Fans of Amazon Fire TV and Alexa can now pre-order the first-ever television with the company’s interface built-in, thanks to a new smart TV from Element Electronics.
Element’s new Amazon Fire TV Edition will feature 4K Ultra HD resolution and an interface that relies heavily on Amazon’s voice-recognition tech. In addition to displaying normal cable or antenna-based programming, the TV will offer access to Amazon’s sprawling list of Fire TV applications, including favorites like HBO Now, Netflix, Hulu, Sling TV, and, of course, Amazon Prime Video. And that’s just for starters. The TV will also be able to control smart devices, pause and rewind live broadcasts, and perform a variety of other tasks via voice command.
“This new line of smart TVs featuring Amazon’s Fire TV experience extend the voice-control revolution starting in the home. With the Voice Remote with Amazon Alexa, customers can not only change channels, launch apps, and search or switch inputs with simple voice commands, but they can also ask Alexa to read and display sports scores, dim the living room lights, see Yelp restaurant review, and even order a Domino’s pizza,” said Sung Choi, Element’s vice president of marketing, in a press release. “This TV represents the ultimate connected TV experience, coupled with an innovative voice service that will forever change the way we interact with home devices.”
The Amazon Fire TV Edition will square off against similarly integrated Roku smart TVs, which have been selling extremely well. Roku-integrated TVs will include more than 150 models by the end of 2017. We’re particularly interested to see how the two user interfaces compare in testing.
The new TV will be available in 43-, 50-, 55-, and 65-inch sizes. Perhaps one of the most impressive aspects is the price: offered from $450-$900, the new TVs are an extremely affordable proposition in the growing 4K Ultra HD marketplace.
As an extra incentive, anyone who pre-orders one of the new TVs on Amazon will also get an Amazon Basics HD antenna for their trouble. If these models prove popular, it is likely that more models from other manufacturers will follow.
Those looking to pre-order can find the TV on Buy Now .
Instagram is making its way to yet another screen, and this time, Apple TV is getting a taste of the Reels rabbit hole. The company has launched a dedicated Instagram app for Apple TV, bringing Reels, longer videos, and live shows to the big screen. So, if watching one quick clip on a phone somehow turns into an hour of scrolling, there's now a much larger screen for that.
Instagram brings Reels and more to Apple TV
Audio-Technica, a brand well known for making some of the best studio and professional headphones on the market, has just come out with the ATH-AWX7000, which the company itself claims to be its "finest headphones ever." The new flagship closed-back headphone has debuted at an eye-watering price of $3,799. It combines hand-finished Japanese woodwork with a newly developed 58mm driver.
The earcups are made from Kiso cypress, a prized wood historically used for Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples. Each housing is finished by hand with traditional Echizen lacquer, which brings out the grain and is expected to darken over time. The frame and sliders are finished in a deep navy kachi-iro shade traditionally associated with samurai.
This post is brought to you in paid partnership with Best Buy.
Technology evolves every day, transforming how we live and work. Our devices are becoming more than tools we use. They are increasingly capable companions that help streamline day-to-day routines and spark creative ideas. If you have been waiting for the right moment to upgrade your tech setup, the Discover Samsung Shopping Event offers an opportunity to explore what connected, AI-powered living can look like.