Amazon takes on Apple and Google with home devices push

The device that has thus far received most of the attention is the Echo Spot

Amazon.com, girding for competition from Apple and Google in the race to equip homes with smart devices, unveiled a slew of consumer gadgets including an Alexa-powered digital-home hub, a smaller and cheaper Echo speaker and a new mini Echo with a screen, called Spot.

Though hardware products aren’t key to Amazon’s bottom line, they serve as important conduits for popularising and expanding the Alexa voice-based digital assistant, which is integrated into the latest devices. The gadgets with screens also provide a platform for customers to view content like movies and books from Amazon Prime, the $99-a-year membership that does contribute