On Wednesday, Amazon did what it probably should have done a while ago: It announced a Fire TV that plays 4K HDR video. The new Fire TV costs $70 and begins shipping on October 25. While it's not the first Amazon device to stream in 4K resolution--the now-discontinued Fire TV box has done so since 2015--it's the company's first to play high dynamic range video, whose greater color detail is more noticeable than 4K alone. Although Amazon has included 4K HDR content in its own Prime Video service for two years, it now has the hardware to go with it. But 4K HDR is no standout feature, even at Amazon's low prices.

If you hadn't noticed, Amazon introduced a lot of devices at its Alexa-themed event -- so many that keeping tabs on them all could be a challenge in itself. Thankfully, you don't have to sweat it. We've rounded up all the new Alexa-powered hardware in one place, ranging from the next generation of the standard Echo speaker to the Fire TV and the cute-as-a-button Echo Spot. If you've been thinking of snagging Amazon gear going into the holidays, you'll hopefully have a better sense of what's on offer. Jon has been hooked on tech ever since he tried a Compaq PC clone when he was five.

Arguably the cutest device announced at today's Amazon event is the Echo Spot, an adorable miniaturized version of the Echo Show. I got a closer look at the Spot after the Amazon event today, and I have to say that I definitely wouldn't mind having this as an alarm clock. It does all of the same things as the Show, except in a smaller, and more compact package. While I thought the Show might be more at home in a kitchen with its large display, the Spot is definitely more suited for the bedside table. It's sphere-like shape is a little bigger than a softball, and reminds me a lot of the Chumby, which also pitched itself as a smart alarm clock.

David Limp, senior vice president of Devices and Services at Amazon, smiles as he displays a new Amazon Echo during an event announcing several new Amazon products by the company, Sept. 27, 2017, in Seattle. Amazon says it is cutting the price of its Echo smart speaker, improving the sound quality and upgrading its appearance with six new "shells." The next generation speaker, which is powered by Amazon's Alexa voice assistant, will have a dedicated woofer and a tweeter for the first time, as well as Dolby sound.

Amazon, hoping to replicate the success of its Echo device, is poised to extend its eyes and ears into every part of your life with the launch of new voice-controlled and camera-equipped Alexa devices designed for bedrooms, living rooms and even your car. "Voice control in the home will be ubiquitous," predicted David Limp, Amazon's vice-president in charge of the Echo devices, at an event in Seattle on Wednesday. "Kids today will grow up never knowing a day they couldn't talk to their houses." The Echo has been Amazon's surprise hit in the three years since it launched, finding its way into tens of millions of kitchens around the world, offering internet radio, timers, weather and news reports and voice calls. Now Amazon will start selling a smaller, cheaper version of the original Echo, with fabric and wood veneers, as well a new flagship device called the Echo Plus that promises to work instantly with dozens of smart home devices, such as locks, lights and electric sockets. "Setting up your smart home is still just too hard," Limp said.

Amazon.com Inc. said Wednesday it is cutting the price of its Echo smart speaker from $180 to $100, improving the sound quality and upgrading its appearance with six new "shells." The announcement was the first of several Amazon is making at an event for journalists in Seattle. The next-generation speaker, which is powered by Amazon's Alexa voice assistant, will have a dedicated woofer and a tweeter for the first time, as well as Dolby sound. "We want to make sure we are building a product that everyone can use," said David Limp, Amazon's senior vice president of devices and services. The online retailer also announced a premium $150 version of the device called the Echo Plus, which has improved sound and can act as the hub of a smart home.

Amazon says it is cutting the price of its Echo smart speaker to $100 from $180, improving the sound quality and upgrading its appearance with six new'shells.' The announcement is the first of several Amazon is making at an event for journalists in Seattle. The next generation speaker, which is powered by Amazon's Alexa voice assistant, will have a dedicated woofer and a tweeter for the first time, as well as Dolby sound. Amazon's new $99 Echo has six'shells' users can swap to customise its appearance. The next generation speaker, which is powered by Amazon's Alexa voice assistant, will have a dedicated woofer and a tweeter for the first time, as well as Dolby sound.

Alexa has changed a lot in the last three years, but the Echo hasn't. The hefty monolithic cylinder still acts as most people's entrant into the Echo ecosystem. But today, Amazon announced a new, redesigned Echo that makes Alexa sound better, work better, and look better. The looks maybe matter most: The new Echo is considerably shorter than the last, like a mid-point between the Echo and the Dot. Amazon made six different shells for the thing, including a few wood-veneer options, to blend into your home a little better than a big black can of tennis balls.

Now here's something you weren't expecting from Amazon's Alexa-themed event: a device dedicated to those still using landlines. The just-unveiled Echo Connect serves as an intelligent speakerphone that lets you make land-based phone calls using only your voice. It uses your existing phone number and will even let you dial 911 hands-free -- important if you've injured yourself and can't reach a handset (yes, Amazon is clearly accounting for the "I've fallen and I can't get up" scenario). The Connect is available to pre-order today for $35, and it'll reach the US in the fourth quarter. Calls from the US to Canada and Mexico will be free, Amazon says. British and German buyers will have to wait until sometime in early 2018.

Amazon's Echo has long let you play little voice-driven games. And at an event today, the company just released an oddball new accessory to go along with the just-announced new Echo speaker. It's called the Echo Button, and it's a tiny Bluetooth remote of sorts that lets you "buzz in" and add a deeper experience to these games. Amazon is positioning this as a simple little gadget intended as more of a "stocking stuffer" than anything else (it comes out this holiday season). If you've ever watched Jeopardy!, you know what we're talking about here -- the Echo can ask a question and you can then "buzz in" and answer before your teammates.