Inside Amazon’s Echo hardware event

Amazon has launched a series of smaller-scale hardware events throughout October, including new Fire TV devices, Kindles, the Alexa Tablet Pro 12, Ring's first smart lock, and Blink 4K cameras. The company is shifting its approach from a large fall hardware showcase to give each device more attention. This week, Amazon showcased its new Echo hardware, including five new smart speakers and displays. The new devices feature software updates such as dedicated home screens, an interactive 3D map view, and a meal planning feature. Amazon is also unlocking a new layer of understanding in its generative-AI-powered voice assistant, Alexa.