It’s no secret that our convenient digital voice assistants like Amazon Echo record and save our commands. But what if your conversations were sent to a stranger? In this episode of Consumer Tech Update, Kim looks at a story about Amazon Alexa sending private conversations to a stranger.
Amazon Echo 2020 comparison chart
Are you looking to upgrade your current Echo smart speaker, or make the jump to other Alexa-enabled devices? Here’s the current list of Echo devices available now.
| Echo smart speakers |  |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Echo Flex | Echo Dot (3rd Gen) | Echo Dot (4th Gen) | Echo Dot with clock (4th Gen) | Echo (4th Gen) | Echo Studio | |
| Speakers | 0.6″ mini speaker | 1.6″ speaker | 1.6″ front-firing speaker | 1.6″ front-firing speaker | 3.0″ woofer and dual front-firing 0.8″ tweeters | 1.0″ tweeter, three 2.0″ mid-range speakers, and 5.3″ woofer |
| Line in/out | 3.5 mm line out | 3.5 mm line out | 3.5 mm line out | 3.5 mm line out | 3.5 mm line in/out | 3.5 mm or mini-optical Toslink line in |
| Dolby technology | No | No | No | No | Dolby audio | Dolby Atmos |
| Built-in Zigbee smart home hub* | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| LED display | No | No | No | Yes | No | No |
*Zigbee is a wireless protocol that allows Amazon Echo devices to communicate with otherwise incompatible smart home tech.
Echo gadgets for the kids
The Echo Dot Kids Edition (4th-gen) has all the specs as the standard Dot and includes parental controls. Add an Echo Glow smart lamp that kids can control using their voice.
Echo devices with displays
| Echo smart displays |  |
 |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Echo Show 5 | Echo Show 8 | Echo Show | Echo Show 10 | |
| Screen | 5.5” with 960 x 480 resolution | 8.0” with 1280 x 800 resolution | 10.1” with 1280 x 800 resolution | 10.1” with 1280 x 800 resolution |
| Speakers | 1 x 1.7” | 2 x 2.0” | 2 x 2.2” | 2 x 1.0” tweeters + 3.0” woofer |
| Camera | 1MP | 1MP | 5MP | 13MP |
| Built-in Zigbee smart home hub | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Camera controls | Built-in camera shutter and microphone/camera off button | Built-in camera shutter and microphone/camera off button | Microphone/camera off button | Built-in camera shutter and microphone/camera off button |
| Motion | No | No | No | Yes |
Still not enough Alexa in your life? Echo Auto is designed to connect to your car and smartphone while you’re on the go. Ask Alexa to stream music, listen to music, make calls and more.
For higher-quality audio
| Stream hi-fi music |  |
 |
|---|---|---|
| Echo Link | Echo Link Amp | |
| Overview | Stream hi-fi music to your stereo system | Stream and amplify hi-fi music to your speakers |
| Streaming music | Yes | Yes |
| Amplifier | No | 2 channel, 60W at 8 Ohms, Class D Digital Amplifier |
| Works in a multi-room speaker group | Yes | Yes |
| Audio inputs | Analog (1 x L/R RCA), Digital (1 x Coaxial RCA, 1 x Optical Toslink) | Analog (1 x L/R RCA), Digital (1 x Coaxial RCA, 1 x Optical Toslink) |
| Audio outputs | Analog (1 x L/R RCA, 1 x Subwoofer RCA), Digital (1 x Coaxial RCA, 1 x Optical Toslink) | Analog (1 x L/R RCA, 1 x Subwoofer RCA), Digital (1 x Coaxial RCA, 1 x Optical Toslink), L/R Speaker Binding Posts |
| Headphones output | TPA6120A2 High Fidelity Stereo Headphone Amplifier with 3.5mm output jack | TPA6120A2 High Fidelity Stereo Headphone Amplifier with 3.5mm output jack |
| Analog line-out performance | Dynamic Range: min 94dB, THD: < 0.008%, Channel Separation: min 100dB | Dynamic Range: min 94dB, THD: < 0.008%, Channel Separation: min 100dB |
| Ethernet | 1xRJ45 connector | 1xRJ45 connector |
The Echo Sub adds 100 watts of deep bass to your compatible Echo smart speakers and displays.
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Kim just saved $480 on Echo Show so everyone in the family can keep in touch with Mom
Amazon
If you’re a Prime member who loves getting deals on smart gadgets, Prime Day i slike Christmas. Amazon is offering some serious discounts on its devices, which means you can grab these electronics for a steal if you move quickly. Tap or click here to see some of our other top picks for Prime Day.
How to get the best Amazon Prime Day deals - and 7 incredible early sales
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Prime Day is coming next week — and deals are already starting to trickle in. For those of you ready to shop ’til you drop, Amazon is offering discounts on electronics and accessories from some of the biggest manufacturers in the world.
Amazon wants you to buy its new indoor security drone – It's a bad idea
©Amazon Ring Blog | Ring.com
Apple isn’t the only tech company with a major event this fall. Amazon just wrapped up its own set of announcements that include a trove of new devices — as well as updates to some of your favorite gadgets.
Why so many new gadgets? Many of these products have been in the works for a while, but let’s be real: Amazon had to do something with all that money it made during the pandemic. Tap or click here to see how much it made compared to Black Friday.
Smart speaker comparison chart
Amazon may have had a head start with the Amazon Echo but with the launch of the Google Home, Apple HomePod and Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Home, the other tech giants are quickly catching up.
Click here to read more about the Amazon Echo vs. Google Home.
Amazon Alexa for kids
Building on the success of the Amazon Echo and Alexa, there’s now a kids’ version called the Echo Dot Kids Edition. But for parents, the question is: Do you really think it’s a good idea to put one of these in your child’s room?