Amazon's Echo: a $200, Multi-Function, Audio-Centric Device

An anonymous reader writes Amazon today quietly unveiled a new product dubbed Amazon Echo. The $200 device appears to be a voice-activated wireless speaker that can answer your questions, offer updates on what's going in the world, and of course play music. Echo is currently available for purchase via an invite-only system. If you have Amazon Prime, however, you can get it for $100. I've put in a request for one; hopefully we'll get a hands-on look at the Echo soon. It looks useful and interesting for random searches, and for controlling devices, but one small speaker (interesting driver arrangement notwithstanding) doesn't bode well for "fill[ing] any room with immersive sound," as Amazon's promo materials claim.

Comments

Need Majel's voice

[wiredlogic]

This would be perfect if it only had a faithful synthesis of Majel Barrett's voice.

Re:You heard it hear

[Tumbleweed]

Your every spoken word reverberates back at the Amazon.com mother roach.

Just like your every spoken word on your cellphone and computer microphone goes to Microsoft, Apple, and/or the NSA.