Amazon has launched the Echo Time, a new smart alarm clock designed specifically for the bedroom, which the company says needs something different from a device than the kitchen or living room does. It includes advanced features that the previous Echo Spot alarms lacked, aiming to make waking up less painful.
Privacy is a central focus, since the device sits in a very private part of the home. The Echo Time has no camera, shows visual indicators when Alexa is listening, and includes a dedicated button that completely switches off its microphones. Its spherical design features a 3.2-inch circular touchscreen with hundreds of customizable clock faces, including analog designs, seasonal themes and characters from franchises such as the DC Universe. Users can change the look simply by telling Alexa to switch faces.
The display mimics a natural sunrise, brightening as the alarm approaches, and dims into a night mode that shows just enough light to read the time. Amazon also includes what it calls science-backed wind-down and wake-up features. Smart alarms use room temperature sensors, presence detection and ultrasound to detect breathing and identify lighter sleep, wakening the user anywhere within 10 to 60 minutes of the set time. These features are optional, so users who need to be up at an exact hour can turn them off.
The Echo Time costs $200 in Graphite, Glacier White and Coral Pink, with a matching adjustable stand available for $40. A Kids version priced at $210 in Galactic Grape and Cosmic Lime lets children set their own alarms and ask questions via Alexa, while parents retain control, and includes one year of Amazon Kids+.
Source: Engadget · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing