Amazon has launched the Echo Auto, a compact device that allows you to use Alexa in your car. Armed with eight-microphone array designed for in-car acoustics and speech recognition technology, Alexa can now hear you over music, A/C, and road noise.
The Echo Auto is available for pre-order starting today for just Rs 4,999 on www.amazon.in/EchoAuto, and the shipping will start from January 15.
The Echo Auto is powered by car's 12V charging socket or USB port. The device connects to car stereo system for audio playback using a 3.5 mm auxiliary cable or Bluetooth connection. It connects to Alexa through the Alexa app on a smartphone and can stream music, make a call or send messages to your phone contacts.
With Echo Auto, consumers can hear morning news, listen to an Audible book on your commute, ask for the nearest coffee shops, petrol pumps and more. You can also control smart home appliances, set reminders, add errands to your to-do list and check them off when they’re complete, build your shopping list or manage your calendar.
The Echo Auto supports Apple Music, JioSaavn, Gaana and Hungama Music. Android phone users can also send text messages. The Echo Auto utilises your phone’s mobile network for calls and text messages and for drop-in and making announcements on other Echo devices. You can ask Alexa about cricket scores, questions about history, geography and the latest news updates from NDTV, Aajtak or Bollywood Hungama News.
The Echo Auto uses the default navigation app on a smartphone to provide directions. To ask Alexa to navigate to home or work, go to ‘Your Locations’ in the Alexa app settings and add the addresses. To update or check the default navigation app, visit the Traffic section in Alexa App.
And like all Echo devices, the Echo Auto is built with multiple layers of privacy protections, including a mic on/off button that electronically disconnects the microphones. Additionally, customers have control over their voice recordings, with the ability to view, hear, and delete utterances at Alexa Privacy Settings or in the Alexa app, at any time.
