Amazon is taking the wraps off of a slew of new devices.
During a pop-up event at its Seattle headquarters, the tech giant unveiled a brand new version of its Echo Dot, which features big boosts to its sound quality – broadcasting sounds at 70 percent louder volumes.
The revamped Echo Dot, which the firm said is it’s best-selling speaker ever, is expected to begin shipping next month and costs the same as prior versions at $49.99.
Amazon also revealed an Alexa-powered microwave, which lets users heat up their food hands-free.
The microwave is priced at $60 and will start shipping later this year.
Buyers must already own an Alexa-equipped speaker to take advantage of voice commands.
Alongside the microwave, Amazon announced a new Echo Show, Echo Plus, Amazon Smart Plug, Echo ‘Input,’ amplifier, subwoofer and wall clock, among other things.
Amazon unveiled a new $60 Alexa-powered microwave (left) and a revamped $50 Echo Dot (right). The Echo Dot will begin shipping next month and the microwave will ship later this year
The microwave is compact and can fit right on your counter-top, according to Amazon.
Users simply press an Alexa button on the microwave and give it a cooking command, such as ‘two minutes and 30 seconds on medium.’ The microwave will then start cooking.
‘The AmazonBasics Microwave includes dozens of quick-cook voice presets, so you can cook just by asking Alexa,’ the firm explained.
In a demo, Amazon’s head of devices Dave Limp cooked a potato using the device, which can even figure out how long to microwave something without a specific command.
Amazon’s screen-equipped Echo Show also got a major upgrade.
The company said it’s been ‘completely redesigned’ with a bigger screen and a better sound system that produces deeper basses and crisper highs, making it ‘perfect for listening to your favorite music.’
At 10 inches, the HD display is twice as large as the original Echo Show. It also features an 8-mic array, Amazon’s ‘most powerful mics ever.’
Amazon’s screen-equipped Echo Show also got a major upgrade. It features a bigger screen and a better sound system that produces deeper basses and crisper highs
The redesigned Echo Show also lets users explore the web with Firefox and Amazon’s Silk browser.
The Echo Plus features a new design, improved bass, and a built-in temperature sensor, among other things.
What’s more, users can even check the time or turn on their lights even when the internet is down, thanks to new cloud-based capabilities.
Amazon says the Echo Plus is available for pre-order today and will begin shipping in October.
The Amazon Smart Plug, which plugs directly into a wall socket and acts as controller for any mains-connected device, will bring Alexa voice control to any gadget
The Amazon Smart Plug, which plugs directly into a wall socket and acts as controller for any mains-connected device, will bring Alexa voice control to any gadget.
It is rumoured the Smart Plug will allow users to flick on the kettle or turn on a lamp with a simple voice command.
The leaked images, published on the Amazon online store, arrive amid a flurry of rumours of eight new Alexa-powered device scheduled to launch this year.
The new batch of in-house hardware could include a microwave, amplifier, receiver, and an in-car gadget, CNBC reported, citing sources close to the company.
Amazon’s upcoming Smart Plug (pictured) has been leaked online ahead of its imminent release. The device will plug directly into a wall socket and is expected to bring basic Alexa voice control to any device
The images of the unannounced plug were spotted by technology blog Pocket-lint.
Amazon’s website also revealed the price of the upcoming gadget to be £95 ($125).
If this proves accurate, the Amazon Smart Plug would be one of the most expensive voice-assistant enabled mains plugs available.
Pocket-lint also unearthed another unannounced gadget – an Echo-branded sub-woofer, which is widely-tipped to be announced at a long-rumoured Amazon hardware press event next month alongside the Alexa-powered plug.
The product has purportedly been dubbed the ‘Echo Sub wireless subwoofer’ and is rumoured to add around 100W of bass to an Echo device with the six-inch sub.
Amazon’s site also revealed the price of the upcoming gadget to be £95 ($125) (pictured). If this proves accurate it would place Amazon’s product atop the field of smart plugs as the most expensive in the market
Another unannounced gadget in the shape of a sub-woofer was spotted on the site (pictured). This is thought to be formally announced on October 11 at a rumoured Amazon Hardware exhibition
This new device is expected to incorporate stereo pairing and is expected to cost £75 ($99) at launch
Previous Echo devices have only featured the ability to group speakers, not pair them together for stereo audio.
The unannounced subwoofer is expected to incorporate stereo pairing and is expected to cost £75 ($99) at launch.
Both items would see Amazon branching out into unfamiliar territory as it seeks to further the reach of its technological empire.
The leaked images come days after internal document obtained by CNBC revealed that new Amazon devices are scheduled to launch before the end of this year.
Some of the devices will have Alexa built in, while others will be able to connect to the voice assistant.
Alexa is already linked up with several devices in the smart home market, ranging from voice-controlled thermostats, coffee makers, light bulbs and many more items.
The CNBC report also suggests that Amazon could eventually use its Alexa-equipped smart home devices as an in with home builders.
It previously announced a partnership with home construction company Lennar to include two Echo speakers in new homes and offered at-home visits from Amazon technicians.
Amazon has signaled that it wants Alexa to be in more places than just your bedroom or living room.
‘We want customers to be able to use Alexa wherever they are,’ Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos said in the firm’s most recent earnings report.
‘There are now tens of thousands of developers across more than 150 countries building new devices using the Alexa Voice Service, and the number of Alexa-enabled devices has more than tripled in the last year.’
MailOnline has approached Amazon for comment.
THE TRILLION DOLLAR RISE OF AMAZON
The first book sold on Amazon was ‘Fluid Concepts and Creative Analogies: Computer Models of the Fundamental Mechanisms of Thought’ by Douglas Hofstadter.
1994: Jeff Bezos incorporates what would become Amazon under the name ‘Cadabra Inc.’ He later re-named the company under its current name.
Bezos chose the name Amazon in reference to the Amazon River, the biggest river in the world, as he hoped Amazon would be the biggest bookstore in the world.
1995: Amazon opens up shop as a bookstore. The first book sold on Amazon was titled ‘Fluid Concepts and Creative Analogies: Computer Models of the Fundamental Mechanisms of Thought’ by Douglas Hofstadter.
1997: Amazon goes public at $18 per share on the Nasdaq under the symbol ‘AMZN.’
1998: Bezos begins selling more than just books on Amazon. The firm opens up sales of music, movies, consumer electronics, video games, toys and more.
2000: The firm introduces its now-famous logo, which features a curved arrow leading from A to Z, with an arrow shaped like a smile. The logo is meant to suggest that Amazon sells every kind of product from A to Z.
In 1998, Jeff Bezos began selling more than just books on Amazon. It ventured into consumer electronics, music, movies, video games, toys and many other products
2001: Amazon turns a profit for the first time ever, proving to investors that the firm’s business model could stick.
2002: The company launches Amazon Web Services (AWS) as a service for internet traffic data, but it would go on to grow into the firm’s cloud computing behemoth.
2006: Amazon rolls out Fulfillment by Amazon, its massive logistics unit that now threatens the likes of UPS and FedEx.
In 2006, Amazon rolled out Fulfillment by Amazon, its massive logistics unit
2007: Amazon releases the first Kindle e-reader, in a move that was perceived as a disruption to the traditional publishing industry.
2012: Amazon doubles down on consumer hardware, launching the Amazon Fire HD tablet.
2014: Amazon launches the Fire phone, meant to be a competitor to the iPhone, which ends up flopping. The firm discontinued the device a year later.
2015: Amazon launches the original Echo speaker, a groundbreaking device, due to its speech recognition and AI capabilities.
2017: Amazon becomes the first streaming company to earn an Oscars nomination for the drama ‘Manchester By the Sea.’
Later that year, Amazon announced it would purchase Whole Foods for $13.7 billion. The move has only strengthened its stronghold over the retail market.