The AV Industry’s Leading Voice-Activated Control Interface Is About to Add a TouchScreen

Amazon isn’t aiming its Echo at the high-end residential or commercial AV markets, but we’re obviously seeing it added everywhere. In 2017, nearly every major control system vendors added an interface to the Amazon Echo to allow it to control their systems and some AV integrators are adding Echo into small rooms to enable voice-activated control of both the systems and the environment.

But, Amazon is about to up-the-ante with their newest version — set to debut this summer — as the next-gen Echo will integrate a color touchscreen. Amazon insiders tell rAVe that it’s being referred to as the “flagship” version of the Echo lineup and, in addition to integrating an 8” touchscreen, it will have upgraded speakers.

In addition to aiming it at the SONOS music system, this new Echo will also, no doubt, get integrated into ProAV and HomeAV systems.

Again, no official specifics on the new touch-enabled Echo but we have been told it will retail for less than $350 and will connect, seamlessly, with the existing Echo line.

The Amazon Echo site is here.