Amazon Expands Alexa, Adds DVR, Car Device

Thursday saw Amazon Alexa-based product launches of new voice-enabled devices as varied as an Echo for the car to an Alexa-controllable microwave oven. Later this year, all Echo devices will be able to receive the Tidal music service, Amazon said. The company began taking pre-orders for a “companion DVR that lets you easily watch, record, and replay free over-the-air TV programming” on Fire TV, Echo Show and compatible Fire tablet, iOS, and Android devices. Aimed at cord-cutters, it works with an HDTV antenna, said the company. A car Echo has eight-mics for in-car acoustics and speech recognition technology and is said to let Alexa hear users “over music, A/C, and road noise.” It connects via smartphone.