Amazon Devices and Services Update 2021: The News for Australia

Today, Amazon announced new devices and services that bring ambient intelligence to life. Ambient intelligence unlocks new experiences for customers—it enables devices and services to work seamlessly together, offering more than any one product could. It also allows you to be more present with the people and things that are most important to you. A brief summary of today’s news is below, with information and images available from the ANZ Press Room. You can watch highlights or the news in full from today’s event via Amazon News on YouTube.

New Devices and Innovation Updates for ANZ

We shared new devices and innovation updates that help improve customers’ lives and keep them present with the people and things that matter most:

• Echo Show 15: The newest addition to the Echo Show family that is designed to be the digital heart of your home. With a 15.6-inch, 1080p Full HD display, Echo Show 15 can be mounted on a wall or placed on a counter—either in portrait or landscape orientation—and can help you stay organised, connected, and entertained. Plus, it’s built with the next-generation Amazon AZ2 Neural Edge processor, a redesigned home screen with more customisation options, new personalisation features with visual ID, and all-new Alexa experiences. Echo Show 15 will be available for AU$399 RRP. To learn more, visit amazon.com.au/echoshow15.
• Echo Buds: Featuring an all-new design, premium audio architecture for crisp, balanced sound, and custom-designed Active Noise Cancellation technology, with quality microphones ensure you’re your music and calls are delivered in crystal-clear call quality. Add fast-charging and wireless charging options, and the Echo Buds are built for the speed of life. The Echo Buds are launching for the first time in Australia, and will be available in corded charging form for AU$169 RRP, or AU$199 RRP for the wireless charging model and are available from 27 October. To learn more visit: amazon.com.au/echobuds.
• Astro: A first-of-its-kind robot that uses intelligent motion to help check-in on your home while you’re away, look out for the people you care about most, and brings Alexa to you. Designed to be helpful and convenient, Astro includes new advancements in artificial intelligence, computer vision, sensor technology, and voice and edge computing. We do not have details of an Australian or New Zealand launch to share at this time, but are excited to share the news of this innovation with you. To learn more about Astro please visit amazon.com/Astro.

New Alexa Features

We introduced several new Alexa features to help you stay organised and entertained—and to give you some extra peace of mind.

• Household calendar: This new calendar widget makes it easier to view and manage your family’s schedule. Just tap the screen or ask Alexa to add events or appointments; then, your household can see the family’s daily schedule at a glance. Using a new feature called visual ID, you can teach your device to recognise you when you step in front of your Echo Show device’s camera, and then show you a personalised view of your daily events and reminders.
• Sticky notes: This new feature will soon allow you to create and display digital sticky notes on your Echo Show screen. Ask Alexa to save a note about where you’ve stored your family’s camping gear or what temperature dinner needs to be reheated at. You can also create and assign notes to individuals in your household to remind them of something or just to brighten their day.

New Smart Services

We introduced new features to the Ring range of products to create a simpler, more useful smart home experience and deliver peace of mind.

• Custom Event Alerts: Refined, computer vision-based custom smart alerts that do everything from letting customers know when a package arrives, to whether or not the garage door is open on eligible devices.

Additional News

Learn more about the steps we’re taking to protect customer privacy, help customers live more sustainably, and make our devices and services accessible to everyone.

• Privacy Updates: Privacy is foundational to how we build and design all of our devices and services, and you can learn more about our approach to Alexa Privacy and features that provide customers with transparency and control by visiting the Alexa Privacy Hub.

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