Amazon just a new released a new, voice-controlled device called Amazon Echo that can give you information like news and the weather, play music, make to-do lists, and answer questions, similar to Siri or Google Now (for example, you could ask something like "how do you spell cantaloupe?" and it would give you the answer out-loud).
Echo connects to your Wi-Fi and gets its information from the cloud, and Amazon says that it will continually learn and add more functionality over time.
The idea is that you can have it somewhere in your house and, using the wake-up word "Alexa," constantly be asking it to do things like answer questions, give you information about a topic, or add things to your to-do list. You can also give it commands like, "Set an alarm for 8 a.m."
Amazon
Check out the specs:
Amazon
Echo's seven microphones allow it to hear commands and questions from across the room, even when it's already playing music and its speakers are loud enough to fill a room with sound. Because Echo is Bluetooth-enabled, you can use it to stream music from your phone or tablet.
The device costs $199 or $99 for Prime members, but, as of now, you need to request an invitation to get it.
Amazon
Watch Amazon's video about the device:
Disclosure: Jeff Bezos is an investor in Business Insider through his personal investment company Bezos Expeditions.