Stephen Silver
Along with its new Echo devices, Amazon on Thursday new smart home products, including an Amazon-branded Smart Plug, an Alexa-capable microwave, and more.
At its product event in Seattle Thursday, Amazon unveiled a new Amazon-branded Smart Plug, meant to allow Alexa control of plugged-in appliances. It was one of several home automation announcements, along with the speakers announced at the same event.
Smart Plug
The Smart Plug announcement had been tipped off earlier in the day, when website Pocket-lint discovered a listing for it on Amazon's U.K. website. That listing stated that the Smart Plug "works with Alexa to add voice control to any electrical socket."
The device was formerly announced Thursday, and priced at $25.
Third-party smart plugs are already on the market, working with the ecosystems of Amazon, Google and Apple. The Wemo Mini Smart Plug, introduced in July, was the first product of its kind to offer HomeKit software authentication. But the new device is unique in that it is Amazon-branded.
Fire TV Recast
Amazon has unveiled the Fire TV Recast, a companion product to the Fire, Amazon's Apple TV competitor, according to the About Amazon internal live blog of the event. The Recast is a companion DVR that "lets you watch, record, and replay free over-the-air programming to any Fire TV, Echo Show, and on compatible Fire tablet and mobile devices." Users can also record up to four shows at once.
Alexa Guard
The new Alexa Guard is meant to "integrate Echo devices, smart lights, and security service providers to help customers protect their homes while they're away." Its features include Away Lighting, which deters intruders by turning lights on to imply that someone is home.
Ring Stick Up Cam
Amazon announced, in collaboration with Ring, its new Ring Stick Up Cam, which is available in both wired and battery configurations. It will retail for $179.99.
Echo Wall Clock
Amazon has unveiled a clock, called the Echo Wall Clock, which integrates via Bluetooth to the user's Echo devices.
Shipping later this year, it will retail for $29.99.
Wi-Fi Simple Setup
The Smart Plug is the first Amazon product to use Wi-Fi Simple Setup.
"You plug in the Wi-Fi Simple Setup enabled device, and it immediately looks for the Wi-Fi Simple Setup Network," according to the live blog. "Once it receives the encrypted credentials, it securely connects to the network. And, all of that happens in less than thirty seconds." Customers can set up the new Amazon Wi-Fi Locker in order to "re-use network credentials to setup a new device."
Amazon also announced that it has released version 4 of its smart home API, which is now in public preview.
Alexa Connect Kit
Amazon also announced the arrival of Alexa Connect Kit, which it calls "the simplest way to create Wi-Fi connected, smart home products." The kit includes software that "automatically and securely connects to Amazon-managed cloud services."
Amazon Basics Microwave
Amazon also announced a surprising new hardware product: A microwave. The AmazonBasics Microwave includes dozens fo voice presets, that work with an Ask Alexa button. The microwave also includes integration with Dash replenishment, to order more popcorn when the user is running low.
The Microwave will retail for $59.99.
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9 Comments
The Recast looks sort of interesting. Perhaps a competitor to HomeRunHD from Silicon Dust or the Mohu Airwave. An AppleTV with a OTA tuner(s) and a coax jack on it would be a welcome product, but exactly how such a thing makes money for Apple is not clear. However, how Recast makes money for Amazon/Fire is abundantly clear.
Exciting times. Most of these devices are still a bit half baked but it drives the market in the right direction. The more smart things I add to my house, the more aware I am that I really need a clean, comprehensive platform that will connect it all together. And Siri/Alexa/Assistant/Bixby will eventually have to be smart enough to understand instructions that today can be fed into Tasker/IFTTT but in natural language.
Throwing a bunch of stuff against the wall and see what sticks. 15 new items seems a bit ambitious. Interested to see how many are around next year at this time.
Given the security track record on Alexa, there is no possible way I am letting a "smart/spyware" Amazon or Google product into my home. Only vendors with a strong reputation for IoT security are getting any of my business when it comes to smart devices.