As Tech announcement season of September 2020 is ending and Apple had already made its bigger announcements, Amazon also took on this and held its “Alexa Hardware Event/ Fall Hardware Event” on 24th of September 2020. Apple just announced its upcoming watches and iPads but it seems that Amazon worked really hard during quarantine period, as Amazon made number of big announcements, mostly related to gadgets and hardware, in this event.
Amazon redesigned its Fire TV, introduced TV gadgets, improved Alexa, announced improved addition to Echo devices and Security and Automation purpose Ring devices and not only this, Amazon’s Cloud Gaming Service is also introduced during this Fall Hardware Event.
Gadgets Announced In Amazon Fall Hardware Event:
Unfortunately this event wasn’t streamed live, only few media persons were invited but we have gathered most of the announcements for you in this article.
1. Ring Car Security Gadgets:
Ring, giving solution to one of the big problem of car security, launched Car Camera, Car Alarm, and Car Connect systems. These products are connected to company’s home security system through Ring App. App notifies the owner with alerts and owner can trigger siren through app if someone tries to break-in their car.
Starting price of this Car Alarm is $59.99 and it will be available in market from the starting of next year. Company made it clear that at first it will be available for Tesla cars only.
Amazon Ring Car Connect System for Tesla. Image Credit: Ring
Many cars already have built in back up cameras, but Ring made a whole system through Car Connect, through which owners can receive alerts, view recorded footage, and check whether car is locked or not.
Car Cam is starting at $199.99 and it can record both outside and inside the car. As Car Cam is also connected to Car Connect like the Car Alarm, so it can send alerts like break-in, or accident. Wi-Fi or LTE connectivity is must have.
2. Ring Security Drone:
Image Credit: Amazon
Ring is taking home security to another level and in this front, Ring along with car security gadgets also introduced Always Home Security Drone in this Hardware Fall Event. It is to be used in places at home where you cannot put permanent camera. Using its Away mode, you can keep a check on security of your home by triggering its sensors and make it patrol around the house but you cannot control it manually.
Blades of drone are shrouded and according to Ring, collision-avoidance technology of drone can detect even the tightest spaces. Drone flies only on user specified route so that it cannot drive into wall or any other object.
It is not the first time that any company made always home drone, but the special thing about this one is that it is integrates with Ring App to notify the users and also it is available in very affordable price starting at $250.
3. Redesigned Fire TV and Next Generation Fire TV Sticks:
Image Credit: Amazon
Amazon revamped its Fire TV with change in software and interface. New updates will also be installed on some of the old hardware. New redesigned TV have simple menu and enables up to 6 users to activate user profiles. Amazon also announced next-generation TV gadgets; Fire TV Stick and Fire TV Stick Lite. Fire TV Stick is said to be 50% more powerful using 50% less power than its predecessors. For better audio experience, Dolby Atmos support with compatible speakers is introduced.
Fire TV Stick is starting at $399 and Fire TV Stick Lite at $299. Both ensure HDR compatibility with faster 1080p streaming at 60fps but the only difference is that Alexa Voice Remote of Lite version doesn’t have control buttons for power, volume, and mute and the other version offers these buttons.
4. Enhanced Echo Family:
Image Credit: Amazon
Amazon’s popular Echo is now available in spherical shape, which is updated to the extent that it seems that Echo and Echo Plus are combined in single device. It comes with Dolby stereo sound all smart hub features of Echo plus at the same old price of $100.
Echo Dot is now introduced in new spherical design and is starting at very affordable price of $50. This sleek and compact design is made to deliver best quality sound. Using Alexa assistance, users can play music; hear news, check weather, set alarms, turn on lights, adjust thermostats, lock doors and do much more with this new Spherical Echo Dot.
Echo Dot with clock is the same Echo Dot with LED display and has same spherical design. It comes in additional blue color and available in market at $60. Amazon said that it is perfect nightstand as users can see time, alarms, and timers on all new LED display. Alexa’s new Guard feature is all set for home security. Users get Smart Alerts if Echo detects the suspicious sounds like that of glass breaking, smoke or carbon monoxide alarms.Echo Dot Kids is another addition to family for your little ones. It is available in cute animal face to attract kids. Parents just have to turn on parental control and Alexa will automatically start showing up kid-friendly suggestions, filter explicit content, block all shopping sites, and allow kids to make calls to approved contacts only. Amazon made it easy for parents to keep a check on their kids by setting time limits and review their activity. New Reading Sidekick feature will help you to make your kid love the books.
Image Credit: Amazon
5. Luna Cloud Gaming Service and Luna Controller:
Image Credit: Amazon
Amazon not staying restricted to online retailing and hardware announced its own cloud gaming platform, naming it Luna. It will support Fire TV, PC, Mac and iOS devices in its first release which will be in market in start of October. Android support will be added few weeks after it, as per Amazon.
Other than gaming software Amazon also built its own low-latency Luna controller starting at affordable price of $50. In addition to Bluetooth connectivity, it enables users to connect controller directly with cloud. Users can operate controller by voice commands as it is Alexa enabled.
Other than these above mentioned technologies, many more announcements were made at Amazon Fall Hardware Event. These include most expensive echo device $250 Echo Show, Ero mesh Wi-Fi routers, Ring’s end to end security encryption and the announcement about the most awaited Amazon Prime Day Sale 2020.
