People with an Amazon Echo device of their home have likely already exposed their kids to Alexa. Now, Amazon desires to supply children the possibility to turn Alexa into their friends with the brand new Echo Dot Kids edition. The hockey puck-like smart speaker would not look much unique than the original Dot that’s unveiled at telecom events 2017 usa, but it comes with new “Amazon FreeTime” content that offers kids new methods to engage with Alexa and parents more control over those interactions.
The Echo Dot Kids edition follows the system of Amazon’s popular Fire kids edition tablet: it’s far a trendy Echo Dot bundled with a shielding rubber case (to be had in red, green, or blue), a year’s subscription to the FreeTime Unlimited service, and a two-year promise from Amazon to update the tool if it receives damaged, no questions requested. It sells for $79.99 — a $30 premium over a standard Echo Dot — and is to be had for preorder starting these days, with shipments starting on May 9th.
The kid-friendly voice assistant can even permit parents to set time limits, pause Echo devices for homework, limit capabilities with parental controls, block specific songs and use the Echo as an intercom. Kids may not be able to keep with their voice or place smartphone calls, nor link with apps like Uber and Spotify.
What’s More
FreeTime offers users “own family-centered capabilities” and new parental controls that adults can use to restrict what their kids can do with Alexa. Family functions include “schooling Q&A,” permitting youngsters to invite Alexa technological know-how, math, spelling, and definition questions, “Alexa Speaks ‘child,'” which gives Alexa child-suitable solutions to nebulous statements that youngsters might also say such as, “Alexa, i am bored.” parents can also restrict the times at some stage in which youngsters can talk to Alexa (like no speaking to it after bedtime), restriction the competencies youngsters can use, filter songs with specific lyrics, and more.
Launching within the US first (we’ll have word on worldwide availability as soon as it’s miles announced), it fees $79.99 – appreciably more luxurious than a standard Echo Dot. but, it does come with a few precise, infant-friendly perks, along with a -12 months damage replacement guarantee, a colorful rubber case in both red, blue or green and a 12 months’s subscription to the FreeTime Unlimited kid-focussed service.