Amazon: Amazon Echo
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Amazon Echo is a family of voice-activated devices that allow people to ask questions and receive answers on a variety of topics, such as weather, news, sports and much more. The devices can also connect with some home automation devices or conduct tasks such as ordering products from Amazon.
The Amazon Echo was the original device that the product line takes its name from, announced in November 2014 and launched in limited release. It was made available for anyone to buy in July 2015. It features a high-quality speaker and hands-free voice activation by using the “hotword” of “Alexa.”
In March 2016, two additions to the Echo family were released. The Echo Dot is a smaller version of the original Echo, offering hands-free voice activation but a much lower-quality speaker. The Amazon Tap has a high-quality speaker, a battery allowing it to be portable, unlike the Echo, but the Tap only responds to voice commands after a special button is pressed.
For more about the Echo products, see our coverage below.
Report: Amazon readying launch of Alexa-powered smart glasses
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Prime Day brings a price battle between Amazon Echo and Google Home
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Survey: Amazon Echo, Google Home owners are ‘very interested’ in Apple HomePod
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Apple introduces HomePod: A premium speaker with Siri
The device will compete with Google Home and Amazon Echo, but Apple is trying to distinguish it with sound quality and privacy...
Amazon is paying Alexa game developers. Will that expand to all skills categories?
The company is actively exploring new ways to reward skills developers....
Amazon says push notifications are coming soon to Alexa-enabled devices
The opt-in-only alerts will be tested in select skills before Amazon opens the feature to all...
VoiceLabs launches audio ads for Alexa skills
Company is seeing a lot of advertiser demand from CPG companies, says CEO....
What will Echo Show’s screen mean for the digital assistant device market?
The screen has the potential to change the market's direction....
Amazon introduces ‘Echo Show,’ a new Alexa device with a screen that can make calls
New device will cost $229 and be available on June 28....
Amazon controls 70% of digital assistant device market [eMarketer]
Installed base of loyal customers and low-priced Echo Dot position company to dominate the market into the...
Report: Google Assistant beats rivals for questions answered and accuracy
Cortana was second for questions answered, Alexa second-best for...
One Google Home device can now support up to six separate users
The new feature, which rolls out today, enables multiple users to access personalized content....
Amazon launches a metrics dashboard for Alexa skill developers
Developers can see how often their skills are used, how many people are using them and how successful consumers' "utterances"...
April Fools’ Day 2017: Play Ms. Pac-Man, Amazon Echo’s Petlexa, Google Gnome & more
The annual day (or days, as has become the case) of pranks from major search/marketing/tech companies is underway....
Cortana comes to Android’s lockscreen, Siri does some new tricks
comScore estimates roughly half of all search queries will be voice-initiated by 2020....
Amazon adds Alexa to its main iOS app
Integration will provide more utility in the shopping app and expose new audiences to Alexa's capabilities....
WebMD’s new Alexa health skill should go to pharmacy school
The company's Alexa skill didn't understand drug names. Google Home performed much...
Bot-to-bot marketing is coming soon. Are you ready?
Martech's future isn't only about bots and agents talking to consumers. Here's what it means when they start talking to other bots and...
