Beer Can-Sized Amazon Echo Mini in the Works Michael Kwan January 11, 2016 News By and large, the regular Amazon Echo has been rather well received by critics and consumers alike since it was announced a little over a year ago. It’s more than just a regular Bluetooth speaker, partly because of it’s “always on” listening features… but what if you wanted a smaller version that you could take with you? Good news. It looks like an Amazon Echo Mini is right around the corner. Of course, we’re not completely confident what this thing is going to be called, but reports are indicating that the second-generation Echo speaker will be “designed to fit comfortably in the palm of a user’s hand, like a beer can.” Given this, we can safely assume that the Amazon Echo Mini will still be cylindrical like its older cousin, but it’ll be portable enough to bring around with you. It should be roughly the same size as a Beats Pill, they say. Just like all the other minis in the tech world, the Amazon Echo Mini will also lose some of the features found in its more expensive and larger counterpart. The “always listening” Alexa commands and questions will reportedly be abandoned; the assumption is that you’ll still be able to access the same functionality, albeit through your paired smartphone or via the provided remote instead. Because it’s meant to be portable, the smaller Amazon Echo will be battery-powered, not unlike all the other portable Bluetooth speakers out there. I imagine it could end up like the Creative Sound BlasterAxx AXX 200, except smaller and rounder. A docking station for charging is a very real possibility too. Seeing how the Amazon Echo currently sells for $180 (and is back-ordered), the mini version could shoot for a $99 price point. Via WSJ Share This With The World!
