. When we speak to another person, we get both verbal and non-verbal cues and adapt our responses accordingly. Later this year, Alexa will adapt her responses based on the context of the conversation by adjusting her tone, stressing certain words, adding pauses, and even breaths.â€
Amazon launched Alexa Guard Plus for customers to ensure their home and family are safe. It can detect an intruder with its security monitoring and is equipped with a hands-free emergency helpline. It costs $4.99 per month.
3. Amazon Fire TV Stick and Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite Launched
The new Fire TV Stick features an enhanced processor, HDR compatibility, Dolby Atmos, and Alexa remote. On the other hand, the Fire TV Stick Lite is a budget-friendly streaming media player and comes with Alexa Voice Remote Lite for quick access to Fire TV HD content. Amazon’s blog mentionedOpens a new window , “Both Fire TV Stick and Fire TV Stick Lite are 50% more powerful than the previous generation Fire TV Stick while using 50% less power.†The Fire TV Stick costs $39.99, while the Fire TV Stick Lite is $29.99.Â
Amazon also announced a new Fire TV user experience with a focus on personalization. The new experience will feature a simplified main menu, six user profiles, and voice-first experience with Alexa. It is slated to launch later this year.
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4. The Debut of Cloud Gaming Service, Luna
Amazon announced Luna, a cloud gaming streaming service in direct competition to Google’s Stadia, Microsoft’s xCloud, Nvidia GeForce Now, and Apple’s Arcade. Luna will soon be launched for early access. It will stream at 1080p resolution and 60 frames per second (fps) and later support 4K resolution. It will be available on Fire TV, PC, Mac, and iOS devices at launch, with support for Android coming later. Also, as Luna is a web app, it won’t be available on the Apple App Store.Â
Along with Luna, Amazon also rolled out a low-latency Alexa-enabled Luna controller for $49.99 for early access. Gamers can also use a mouse, keyboard, Xbox One, or PS DualShock 4 controller to enjoy the service. The Luna subscription service is $5.99 per month. It will feature 50 games during early access, including Control, Resident Evil 7, Frid, Yooka-Laylee and The Impossible Lair, and Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons.
5. Futuristic In-Home Drone Camera Unveiled
Amazon-owned home security company, Ring, gauged everyone’s attention with the debut of Ring Always Home Camera, an indoor drone camera for better security. Priced at $249.99, the autonomous camera will fly to preset areas and deliver multiple viewpoints with just one camera. Amazon wroteOpens a new window , “Built with privacy in mind, it only records when in flight; when it’s not in use, it sits in a doc, and the camera is physically blocked. And, it’s loud enough, so you hear when it’s in motion.â€
6. High-Tech Security Systems for Cars Launched
Amazon launched a range of car safety products, such as Ring Car Alarm, Ring Car Cam, and the Ring Car Connect. Priced at $59.99, the Ring Car Alarm plugs into the car’s onboard diagnostics (OBD) port, monitors break-ins, impacts, tows, and sends an alert to the user upon unusual activity.Â
The Ring Car Cam is a car security camera that features sensors, a dual-facing HD camera, emergency crash assist, and traffic stop. Ring Car Cam costs $199.99. The Ring Car Connect, on the other hand, is an API for auto manufacturers to integrate their software and hardware services with Ring’s platform. It is presently compatible with Tesla models 3, X, S, and Y and priced at $199.99.
7. Reimagined Echo Show 10 Unveiled
Amazon debuted a redesigned Echo Show 10, a voice-activated smart display device. It comes with an intelligent motion that engages with the user naturally. The device also features a 10-inch screen, 13 mp camera, and includes group calling and new effects for video calls. Along with Amazon Prime Video and Hulu, Echo Show 10 now supports Netflix. Echo Show 10 will cost $249.99.
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8. AZ1 Neural Edge Processor Revealed
Amazon announced the 1st generation AZ1 neural edge processor, a silicon module designed in partnership with MediaTek. Built for machine learning applications, AZ1 will process speech faster and make Alexa more responsive to voice queries.
9. New Wi-Fi Eero Routers Introduced
Amazon launched new Wi-Fi Eero routers, Eero 6, and Eero Pro 6. The routers support Wi-Fi 6, have a built-in Zigbee smart home hub, and support multiple connected devices at the same time. Eero 6 is priced at $129, while Eero Pro 6 costs $229.
10. Commitment to Reach Net-Zero Carbon by 2040
In 2019, Amazon co-founded and signed The Climate Pledge to reach net-zero carbon by 2040. This year, the company confirmed that all its new Echo and Fire TV devices are made of 100% post-consumer recycled fabric and 100% recycled die-cast aluminum. The company also plans to roll out new energy features later this year.
As we enter the holiday shopping season, the Amazon Fall Hardware Event 2020 has offered its consumers plenty of products to enjoy. With a range of fascinating home products, car security products, and gaming services, Amazon continues to pique the interest of its users and strives to deliver an integrated experience across smart home devices.
Which of these products will be in your holiday shopping bag? Comment below or let us know on LinkedInOpens a new window , TwitterOpens a new window , or FacebookOpens a new window . We’d love to hear from you!