Everything announced at the Fall 2021 Amazon event
Today was the Amazon event in autumn 2021! As with most of the company’s other hardware launches, we’ve seen plenty of new smart home products. We also saw some updates on Amazon’s various services and some other interesting surprises.
See also: The Best Amazon Devices You Can Buy Right Now!
In the following we have summarized everything that was announced at the event. Most products are either available for pre-order now or will be before the Christmas shopping season starts, so keep your wallets ready!
Smart Amazon thermostat
John Callaham / Android Authority
Amazon is finally chasing the smart thermostat market by making a very simple, Alexa-powered device. According to Amazon, it works in most households with existing wiring. It automatically adjusts the temperature by determining whether you are at home or on the go, and you can control it with your voice. You can also turn the temperature up or down manually as you would expect.
The Amazon Smart Thermostat costs just $ 59.99, which is about half the price of its major competitors. The company did not provide details on availability.
Echo show 15
John Callaham / Android Authority
The latest Echo show announced at the Amazon event is very different from others. Instead of being a standalone device that sits on a counter, mount it on a wall like a picture frame (although you can prop it up on a pedestal counter if you want). It has slightly different software and visual layout due to its new 15.6-inch display form factor.
See also: The best smart displays you can get
Aside from the unique form factor and software, it does all the smart display things you would expect, including Alexa voice commands. There will also be support for Sling TV at some point, although this is available for other Echo Show devices as well.
The Echo Show 15 is priced at $ 249.99 and will be available later this year.
Amazon glow
John Callaham / Android Authority
This new device, unveiled at the Amazon event, combines video calling with activity. It’s like a smartphone in a tiny projector that allows kids to interact with family, friends, teachers, etc. Projection is touch-activated so kids can play games, solve puzzles, and other activities with the person they are communicating with.
Mattel, Hasbro, and Disney are partners with Amazon Glow. Amazon is also working on building more partnerships with independent developers so that they can create their own apps.
The device has an 8-inch LCD display and is about the height of a cereal box.
Amazon Glow is priced at $ 249.99. To get one, you need to apply for early access so not everyone gets one. When it hits the market for general buyers, it will be a little more expensive at $ 299.99.
Amazon Halo view
John Callaham / Android Authority
The original Halo Band is just a sluggish smart band with no display. With Halo View, Amazon is now going directly after Fitbit and other smartband manufacturers. The new smartband has a full-color AMOLED display and looks very similar to a Fitbit.
Related: The best fitness trackers
As you would expect, Halo View integrates with the Halo subscription service. It tracks your overall health and gives you feedback on what you can do to get healthier.
The $ 79.99 price for Halo View includes a full year of free Halo service (typically $ 3.99 per month). These include the brand new Halo Fitness and Halo Nutrition features built into Halo.
Bell Alert Pro
John Callaham / Android Authority
Why do we need a WiFi router and a base station for an intelligent security system? Why don’t the devices have double tasks? Ring Alarm Pro does just that. It’s a mesh WiFi router that is also a security base station. You receive the base station and various add-ons in different packages. You can then add mesh nodes to the system to have mesh internet in your home without purchasing a new base system.
The basic Ring Alarm Pro package costs $ 249.99, with more expensive packages also available. Pre-orders are available starting today for a launch on November 3rd.
Flashing video doorbell
John Callaham / Android Authority
As usual, Amazon clearly undercuts the competition with the Video Doorbell from $ 49.99. Pre-orders for a general release on October 21st are now open.
Blink floodlight camera and solar panel bracket
John Callaham / Android Authority
This is basically a bracket that holds the existing Blink outdoor camera. It has floodlights on both sides for better visibility at night.
You can purchase a bundle that includes the floodlight bracket and a Blink Outdoor for $ 139.99. If you already own a Blink Outdoor, you can purchase the Floodlight camera mount individually for $ 39.99.
Additionally, you can add a solar panel bracket that uses the power of the sun to add some juice to the entire system. A Blink Outdoor with the solar panel mount (but not the Floodlight mount) costs $ 129.99.
Astro
John Callaham / Android Authority
This is the supposedly autonomous robot from Amazon. It’s basically an Echo Show display that has been crushed with a robotic vacuum cleaner (although it’s actually not a vacuum cleaner). You can ask him to come into a specific room and ask him questions. It can also wander around your house while you are away for safety reasons. With the periscope camera, you can see pretty much everything in your house, such as: B. to check that the oven was not switched on.
It can also be used for video calls. It will follow you around the house trying to keep you in the video image no matter where you go.
Astro can also live in other people’s homes. For example, you could set one up in your elderly family member’s house and use it to check it out. The new subscription service Alexa Together will work well for this type of use case.
This robot will cost you $ 999.99. However, it is a day-one device, which means you have to apply to get one. It will be more widely available in 2022.
Various announcements of Amazon events
- Ring Always Home Camera: We saw the autonomous indoor home camera drone at a previous Amazon event. However, now invitations are open to actually buy one.
- Data protection on new Echo devices: Echo Show 10 or newer Echo devices have the option of only processing voice commands locally on the device.
- New Amazon Kids Plus content: Amazon is bringing some new kid-centric content to its kids service. These include Do Re Mi, Super Spy Ryan, Arpo: Robot Babysitter, Blippi’s Treehouse, and more.
- Halo Fitness and Halo Diet: These two new health-focused features are new additions to the existing Halo subscription service. They arrive at no extra charge for existing and new subscribers.
- Hello Disney: Disney and Amazon have founded an Alexa subsidiary called Hey Disney. Children (and let’s face it, adults) can use the hotword “Hey Disney” to get information, play games, and find secret Easter eggs from Disney characters. This will be central to Disney theme parks that have Alexa powered smart speakers in the hotel rooms. Hey Disney at home, however, will cost you money. Amazon and Disney haven’t revealed how much it will cost, and it’s not coming until 2022.
- Package notifications on select Ring devices: You can receive notifications when someone leaves a package in view of your camera. You can now also teach certain types of events to selected ring cameras, such as: B. Parking vehicles in your driveway.
- Alexa together: This new subscription service is designed to keep families connected with older family members. It allows your Alexa-powered devices to interact with other people’s Alexa devices to stay connected. For example, it could help if a loved one falls and needs help. It costs $ 19.99 per month.
That’s all we saw at the Amazon event today! Which device are you most looking forward to?
