Amazon’s special media event didn’t disappoint. We’ll take a deep dive into all the new products the e-retail giant has launched.
Kindle Scribe is more than just reading
The star of the show is the new Kindle Scribe. In addition to reading, you can also write on the e-ink screen.
The 10.2-inch, 300 ppi glare-free display is designed for a natural pen-on-paper experience.
There are two styluses to choose from. The basic pen requires no batteries, while the premium pen offers an eraser and customizable shortcut buttons.
In addition to being able to add handwritten notes to the book, you can also record and add to-dos using various templates.
Notebooks will be saved and backed up for free. The notebooks will be available on the Kindle app in early 2023.
The Kindle Scribe starts at $339 and is available for pre-order now, arriving later in 2022. You can choose from tablets with 16 GB, 32 GB or 64 GB of storage.
Updated Echo devices bring new features
Amazon also introduced the fifth-generation Echo Dot and Echo Dot with Clock. Both models now feature better audio, temperature sensors and an accelerometer for new tap gesture controls.
That way, you can tap the top of the device to perform tasks like stopping and resuming music.
Echo Dot with Clock is upgraded with high-density dot technology. So over time, you can see song info, weather, and more when you ask Alexa for info.
All new speakers will also act as extenders for existing Eero Wi-Fi networks. This can add up to 1,000 square feet of coverage. The good news is that the fourth-generation Echo, Echo Dot, and Echo Dot with Clock will receive an update on October 20, 2022 to unlock the same features.
The updated Echo Dot and Echo Dot with Clock retail for $49.99 and $59.99, respectively. There’s also a new $59.99 Echo Dot Kids in an owl or dragon design.
For all new Echo speakers, pre-orders are available now, with hardware arriving in October 2022.
The second-generation Echo Auto offers a slimmer design and adhesive mount for greater placement flexibility. This is $54.99.
Other announcements of the event
That’s far from all that was announced at the event. Here’s some other news:
- Blink wired floodlight cameras offer security at a lower price. This $99.99 camera features a 2,600-lumen LED light. There’s also a new Blink Mini Pan Tilt, which adds a motorized mount to the Blink Mini. That’s $29.99.
- Retailing for $139.99, the Halo Rise is a bedside tracker designed to help you sleep better. It can provide sleep analysis and has a digital clock, wake-up lights and a small alarm speaker. You can sign up to be notified when you’re ready to buy.
- The high-end Fire TV Omni QLED lineup comes in 65-inch and 75-inch models, priced at $799.99 and $1,099.99, respectively.
- The $139.99 third-generation Amazon Fire TV Cube is faster and offers more features, including an HDMI-in port and Wi-Fi 6E support.
- The Alexa Voice Remote Pro offers two customizable buttons for doing things like Alexa Routines you create, and a speaker to help you find it if you lose it. It’s $34.99.
- Echo Studio will now be available in a new white color, and will add spatial audio processing technology and frequency range expansion through an upcoming free software update.
Amazon continues to improve its product line
While Amazon hasn’t launched as many devices as it has in previous years, the Kindle Scribe looks like an interesting way for people to do more than read the next best-selling novel.
All the upgraded Echo Dots could make this budget speaker a hit.