Amazon has resurrected the Echo Spot — an Alexa-powered night clock with a color display that shows the weather forecast, any songs or podcasts you’re playing, the latest headlines and, of course, the time.
Echo Spot can display the time, forecast or currently playing songs, audiobooks and podcasts through an improved 1.73” front-facing speaker.
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Unlike the original Echo Spot, which launched in 2018 and was discontinued in most regions just two years later, the new iteration has no built-in camera.
Amazon added a camera for video calls, but since the Echo Spot was specifically designed for a nightstand, customers were quick to call the addition “creepy.”
“I like it, but the camera is a little creepy. one Amazon customer review from the time of reading. While next summarizes: “It’s a night watch…with a camera. How creepy is that??”
Fortunately, Amazon has decided to ditch the camera — and, as a result, all video calling features — this time around. And that’s not the only change to this voice-controlled bedside gadget for the 2024 redesign.
Amazon has created a range of new watch faces and color themes including orange, purple, magenta, lime, teal and blue to complement your home decor.
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The touchscreen on the front of the Echo Spot is no longer full circle. Instead, it’s split in two with a semi-circular screen at the top and the bottom half occupied by a beefier speaker.
Amazon has equipped its new nightstand smartwatch with a 1.73” front-facing directional speaker that it says will deliver “clear vocals and deep bass”. With support for music streaming services like Apple Music, Spotify, Deezer and of course Amazon Music, you’ll be able to wake up to music, podcasts or audiobooks.
Since the Echo Spot is primarily intended for the bedside table, Amazon has equipped the smart home device with an ambient light sensor that changes the backlight intensity of the touch screen so that it does not dazzle in the morning hours. This should make it easier to view and set alarms, view the current time, check track titles, or control other smart home kit using the touchscreen controls.
Six new color themes have been designed for the new Echo Spot – orange, purple, magenta, lime, teal and blue – which can be combined with a range of new watch faces created for the semi-circular display.
In addition to the time, many of these watch faces also contain other information such as the current weather. For example, if you are listening to music, the improved LCD display will show the track titles. To skip ahead, simply ask the AI voice assistant “Alexa…” or tap the display.
On the top of the new Echo Spot are buttons to adjust the volume and cut off the microphone array for the far field. If you’re concerned about privacy, Amazon has added the ability to review and delete All voice recordings made by your Alexa-enabled devices from the companion app on your iPhone or Android phone.
If the chatty assistant was falsely triggered, you can send feedback to a specific audio clip to ensure that Amazon’s AI is only invoked when you start a request with “Alexa…” in the future.
While there’s no camera for video calls in the new Echo Spot, the AI-powered night clock can handle voice calls to another Echo device or any smartphone or tablet with the Alexa app installed.
Alexa-compatible devices can be controlled with touch-screen buttons or voice commands on the Echo Spot
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If you have other Alexa-enabled gadgets in your house, you can use the Echo Spot to get household notifications from all of them, or audibly “Drop In” to a specific Echo to start an instant conversation. Amazon will send audio alerts for updates to your online orders and alerts from video doorbells like Ring.
Since the Echo Spot is equipped with the hands-free assistant Alexa, you’ll find all the usual features that Echo owners will be used to baked into these late-night hours. This means you’ll be able to request songs, podcasts and audiobooks, check the latest headlines, weather and traffic, set a reminder or alarm, order a taxi or takeaway and ask general questions.
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Amazon Devices International Vice President Eric Saarnio said of the launch of the redesigned Echo Spot: “Customers care about how they wake up in the morning and go to bed at night, and the all-new Echo Spot will change that. they start and end their day.
“With customizable watch faces, personalized designs, new alarm sounds and colorful visual animations, the Echo Spot is the best smart alarm clock designed for any bedside table.”
In addition to the new design, Amazon has also launched new colors, including black, glacier white and ocean blue
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When the original Echo Spot debuted six years ago, in the UK it cost £119. Fortunately, Amazon has significantly reduced the price this time brand new Echo Spot from £79.99. Now available in Black, Glacier White or Ocean Blue.
But even better, Amazon Prime members can get the new Echo Spot for just £49.99 celebration the upcoming Prime Day sale. If you’re not already signed up for Amazon Prime, you can use a 30-day free trial and buy an Echo Spot at a discounted price.
The £49.99 introductory offer available to Prime members only from 8th to 17th July 2024. After that, the redesigned watch will return to an RRP of £79.99. Amazon has warned that only a limited amount of discounted stock will be on offer, so you’d better add to your cart sooner rather than later.