Inside Amazon’s Echo hardware event

Amazon swapped its usual big fall hardware showcase this year for a series of smaller launches throughout October. So far this month, it has announced new Fire TV devices, colorful new Kindles, the Alexa Tablet Pro 12, Ring’s first smart lock, new hardware from AI-wearable startup Bee, and new Blink 4K cameras. Then this week, it hosted journalists at a small event in New York City’s financial district to showcase its new Echo hardware. [Image: Panos Panay speaking to journalists at an event in New York City this week [Image: Panay next to an “exploded” version of the new Echo Show 16 smart display. [Image: He demoed the new Alexa Photo Frame with pictures of his own family Panos Panay, senior vice president of devices, Alexa, and Leo at Amazon, kicked off proceedings by explaining the company’s approach this year. “We have so many products we’re launching that are meaningful,” he said. “However, we get to this point when we do everything at once; not all your children get enough attention.” This longer rollout allows for more focus on each launch. He also teased two more launches still to come — from Ring and some “Echo on the Go” news — before explaining that today’s focus is “the most important focus we have, which is the home.” He then spent about 45 minutes introducing five new Echo smart speakers and displays — the Echo Show 16, Echo Time, Alexa Photo Frame, Echo Studio with Home Camera, and a new Echo Dot — with each product sitting on plinths in the warehouse-like space. He demoed several new software features for the Echo Show smart displays that will start on the Show 16 and trickle down to existing Show products, including dedicated home screens, an interactive 3D map view for smart home control, and a meal planning feature. [Image: The new Echo Studio with Home Camera can act as a video calling device for a Fire TV. [Image: Panay demoed this feature by calling his parents. Panay also revealed that they have “opened up Alexa Plus’ brain a little bit more,” unlocking a new layer of understanding in the generative-AI-powered smart assistant. He pointed out that AI in the home is still relatively new, and while it’s everywhere else, from your computer to your phone, the home has been harder to unlock. Amazon is looking to change that with Alexa’s “new brain” — an updated version of Alexa Plus with new capabilities including the ability to do “deeper research” alongside its usual use cases, such as controlling lights, setting timers, and playing music. To manage these deeper conversations, a new “Card” interface on Show devices collects each chat. Cards also appear in the Alexa app and on Alexa.com, so you can continue chats with the assistant wherever you are. [Image: The Echo Time is a new smart alarm clock that Panay says could replace the need to have your phone by your bed. [Image: [Image: Alexa Cards are a new feature that allows you to go back to previous conversations with the smart assistant. [Image: Panay demos the new Alexa interface on the Show (relayed to a Fire TV) [Image: Panos Panay and Ring founder Jamie Siminoff show the new map view feature on Echo Show and Fire TVs, which cleverly integrates Ring cameras. The event continued in a selection of small rooms designed to feel like home spaces, where product engineers and designers demoed the new devices and explained their features. Read our full coverage of all the new products in our story stream. [Media: