Amazon continues to expand its Echo lineup of smart hardware. The company has now unveiled a new smart home control panel that's meant to make it easier for you to control the different smart gadgets in your home.
Called the Amazon Echo Hub, it's not a conventional smart display or tablet, rather it's meant to be mounted on a wall.
Amazon Echo Hub is a cost-effective solution for the smart home
The Amazon Echo Hub has an 8-inch display and it can be mounted on a wall. Since renters may not want to install it permanently, Amazon will offer a stand accessory for the Echo Hub. It works much like Amazon's Alexa-powered smart speakers do. Users will be able to control all of their smart home devices through voice commands and also see live feeds from security cameras.
A customizable dashboard will enable them to manage the layout as they see fit. The Echo Hub is futureproof in that it has been designed to support Amazon's new Map View UI which will arrive next year. The Echo Hub is compatible with most smart home protocols, including Samsung's SmartThings. Amazon is offering a cost-effective option here as similar smart hubs can usually cost $300 or more.
The $180 price tag of the Amazon Echo Hub will make it an enticing proposition for those who have been looking to buy a hub that brings all of their smart devices together without breaking the bank.
