Amazon is back with another bunch of new Echo smart speakers aimed at bringing more features and better sound to your home.
The online retailer announced the news of these products last night with a new Echo Dot that now includes a glowing clock just one of the updates arriving soon.
An upgrade to the standard Echo which brings a refreshed appearance to this device and a completely new gadget called the Echo Studio were also revealed at the firm’s HQ in Seattle.
The Studio is the best-sounding speaker the firm has ever released and means Echo fans can finally get a much-improved audio experience.
Although these new updates could prove to be hugely popular, Amazon hasn’t forgotten about all of its customers who own a current smart speaker.
Along with announcing new devices, the firm also revealed a swathe of extra features coming to all of its Echo range.
These include having more control over what data Amazon stores and there’s now a way to get Alexa to explain more about why she has responded to queries.
So, if you own an Echo here’s what new free features are arriving soon.
Alexa can Recommend Routines
Customers around the world regularly use routines to execute multiple smart home commands with a single utterance, and now Alexa is able to recommend routines that you may want to set up based on your daily habits.
For example, if a customer sets their alarm for 6 AM and then immediately ask for the weather every day, Alexa will suggest setting up a routine so that the alarm is always set and the weather plays as soon as it goes off.
When Alexa asks if you would like a routine set-up, just say “yes,” and the routine is ready to go.
Alexa can tell you about her responses
Alexa will soon offer two new voice-based features that provide customers with more transparency over the responses they get.
If a customer is curious to understand what Alexa heard when you asked her to tell you the news or play a specific song, customers will be able to say, “Alexa, tell me what you heard” and Alexa will read back your most recent voice request.
You will also be able to ask, “Alexa, why did you do that?” and Alexa will provide a short explanation about her response to your last voice request.
This feature will be rolling out in the coming weeks.
Additional control for customers—Auto-Delete Voice Recordings
Alexa and Echo devices are built with multiple layers of privacy protections. Earlier this year Amazon introduced the ability for customers to say, “Alexa, delete everything I said today,” and “Alexa, delete what I just said” to make it easier for customers to delete their recordings.
Today we’re taking it one step further with Auto-delete. Available later this year, customers will be able to choose to have their voice recordings older than three or 18 months automatically deleted on an ongoing basis.
This feature will be available in addition to the ability to access and delete utterances individually, or all at once, which customers have today.
And one final feature…
During its event last night, Amazon announced that Echo devices will get a Hollywood makeover.
The update, which will arrive later this year, means the Alexa will soon be able to mimic the voice of the actor Samuel L Jackson among other celebs.
There’s no official UK release or price for this feature but those in the US will need to pay $0.99 (80p) to bring some extra glamour to their speaker.