Amazon continues Alexa push with dock to turn tablets into Echos

Recipes for Lasagna are seen on an Amazon Echo Show in an Amazon ‘experience center’ in Vallejo, California, U.S., May 8, 2018. Picture taken on May 8, 2018. REUTERS/Elijah Nouvelage

Amazon.com Inc unveiled a new dock and software upgrade that turns its tepid-selling line of Fire tablets into voice-controlled Echo speakers, the latest attempt by the e-commerce leader to more widely distribute its Alexa digital assistant. 

The Seattle-based company introduced a feature called Show Mode that gives existing Fire tablets an interface similar to that of the Echo Show speaker, letting users summon news, weather, security camera streams, and video with their voice. Amazon also launched a US$40 (RM161) charging dock on Thursday that will automatically put Fire tablets in Show Mode.