Amazon releases Echo Wall Clock, and it's pointless

Of all the devices that could benefit from a smart assistant built in, a clock would not be our first choice. However, the latest Amazon device to be added to the retailer's UK selection is the Echo Wall Clock.

If you're thinking that Alexa can do everything a clock can do, without the need for an actual clock... you'd be right. Need to know the time? You can ask. Want to set a timer? It's only a simple voice command away. The whole point of voice interfaces is that they're not confined to a screen. But anyway. 

The next piece of surprising news is that this smart clock doesn't even have Alexa built in, so you'll need to have a compatible Echo device within nine metres of the clock to get the 'smart' benefits. If you don't want to shell out for an Echo or similar, you could use the free Alexa App.

So what does this clock offer? Impatient users, or those with trust issues, might like the timer tracker. Sixty LEDs around the rim of the clock visually count down one or more timers and alarms, so you can see how long you have left at a glance. It'll also automatically adjust for things like daylight savings. And it's also only £29.99 (or $29.99 in the US), which is pretty reasonable.

The Echo Wall Clock was announced in September 2018 and released in the US later in the year. Presumably, sales have been high enough to warrant the UK release, so perhaps the joke's on us. 

Read more:

• How to build a voice controlled UI
• NHS partners with Amazon to offer health advice via Alexa
• Infographic: How people really use voice assistants