Andre Yoskowitz
24 Jun 2015 10:16
Amazon's smart speaker, the Echo, is now available to all without an invite.
The etailer launched the device last November, and it was generally met with favorable reviews, but available only by invite meant the average consumer was not getting their hands on it.
As of yesterday, however, everyone can now buy the Echo directly from Amazon for $180, with an estimated shipping date of July 14th.
The Echo is more than just a speaker, as it is also a "personal assistant" that can answer questions for you about traffic, your favorite sports teams, and today's weather, among many other things. You can also use it to power a smart home, or ask it to add an item to your Amazon shopping list.
Your notifications are also sent to your Android smartphone via the Echo app, meaning you can take Echo with you.
As a speaker, it is cheaper than a Sonos Play 1 (although the Sonos offers better features for music), but with all the rest of its smart features, the Echo may warrant a purchase.
Check it out here: Amazon Echo