Amazon on Thursday unveiled a slew of new Alexa-enabled gadgets, including a microwave oven, a wall clock and a stereo amplifier and subwoofer.
The WiFi-connected microwave — released under the AmazonBasics banner — will be able to take voice commands from dozens of “quick-cook voice presets” like “Alexa, one potato.”
“Yeah, it’s a microwave,” Amazon senior vice president David Limp said at a surprise event at Amazon’s Seattle headquarters. “You can giggle. It’s fun.”
The $60 oven, which will begin shipping in time for the holidays, will also feature a built-in Dash button that will allow users to order popcorn.
The Echo Wall Clock is an analog clock with Alexa brains installed under its dial face. When a user asks it to set an alarm or timer, the clock’s LED-powered minute markers will begin to glow to indicate how much time is remaining.
The clock — which Amazon said will automatically change the hour for daylight savings time — will sell for $30.
Amazon also unveiled a $300 amplifier called the Echo Link Amp, and $130 Echo subwoofer, as well as the Echo Input — a $35 gadget that plugs into your existing sound system and adds Alexa functionality.
The Input will be bundled with some third-party speakers such as Bose, Amazon said. The amplifier and subwoofer also will bring stereo pairing capabilities that have thus far been absent from Echo gadgets.
Elsewhere, the new Echo Auto is a wallet-sized device that uses your phone signal for connectivity to Alexa to give directions and other information.
Amazon also revealed significant upgrades to existing products.
Its most popular smart speaker, the Echo Dot, has gotten a complete overhaul. It now boasts a fabric-covered body akin to the Google Home Mini. Amazon claims it has higher quality speakers that can crank 70 percent louder.
The Echo Plus has received a similar fabric makeover, and now has added temperature-gauging capabilities while maintaining its $150 price tag.
The new Echo Show, meanwhile, now boasts a 10-inch screen — twice as large as the original model’s display.
