Amazon Plans High-End Echo, Ramps Up Work on Alexa Home Robot
- Echo speaker to include improved audio to rival Sonos, HomePod
- Wheeled robot, codenamed ‘Vesta,’ can be summoned by voice
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Amazon.com Inc. is developing a higher quality version of the Echo speaker and ramping up work on its home robot.
The company plans to release the new Echo by next year, according to people familiar with the product. Prototypes of the cylindrical speaker are wider than the current Echo to squeeze in additional components including at least four tweeters, said the people, who requested anonymity to discuss an internal matter. The robot, previously reported by Bloomberg, has wheels and can be controlled by Alexa voice commands, the people said.