Amazon's confusing new Echo lineup: There's a method to the madness

Amazon's overstuffed Echo event yesterday made one thing clear: it's not afraid of doubling down on smart speakers and its virtual assistant Alexa. The company announced a smaller $100 Echo (just as we reported in July); a $150 Echo Plus with smart hub features; and an Echo-powered alarm clock called "Spot". And that's not even including the truly strange stuff: Echo Connect, which turns your Echo devices into speakerphones for landlines; and a tiny Bluetooth button for games. As impressive as this new lineup is, it's easy to see how it could also be confusing for consumers. Which Echo device do you really need? It's hard enough to decide if you're just dipping your toes into Amazon's smart speaker world.