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If you were around for the early days of Amazon's Alexa, you remember it being a mess compared to other voice assistants. Over the years, things have changed considerably. Now that Amazon has sold millions of diverse smart home devices, the voice assistant has grown into its ambitions and is constantly getting new features as it goes.
Amazon Echo Studio vs. Amazon Echo Show 10: Which should you buy?
Smart speaker or smart display? That is the question
Amazon has been all over the smart tech market in recent years. Ever since the first Echo device brought virtual assistants from your phone to the home, the eCommerce tech giant has made its Alexa-compatible smart home devices a notable priority, updating them frequently and improving dramatically on the original iteration. In fact, the Echo lineup has branched out so much that many of the devices offer widely differing features that cater to the specific needs of potential users. The Echo Show 10 and the Echo Studio are two prime examples on the premium end of the Echo spectrum.
How to find secret Alexa-only deals with your Amazon Echo
Ordering Amazon products with your voice could get you some extra savings
Amazon Prime Day is right around the corner, and users are looking for the best deals from retailers. The only thing better than getting a good deal is having access to an exclusive deal that no one else can get. Fortunately, with Amazon's various Alexa-enabled smart speakers and displays, you can take advantage of a wide range of special, secret deals that will save you money, as long as you use Alexa to order them.
Digital assistants are an inescapable part of the modern world. They come installed on our smartphones, our computers, and our smart speakers, and in theory they’re supposed to make our lives easier and help us accomplish more. What they're not supposed to do is help us burn down our houses, but try telling that to Amazon’s Alexa.
Take advantage of Amazon's record low prices on the Echo, Kindle, and Fire HD 8 right now
Think of it as a birthday gift from Alexa
Amazon is dishing out some of the best deals we've seen on its branded devices in honor of Alexa's 7th birthday. That means Echo devices, Fire TV devices, and even an Alexa-powered Mickey Mouse wall clock at low, low prices.
Whether you're moving into a new place or are simply interested in adding a new smart speaker or display to your household, Amazon has got you covered with a bunch of deals on almost every product in its Echo lineup, including the latest generation smart speakers.
Amazon's latest Echo speaker is cheaper than a PS5 game for Prime Day
Smart speakers, displays, and more as low as $20
Prime Day is always the best time of the year to pick up any of Amazon's gadgets, be it a new Fire TV Stick or a budget Fire tablet. If you're looking to get Alexa in every room in your house, nearly every Echo device is on sale through the end of today, including some of the latest smart speakers, smart displays, and more.
Amazon will share your home Wi-Fi with strangers' devices — this is how to opt out
Amazon Sidewalk launches in the US on June 8th
Amazon has one of the largest ecosystems of smart home gadgets on the market today. From Echo speakers to Ring's lineup of security cameras and doorbells, millions of users rely on Alexa-compatible gear to stay connected and protected. With a massive IoT presence, Amazon is no stranger to privacy concerns, and it seems like the company is once again facing some public scrutiny. Next week, a low-bandwidth mesh network will be activated across its gadgets in the US, leaving users only a few days left to opt out.Since 2019, Amazon has been testing a protocol called Sidewalk to extend the range of its gear. Originally announced alongside the Ring Fetch, Sidewalk operates as a mesh network over the 900MHz band, allowing gadgets to streamline the setup of new gear and keep devices online outside of your home's Wi-Fi connection. Most of Amazon's products since 2018 support the feature, with Echo speakers and Ring cameras acting as bridges. These hubs can cast a signal up to a mile in range, but up until now, it's been limited to test areas in the United States.On June 8th, Amazon is enabling Sidewalk on every compatible device in the US, so if you own an Echo, you and your network will automatically be enrolled. Although its maximum bandwidth is limited to 80Kbps with a monthly data cap of 500MB, it's still a shared connection to miscellaneous gadgets in your neighborhood.There are some real benefits to staying enrolled in Sidewalk, like Ring cameras continuing to send motion notifications even without a consistent Wi-Fi connection. It also offers a tracking network, similar to Samsung's SmartThings or Apple's Find My, for any of Amazon's partner devices. For example, Tile trackers will sync over Sidewalk starting on June 14th.
Amazon's latest Echo Show 10 is down to $210 ($40 off)
It's a smart speaker, display, and security camera in a single device
If you're on the market for a smart display, Amazon's latest Echo Show is currently marked down, selling for $210, which is $40 less than its traditional price. It's a great option to place calls, listen to music, watch content, and even have a handy helper in the kitchen while cooking.The Echo Show has a 10-inch adaptive HD screen that follows you as you move about the room, thanks to a silent motor. This is particularly useful when placing video calls, as the screen will rotate and zoom to keep you in the center of the frame. The device can also let you know if someone enters the room when you're away, with the option to watch a live feed from another device, sparing you the purchase of a video camera.Both white and black devices are on sale on Amazon. Just click the link below to grab yours today.Buy: Amazon
Amazon is developing a wall-mounted Echo smart home control center
It would look like a slimmer Echo Show that you can mount on the wall
Amazon is often regarded as one of the companies that democratized voice assistants and home automation, thanks to Alexa and its range of Echo devices. Today, the company's Echo Show smart displays let people control their home, video call loved ones, play content, and check their upcoming appointments a glance. These devices are designed to be placed on a flat surface, though, making them harder to use in some rooms. To solve this issue, Amazon is reportedly developing a new device that can be mounted on the wall.
Grab Citizen's Echo-compatible smart wall clock for $50 ($30 off) from Amazon
A clock with software updates? I'll take your entire stock!
Amazon has partnered up with Citizen a few times now, creating a range of products compatible with its Echo hardware. The first device to come from this partnership is an analog wall clock that can display timers created by Alexa. While unconventional, this is definitely a cool piece of tech, and it's on sale for $50 ($30 off) from Amazon right now.
The best Amazon UK Prime Day deals (Updated)
Great discounts on Amazon devices, as well as plenty of phones, headphones, and smart home tech
Read update
Amazon UK's two-day deal bonanza is upon us once again, hoping to take all your money before Black Friday can have its way with you. These events can be hit or miss, but there are a few good deals floating around, especially if you're looking to buy an Amazon-made device. I've delved into the depths of Prime Day to pull out a few of the better discounts for our readers on this side of the pond (the right side, in every sense).
Pre-order one of Amazon's new Echo speakers and get up to $30 off
You'll have to buy a pair to enjoy the markdown
Amazon held an important event last week, during which it announced a bunch of new devices, including a revamped range of Echo speakers. Despite their very recent unveiling, the company wants to give early buyers a discount for pre-ordering the new Echo lineup, provided you buy them in pairs and use one of the promo codes below.
At a private online stream yesterday, Amazon unveiled its new lineup of hardware products, and boy, did they really let it rip. There are a ton of new offerings coming up from several of their lines, including Echo, Fire TV, and Ring. There's the new spherical Echo, a Ring-connected car alarm, and even a flying security camera — a real wonderland of tech. If you're interested in Amazon's offerings, or even just want to see what they're up to, there's a treasure trove of information here.
Amazon lets you share Alexa routines — Google should follow suit with Assistant
Nothing more simple than a URL to make your smart life that much easier
In July, Google announced that smart home appliance makers would be able to publish Assistant routines featuring their own Actions and ones recommended from partner brands. Amazon seems to be raising that move with its own: user-shareable Alexa routines.
AT&T users can now make calls using Alexa
Your Echo speaker will also ring if you receive a call, even if your phone is off
If you have an Echo speaker at home, you'll be happy to know you can now use your Alexa-enabled device to make and receive calls using your AT&T subscription. Once the feature is turned on, your speaker will be able to replace your phone, even if the latter is out of reach, turned off, or out of battery.To set up the link between your AT&T number and Alexa, go to Settings in the Alexa app, select Communication, and choose AT&T. After your number is linked, the voice assistant will simply say “Incoming call” when someone tries to ring you, which you'll be able to answer saying, “Alexa, answer.” To place a call, you'll be able to say, “Alexa, call Rita” or “Alexa, dial 123-456-7890.”If you’re away from home or don't want other people to use your line, you can stop incoming calls to your Alexa device thanks to the Away Mode. You also have the option to control when to receive inbound communications by creating Routines. For instance, you can define one to only receive calls during a predefined timeframe or to turn off the feature when you say, "Alexa, I'm leaving home.Source: Amazon
Amazon’s Echo Studio speaker is down to $170 and comes with a free Hue bulb ($60 off)
You’ll never have to leave your couch again
If the Amazon Echo is not powerful enough, you should consider the higher-end Echo Studio. It was unveiled in September and is Amazon's answer to the Google Home Max. It's currently down to just $170 and comes with a free Hue bulb, which represents a $60 discount over the traditional MSRP.
For this price, you get high-quality audio, coming from to the 1" tweeter, three 2" mid-range speakers, and 5.25" woofer, which can deliver up to 330W of peak power. Thanks to the Dolby Atmos and Sony 360 Reality Audio technologies, the Echo Studio can deliver an immersive 3D audio experience. Also, just like its competitor from Google, the speaker can automatically adjust itself to the acoustics of a room, without even having to ask for it. It naturally comes with Alexa, and also has an embedded Zigbee hub. The latter will be particularly useful to control the free Hue bulb, which costs $25 when sold separately.Buy: Amazon
Amazon's Echo Flex wall-mountable smart speaker is down to just $17 ($8 off)
It's the best way to fit another speaker into tight spaces
If you think smart speakers aren't discreet enough, mounting them directly on the wall is a good solution. Some accessories let you do that, but they're not necessarily ideal. Thankfully, Amazon has the solution with its Eco Flex wall-mountable smart speaker, which it announced back in September. The product normally sells for $25, but it's now down to just $17.50
Amazon's Echo is at the heart of the company's lineup of smart speakers and displays. For the ones who prefer a cheaper version, the Echo Dot comes in a smaller footprint but also with inferior audio. On the contrary, if you're looking for a higher-end speaker, there wasn't a proper offering until now, as the Echo Plus didn't offer much better sound quality than the Echo, but instead included a built-in Zigbee hub to control your smart devices. Back in September, though, Amazon unveiled the Echo Studio, a new high-end speaker built to compete with the Google Home Max. It's now available on the retailer's site for $200.
There are all kinds of ways to motivate your children to do their chores, put down the electronics, or get to bed on time. One such method is through environmental cues. To help you make the process easier on you and your little ones, Amazon created the Echo Glow smart lamp for kids, which you can pick up for .99 ( off) on Amazon.If you've never heard of the Echo Glow, you wouldn't be judged too harshly. Amazon's first smart lamp for kids was unveiled alongside a slew of other products in September. It features a multi-colored lighting system that can visually count down to a specified event, like when it's time for your child to brush their teeth or catch the bus to school. It also has a gradual brightness function that slowly illuminates the room to help your child wake up in the morning to start their day. Finally, the Echo Glow has several dynamic settings to change the visual atmosphere of their room with a simple command.