ALEXA HOMES IN ON IRISH FAMILIES
AMAZON was one of the first movers in the smarthome market with their now iconic Alexa devices. ‘Her’ voice is now set to become embedded further in our homes following Amazon’s recent launch event. In total, Amazon made about 70 announcements, including a slew of new Alexa devices and an Alexapowered microwave oven. There’s a new Echo Dot and a Echo Plus, the mainstay of the range. Both have improved sound with the Echo Dot getting a new mesh design as well as a more powerful speaker. The new Echo Show though, is perhaps the most attractive of the new range with a ten inch HD screen and built-in smart-home hub. The new Show screen makes watching videos from Prime a viable alternative to a tablet or laptop. The calling feature allows you to ‘drop-in’ on a relative. It has improved sound with Dolby technology. However, Amazon has added new devices that mean Alexa can connect to your existing home electronics. For US motorists, Amazon is taking Alexa on the road, with the Echo Auto a small dash-mounted device. While some new devices will launch initially in the US, the new Echo smart-plug and sub-woofer will be available for delivery to Ireland from Amazon UK next month. Perhaps the most attractive device is the Echo input, which connects to your existing home speakers.