Today, the Amazon Devices and Services team—which includes Alexa, Fire TV, and more—shared an innovative lineup of new products, features, and services for our customers. Here are the most important news highlights:
In these difficult times, the products we announced today are about making everyday life better – enabling customers to enjoy the moment, have peace of mind, and connect with loved ones. We believe your home can be made better with proactive, personal, and predictable technology that’s ready to help when you need it and fades into the background when you don’t.
We’re focused on what customers want and take their feedback to heart. We believe customers shouldn’t have to choose between innovation and privacy, or a device that’s affordable and one that’s sustainable.
Our Most Sustainable Products Yet
The health of our planet is something we care deeply about. Last year, Amazon co-founded the Climate Pledge—a commitment to be net zero carbon across our business by 2040. Since then, we’ve made good progress and we’re not slowing down. We continue to invent more sustainable solutions across all areas of our business, including Devices & Services.
All Echo devices announced today are built with 100% post-consumer recycled fabric, 100% recycled die-cast aluminium, and post-consumer recycled plastic. Plus, Echo device packaging is made of wood-fibre based materials from responsibly managed forests or recycled sources. In addition to using sustainable materials, new Echo devices also have a Low Power Mode*, to intelligently conserve energy during periods of inactivity, delivering energy savings over the lifetime of the device.
To learn more, click here.
Introducing the New Echo Family
Today, Amazon introduced an all-new line-up of Echo devices, featuring completely new designs, enhanced audio, and experiences that make Alexa even smarter, more engaging and helpful. The next-generation Echo combines the best of Echo and Echo Plus into a single device at the same affordable Echo price while the new Echo Dot and Echo Dot with clock are are compact yet powerful producing crisp vocals and balanced bass for full sound you can enjoy in any room of your home.
“These are the best Echo devices we have ever made,” said Eric Saarnio, Vice President Amazon Devices EU. “Echo and Echo Dot look beautiful and sound even better, and Echo Show 10 completely reimagines Alexa with a screen—simply move around and the display stays in view. It’s as natural as having a conversation. Plus, Alexa continues to get smarter—just ask to watch Netflix, make group calls and much more.”
Meanwhile, Echo Show 10 is completely reimagined with a 10-inch display that’s designed to move with you, a 13 MP camera, premium audio, built-in Zigbee hub, new home screen experience, and more.
Soon, it will be easy for up to eight friends or family members to join a hands-free audio or video call with Alexa. Simply say, “Alexa, call my family,” for example, to connect with your family for the next catch-up, happy hour, or birthday celebration. You will be able to create and name groups in the Alexa app. And you no longer need to worry about being out of frame—as you move the screen does too, and the new wide-angle camera pans and zooms to keep you at the centre of the frame.
As Echo Show 10 moves, so does its dual, front-firing tweeters and powerful woofer, providing premium, directional sound that automatically adapts to your space, making it great for all kinds of music, videos and more. Echo Show 10 will also rotate as you watch the news, flash briefings, or TV shows from Prime Video**. And, coming soon you will be able to watch Netflix** simply by asking Alexa, with the ability to search, browse, and stream the entire catalogue, including Netflix Originals such as Stranger Things, The Crown, and The Irishman using just your voice.
Find out more about the new Echo Family here.
Fire TV reimagined
Fire TV’s most significant experience update is redesigned to offer a more intuitive, simple, and customised experience Redesigned Fire TV experience provides new content-discovery features, enhanced Alexa voice integration, and user profiles for personalised recommendations.
Amazon’s best-selling Fire TV Stick is now 50% more powerful with HDR and Dolby Atmos support—also includes Alexa-enabled remote with AV device controls. Fire TV Stick Lite is our most affordable Fire TV Stick ever at £29.99, and features full-HD streaming, HDR support, and Alexa Voice Remote Lite.
Find out more about the Fire TV here.
Customer Trust
At Amazon, privacy is foundational, and core to how we design our devices and services.
We’ve built Alexa and Echo devices with multiple layers of privacy. From microphone and camera controls to the ability to view and delete voice recordings, customers have transparency and control over their Alexa experience. Today, we introduced additional privacy controls and easier ways to learn about Alexa and privacy.
- Automatically Delete Your Voice Recordings You can now choose not to save your voice recordings. If you choose not to save your voice recordings, they will be automatically deleted after Alexa processes your request. All previously saved recordings will also be deleted. You will still be able to review the text transcripts of your Alexa requests going forward for 30 days before we begin automatically deleting them. If you would like to delete your text transcripts before 30 days, you can always do so in the Alexa app or online. You can turn on this setting by going into the Alexa app > More Menu > Settings > Alexa Privacy > Manage Your Alexa Data, or by visiting Alexa Privacy Settings online.
- “Alexa, delete everything I’ve said.” Later this year, if you would like to delete all the previously saved voice recordings associated with your account, you can simply ask, “Alexa, delete everything I’ve said.”
- “Alexa, how can I review my privacy settings?” When you ask, “Alexa, where I can review my privacy settings?” Alexa will send you a direct link in the Alexa app to your Alexa Privacy Settings. There, you can learn more about how different privacy features work and you can choose the privacy options that are right for you.
* Low Power Mode depends on user configurations
** Separate subscription required