Amazon has announced the Fire TV Cube, a media player that doubles as a universal remote. The device has a physical remote control, but users mainly have to control it via voice commands.
The Amazon Fire TV Cube has IR emitters on each side of the device, allowing it to send infrared signals to TVs, sound bars and other infrared-controlled devices in the living room. For example, it is possible to turn on the TV with voice control, immediately start an app and search for a movie or series in that app, Amazon reports.
Amazon has put eight microphones in the device that users should be able to hear from every corner of the room. As a result, users must be able to zap between different channels or switch apps at all times. Other Alexa commands also work on the device, such as controlling smart home devices, checking the weather or purchasing products and services on Amazon.
Amazon already had Echo speakers with voice control via Alexa and Fire TV set-top boxes, but this is the first combination of the two. The Fire TV Cube will be released in the United States in two weeks. The price will be $120, although Amazon is discounting its Prime customers $30. It is still unknown if and when the device will appear in the Benelux.