Amazon Echo is finally in Best Buy
No one knows how many Amazon Echo devices Amazon has sold, but the number is almost certain to grow now that Amazon is finally selling the always-listening "digital assistant" device in Best Buy, along with other retail outlets.
Amazon Echo, which has been a surprise hit for the Seattle-based online sales giant, is an all-black, intelligent speaker that includes Amazon's Alexa digital assistant. The device's sensitive microphone array means that you can say "Alexa" from anywhere in the room and Echo will come to life and listen for a command or query. It's cloud-based, so Echo and Alexa tap into your Amazon account's content (music, books) as well as weather, news sources and more. In fact, Amazon is constantly adding new services (like the ability to control smart home devices like lights).
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The company is also adding new Echo siblings, recently unveiling Amazon Tap, a battery-powered version of Echo that only listens when you hit a button (it looks a lot like an Ultimate Ears speaker) and Amazon Dot, a smaller version of Echo that features Echo's microphones, Alexa's intelligence and connects to your existing speaker system.
Both Amazon Echo and Tap (in late April) are coming to Best Buy and Lowe's (currently, you can only order Echo Dot through other Amazon devices). The hardware has been on sale at other retail outlets, including The Home Depot, Staples and Radio Shack, since November of last year. All Echos will, of course, also be available at Amazon.com.
BONUS: Amazon Echo review
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Topics Amazon Amazon Alexa Amazon Echo
Lance Ulanoff was Chief Correspondent and Editor-at-Large of Mashable. Lance acted as a senior member of the editing team, with a focus on defining internal and curated opinion content. He also helped develop staff-wide alternative story-telling skills and implementation of social media tools during live events. Prior to joining Mashable in September 2011 Lance Ulanoff served as Editor in Chief of PCMag.com and Senior Vice President of Content for the Ziff Davis, Inc. While there, he guided the brand to a 100% digital existence and oversaw content strategy for all of Ziff Davis’ Web sites. His long-running column on PCMag.com earned him a Bronze award from the ASBPE. Winmag.com, HomePC.com and PCMag.com were all been honored under Lance’s guidance.He makes frequent appearances on national, international, and local news programs including Fox News, the Today Show, Good Morning America, Kelly and Michael, CNBC, CNN and the BBC.He has also offered commentary on National Public Radio and been interviewed by newspapers and radio stations around the country. Lance has been an invited guest speaker at numerous technology conferences including SXSW, Think Mobile, CEA Line Shows, Digital Life, RoboBusiness, RoboNexus, Business Foresight and Digital Media Wire’s Games and Mobile Forum.
