Amazon announced several new consumer devices for the year-end shopping season. The company updated its Halo smart fitness band, introduced the first smart doorbell under the Blink brand, launched a new version of its smart display the Echo Show, and unveiled Glow, a combination display and projector designed for interactive video calls between children and their relatives. In addition, Amazon presented a mini household robot running Alexa and expanded its home products with more Ring security devices and a new smart thermostat.
The new Echo Show 15 comes with a large 15.6-inch, Full HD display, which can be mounted on a wall or placed on a counter. Aimed at families, it offers features to help stay organized, connected, and entertained. The Echo Show 15 runs the new Amazon AZ2 Neural Edge processor, supporting the new visual ID feature to recognise the person in front of the screen and deliver personalised features based on their profile. It's priced at USD 250.
Also for the home, Amazon announced Blink Video Doorbell, its first doorbell under the Blink brand used for video surveillance cameras. Starting at USD 50, the Blink Video Doorbell can be installed wired or wire-free with the two-year battery and comes with 1080p HD day and night video, two-way audio, and chime app and in-home alerts. A free 30-day trial subscription for video storage is included in the price.In addition, Amazon announced three new additions to the Halo family: Halo View, a new health tracker with an Amoled colour display; Halo Fitness, a new service to access studio-quality workout classes; and Halo Nutrition, a new experience to help build healthy eating habits. Halo View comes bundled with a full year of Halo membership for USD 80 and is expected to ship in time for the holidays.
Amazon Glow for interactive video calls
The newest product is Amazon Glow, an interactive projector device designed to transform the way kids connect with remote loved ones by participating in activities together. During video calls on Glow, kids see remote relatives on a dedicated 8-inch display while reading stories, playing games and creating art on a 19-inch touch-sensitive, projected space. Remote family and friends can see the child on a tablet and participate in the same activities using the free Glow app.
Available by invitation only to start, Amazon Glow has an introductory price of USD 250 and will later cost USD 300. It includes a one-year subscription to the content service Amazon Kids+ and the first 'Glow Bits' accessory, the Tangram puzzle game, where kids use physical shapes and their remote family member uses digital shapes to solve challenges together.
Also for kids is a new version of the Alexa voice assistant developed with Disney. Triggered with the command ‘Hey, Disney!’, the new Alexa skill will let people interact with Disney characters and stories on supported Echo devices at home and at Disney Resort hotels. It's expected to launch next year.
For elderly relatives, Amazon introduced the subscription service Alexa Together in the US. Designed to help make it easier to live independently, the service comes with personal alerts and an information feed to share with relatives, 24/7 access to dedicated care assistance, and fall detection alerts with compatible devices. It costs USD 20 per month or USD 200 per year, with a free six-month trial offered to start, and works with any Amazon Echo or other device with Alexa.
Astro household robot
Astro is the name of Amazon's latest 'Day 1' innovation, which will be released by invitation only for a group of customers to test. Similar to a smart speaker, the small robot runs Alexa to responds to voice commands and help manage communications and monitoring the household. A navigation system, camera and microphones allows it to move around the home, checking on rooms or people, and fetch small things like a small toy or container.
Astro has an introductory price of USD 1,000 and comes with a free six-month trial of the Ring home security service. It's expected to ship before year-end.
Home security and smart thermostat
The Ring home security range is also expanding, with a new device integrating an Eero Wi-Fi 6 router. The Ring Alarm Pro for USD 250 sells with a base station and motion detectors to create a connected home security system. Users can also opt into a professional monitoring service with an external security provider, from USD 99 per month, and insert a microSD card in the device and store surveillance video locally.
Similar to rival Google with its Nest range, Amazon is also getting into the smart thermostat business. The new device priced at USD 60 was developed with Resideo, the company that makes Honeywell Home thermostats, and also works with Alexa.
