Has Amazon been taking meetings with Jack Donaghy?
In addition to revamping its Echo lineup on Thursday, Amazon also unveiled a microwave. Yes, everyone's go-to appliance for reheating, defrosting, and other adventures is getting a 2018 update complete with Alexa voice support.
The AmazonBasics Microwave will set you back $59.99. Just like your existing microwave, there will be presets, but here, Alexa can handle the heavy lifting. You'll need to pair the microwave with an existing Echo device. Then, either talk to it via the Echo or press the built-in Ask Alexa button on the microwave and say something like "two minutes and 30 seconds on medium."
Why a microwave? It's "the most popular appliance that's out there today," according to Amazon, but also "one of the hardest devices to integrate with."
Amazon says it also integrated the Dash service into the microwave, so if you run low on popcorn or another microwaveable treat, it's easy to restock.
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Pre-order the microwave now; it's set to launch on Nov. 14.
Presumably, you can plug your microwave into Amazon's new Smart Plug. It's the first gadget to ship with Wi-Fi Simple Setup, which helps get new devices onto nearby Wi-Fi networks quickly.
"You plug in the Wi-Fi Simple Setup enabled device, and it immediately looks for the Wi-Fi Simple Setup Network. Once it receives the encrypted credentials, it securely connects to the network. And, all of that happens in less than thirty seconds," according to Amazon.
Pre-order the $24.99 Amazon Smart Plug today; it will start shipping next month.