New Amazon Echo announced at surprise event today

[Dazrin]

I heard that there is / was a surprise product event from the Verge (via I Love My Kindle) about this a little over an hour ago and it looks like there is a new Echo coming.

https://gizmodo.com/after-almost-3-y...cho-1818846014

Haven't found a livestream or other source for anything else yet though.

Edit: Adding additional info here: https://www.theverge.com/2017/9/27/1...ease-date-2017

[Purple Lady]

What's an OG Echo? The gizmodo story has this :

This should let Echo 2 stack up much better against the $129 Google Home, which for a while had been undercutting the OG Echo.*

[kansaskyle]

Originally Posted by Purple Lady

What's an OG Echo?

I'm thinking OG means 'original' or 'original generation' since the article refers to the new device as 'second generation'.

[kansaskyle]

Below is a link and picture of the new Echo Spot also. It seems kind of pricey at $130.

https://www.theverge.com/2017/9/27/1...ot-alarm-clock

Edit: Resized image and added as an attachment to fit within MR guidelines.

[tubemonkey]

Introducing the Next Generation of Echo: the All-New Amazon Echo and Echo Plus

All-new Echo brings all the features you love about Alexa, now with a new design, improved sound with Dolby processing, and a lower price—just $99.99

Echo Plus has a built-in smart home hub to easily connect your smart devices—set up and start controlling lights, locks, and more in minutes—just $149.99, with a Philips Hue smart lightbulb included while supplies last

Routines let you control multiple devices and actions with a single voice command—for example, simply say, “Alexa, good morning,” and Alexa will turn on the lights, start your coffee pot, and read the day’s forecast

Now, call anyone with Alexa—new calling feature offers free outbound calling from Echo devices, plus the all-new Echo Connect brings the convenience of hands-free inbound and outbound calling to your home phone

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sep. 27, 2017-- (NASDAQ: AMZN)—Three years ago, Amazon introduced Echo and Alexa, offering a new way to interact with technology using just your voice. Today, Amazon introduced the next generation of Echo: the all-new Echo with a new design and improved sound for just $99.99, and Echo Plus with a built-in smart home hub for just $149.99.

[tubemonkey]

Amazon is releasing 3 new Echos

• $100 -- Echo 2nd --> release date 31 Oct 2017
  
• $150 -- Echo Plus --> release date 31 Oct 2017
  
• $130 -- Echo Spot --> release date 19 Dec 2017

Echo 2nd Gen

Spoiler:

All-New Echo—Now with a New Design and Improved Sound to Fit in Every Room—Just $99.99

New design

With an all-new compact design, Echo fits easily into any room in your home while delivering next generation far-field performance and improved room-filling sound. Pick from a variety of shell colors and finishes to fit into your home’s décor—choices include charcoal, sandstone, heather gray, oak veneer, walnut veneer, and silver.

Immersive sound

Echo combines an all-new speaker architecture, a dedicated tweeter, a 2.5” down-firing woofer, and Dolby processing to deliver crisp vocals and dynamic bass throughout the room—all in a smaller design and at an even more affordable price. Alexa can play music from leading services like Amazon Music, Pandora, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, and more.

Echo Plus

Spoiler:

All-New Echo Plus— Built-In Hub to Easily Set Up and Control Your Smart Home—Just $149.99

Set up your smart home in minutes

With its built-in smart home hub, Echo Plus makes connecting to compatible smart home devices easy. Just say, “Alexa, discover my devices,” and Echo Plus will automatically discover and set up compatible lights, locks, plugs, switches, and more without the need for additional hubs or apps. This simple set-up works with a variety of ZigBee products from leading brands such as Philips Hue, GE, Kwikset, and more. To help get your smart home started, Amazon customers will receive a Philips Hue smart lightbulb with the purchase of an Echo Plus while supplies last.

More powerful audio and better performance

Echo Plus has enhanced 360-degree omni-directional audio, with Dolby processing, to provide deeper bass and crisper high notes for better audio clarity. You can play music from Amazon Music, Pandora, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, and more. With Amazon Music, you can search for music by lyrics, time-period, or let Alexa pick the music for you. Like the new Echo, Echo Plus features second generation far-field technology for even better performance.

Echo Spot

Spoiler:

Amazon Introduces a New Member of the Echo Family: Echo Spot

“Echo Spot combines the popular small design of Echo Dot, the display of Echo Show, and the features you love about Alexa into an all-new, stylish and compact device,” said Tom Taylor, Senior Vice President, Amazon Alexa. “See the weather, watch video news briefings, glance at your alarm clock, check on your kids, and more—we think customers will find lots of places for Echo Spot in their homes.”

Designed for any room, with the added convenience of a screen

Echo Spot fits easily into any room of your home. The size and viewing angle of the screen make Echo Spot ideal for use on a nightstand or desk as a smart alarm clock that can also turn your lights on and off, watch a video flash briefing, show your commute time, get the weather, or show your calendar. Or use Echo Spot in the kitchen to easily set and view timers, call friends and family, see shopping and to do lists, and more.

.

[tubemonkey]

Amazon Introduces a New Member of the Echo Family: Echo Spot

Stylish, compact Echo with a screen is perfect for anywhere in the house—place it on your nightstand, desk, kitchen counter, or side table so Alexa can show you news, weather, smart home camera feeds, video calls, Alexa skills, and more

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sep. 27, 2017-- (NASDAQ:AMZN)—Today, Amazon announced Echo Spot, the newest addition to the Echo family. Echo Spot delivers everything you love about Alexa with a smaller design and the added convenience of a circular screen so that Alexa can show you things. The all-new Echo Spot is $129.99 and is available for pre-order at www.amazon.com/echospot. It will begin shipping in December.

[Purple Lady]

Originally Posted by kansaskyle

I'm thinking OG means 'original' or 'original generation' since the article refers to the new device as 'second generation'.

Thanks.

[booklover6]

I love the Spot! Maybe in a year or two I can afford one LOL

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by booklover6

I love the Spot! Maybe in a year or two I can afford one LOL

The Spot looks intriguing. I like the clock face. Imagine all of the skills that'll customize numerous screens for clocks, calendars, weather, news, stocks, traffic, photos, sports, etc.

[Bilbo1967]

And released in the UK at the same time, 31st October, and roughly the same price, £89. Available for pre-order on Amazon UK.

[leebase]

I like the concept of the spot as well. Wonder how good the sound is. It's pricey, true, but I'll be spending more for the HomePod.

[kansaskyle]

Originally Posted by leebase

I like the concept of the spot as well. Wonder how good the sound is. It's pricey, true, but I'll be spending more for the HomePod.

From what I read, the onboard speaker is of minimal use, which is why they provide a line out and bluetooth so you can hook up an external speaker.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by Purple Lady

What's an OG Echo? The gizmodo story has this :

'OG' is 'original gangsta' and means 'the original' or 'older and more experienced'.

[frahse]

5 New Devices!

5000 people working on Echo/Alexa "stuff!"

Personally I have already had to get my original Echo/Alexa her own assistant. In time I might have a team of quick alert helpful devices ready for any occasion. If only they could pull a sled, Christmas would be a breeze.