Amazon Echo Hub Smart Home Control Panel
Part of what's holding back the smart home market is the lack of convenient controls. Amazon is looking to solve the problem with the Echo Hub. The device has an 8-inch touchscreen and measures roughly half an inch thick, ideal for wall mounting (an optional stand will also be available). While it has Alexa and built-in speakers, it's not meant for media playback, instead waking automatically via a proximity sensor and providing a widget-style interface for quickly doing things like controlling lights, smart plugs, locks, and security cameras. According to Amazon, it's compatible with over 140,000 smart gadgets, thanks to support for WiFi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, Matter, Sidewalk, and Thread devices.