Alongside all of its new Echo speakers, Amazon also introduced some new wearable Echo products today.
Echo Buds are Amazon's new truly wireless earbuds. Each earbud has two outer microphones and one inner microphone to reduce ambient noise so that Alexa can hear you. You can ask Alexa to play some music, find a place nearby, or order an Uber. And later this year, you'll be able to ask if a Whole Foods store has a product you're looking for and Alexa will be able to answer your question and which aisle you'll find it in.
The Echo Buds connect to Alexa through the Amazon Alexa app on your smartphone. If you'd prefer Google Assistant or Siri, though, you can tap and hold the Echo Buds to access your Android or iPhone's built-in digital assistant.
When it comes to sound, the Echo Buds have two premium armature drivers in each 'bud. They include Bose Active Noise Reduction technology to help minimize the outdoor sound bleeding into your music, which you can turn on with a double-tap. There's also a Passthrough Mode that you can turn on by double-tapping again that'll let you hear more of the outdoor sound.
Amazon's Echo Buds are IPX4-rated to withstand sweat and light rain, and they come with differently-sized ear tips and wing tips to help you get a good fit. Echo Buds last up for up to five hours of music playback on a single charge, and the included charging case can get you up to three additional charges.
Echo Buds are available for pre-order today and are priced at $129.99.
Echo Frames are prescription-ready glasses that give you access to Alexa for making phone calls, setting reminders, playing music, and controlling smart home devices. You can also get notifications from your smartphone and swipe on the temple of the hear them. With a VIP Filter, Amazon says that only the most important notifications come through. You can also long-press on the temple to access Google Assistant.
There are four micro speakers on the Echo Frames so that you can hear Alexa, and they use open-ear audio tech to direct sound into your ears. There is no display or camera on the Echo Frames.
The Echo Frames are part of Amazon's new Day 1 Editions program, which is an invitation-only initiative to give customers early access to Amazon's "most ambitious ideas". Echo Frames will be priced at $179.99 through this program.
The other new device in the Day 1 Editions program is the Echo Loop. This Alexa-enabled smart ring has an action button that'll let you ask Alexa questions and conduct phone calls. You can set a top contact and double-click the action button to call them. The Echo Ring includes a tiny speaker that you hold up to your ear to hear the call.
Also included in the Echo Loop is a piezo haptic that'll vibrate when you've got incoming notifications or a call.
Amazon says the Echo Loop can last for an entire day on a single charge and can recharge in its cradle after 90 minutes. The ring itself is resistant to scratches and water.
The Echo Loop connects to Alexa using your smartphone and its Alexa app, but you can also access Siri or Google Assistant by pressing and holding the action button for one second.
Amazon will offer the Echo Loop with a black titanium finish and in small, medium, large, and extra large sizes. Customers who are invited to buy the Echo Loop can expect to pay $129.99.
