Amazon Echo just received an Alexa improvement but there's more bad news for UK customers

Amazon Echo is the retail giant’s line of smart speakers that come in a number of varieties.

The Echo Dot is the cheapest and most affordable version of the hardware but is currently out of stock in the UK.

Despite it being unavailable, Amazon is currently selling the speaker for a discounted price of £29.99.

However, those that order it will have to wait until at least March before it is back in stock.

Here are a full list of Amazon Echo Dot offers:

• Amazon Echo Dot, charcoal fabric – £29.99 (was £49.99) GET THE DEAL HERE

• Amazon Echo Dot, heather grey fabric – £29.99 (was £49.99) GET THE DEAL HERE

• Amazon Echo Dot, sandstone fabric – £29.99 (was £49.99) GET THE DEAL HERE

While the Echo Dot is the most affordable version of the product, it certainly offers the weakest audio experience for fans.

The standard Amazon Echo offers better sound quality while the more premium Echo Plus offers the best audio in the product line.

Although Echo hardware differs in terms of design and sound output, each comes with the same built-in Alexa functionally, allowing owners to ask a variety of questions and command it to perform a manner of tasks.

Amazon consistently updates its virtual helper, providing users with increased functionally overall.

The latest addition provides Alexa with a “newscaster” voice that will be harnessed when the assistant reads the day’s news to owners.

Amazon unveiled the feature back in November and now it is rolling out to US Echo enthusiasts.

The firm has insisted the new feature will allow for a more natural-sounding voice and demonstrates Alexa’s ability to adapt its delivery based on context.

Discussing the new feature, the senior manager with the Text To Speech (TTS) Research team at Amazon, Andrew Breen, told Tech Crunch: “The ability to teach Alexa to adapt her speaking style based on the context of the customer’s request opens the possibility to deliver new and delightful experiences that were previously unthinkable.

“We’re thrilled that our customers will get to listen to news and Wikipedia information from Alexa in this new way.”

The new functionality means when owners ask their Echo “what’s the latest?”, headlines will be read in a newscaster-style tone.

Last year Amazon introduced Whisper mode to Alexa-enabled devices that made the virtual helper respond in a quiet tone if it was asked a question in a similar fashion.

It is worth noting the newscaster voice for Alexa is currently only available in the US.

Amazon has not confirmed if or when the functionally will arrive in other territories, bringing disappointment to UK fans.

source: express.co.uk