Amazon’s original Echo gets a much-needed upgrade

It’s been nearly two full years since the first Echo was made available to Amazon Prime subscribers. In that time, the company added six new members to the Echo family (seven if you count the Tap, which Amazon kind of, sort of does) — and in the case of the Echo Dot, did one full product refresh. Google entered the space in a big way with Home, and both Apple and Microsoft have their own takes arriving by year’s end.

The new Echo is more compact than the original. It’s also better looking, with six swappable shells designed to help it better blend in with its surroundings. The sound has been improved this time out, finally embracing the “speaker” part of the smart speaker category. Perhaps most importantly, however, it’s cheap. At $100, the new Echo is a full $80 cheaper than its predecessor — and $30 less than its closest competitor, Google Home.

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In the past year, sound quality has become a much bigger priority for smart speakers. There’s the HomePod, of course, and the Google Home Max — both of which are being positioned as speakers first, with a smart assistant built in. There’s also been a recent deluge of third-party manufacturers like Sonos, Sony and Harman building their own premium systems, featuring Alexa and Google Assistant.

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The new Echo is not that. The sound is definitely improved over the earlier model, but for the time being, the company seems to content to let those third parties do the heavy lifting when it comes to building audio-first systems. That, after all, would mean a marked increase in sticker price, making the standard Echo prohibitively expensive for many users.

The addition of the 2.5-inch woofer and 0.6-inch tweeter (same as on the new Echo Plus) means the Echo’s not bad for a $99 speaker. It gets reasonably loud — I had it on a max volume for a bit in the office, and it was distracting but not deafening (sorry co-workers). It’s about the quality you’d expect from a cheap, portable Bluetooth speaker.

Undercover Echo

Rumors started circulating about a new Echo a few months back. The line was long overdue for an update, the competition was intensifying and Amazon appeared to be working its way through the last of its Echo back stock. At the time, leaks positioned the product as a HomePod competitor, a high-end device with a new design and premium audio positioned to compete against Apple’s $349 Siri speaker.

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Of course, ultra-premium has never really been Amazon’s speed. The Echo’s populist approach has always been a big part of its appeal a fact the Dot’s $50 price tag really drove home. Alexa users are primarily interested in finding an affordable way to make the smart assistant a part of their home, so the new Echo splits the difference on pricing while delivering some additional hardware perks that help it stand apart from the best-selling Dot.

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Increased competition from Google, et al. has been a great driver for the line. The new Echo is pretty much exactly what it should be: it’s smaller, better looking and has improved audio, all while staying under $100. Space is only going to continue to heat up over the next several years, and Google is certainly giving Amazon a run for its money with an extremely capable system and far better mobile distribution.

But the line is still synonymous with smart speakers, and Alexa gets more and more capable with each day. It’s not as affordable as the Echo Dot/Home Mini or as flashy as the HomePod/Home Max, but the new $99 Echo is going to sell like hotcakes this holiday season.

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Ależ plan giganta. Robert Lewandowski to dopiero początek

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Obecny kontrakt Lewandowskiego z Barceloną obowiązuje do 30 czerwca tego roku, jednak jego przedłużenie stoi pod znakiem zapytania. Klub z Katalonii rozważa zatrzymanie Polaka, ale tylko pod warunkiem, że zaakceptuje on obniżkę wynagrodzenia.

Dalszy ciąg artykułu pod materiałem wideo

Tymczasem Juventus widzi w nim idealnego kandydata do wzmocnienia swojej ofensywy. Polak mógłby zastąpić Dusana Vlahovicia, którego umowa wygasa po sezonie i najprawdopodobniej nie zostanie przedłużona.

Juventus chce wrócić na szczyt. Celuje w Roberta Lewandowskiego

Według informacji Gianluki Di Marzio, transfer Lewandowskiego to tylko część większego planu Juventusu. Klub zamierza również pozyskać innych czołowych zawodników, takich jak Alisson czy Bernardo Silva. Celem jest odbudowa drużyny i powrót do rywalizacji o najwyższe trofea, w tym Ligę Mistrzów.

Dziennikarz podkreśla, że Lewandowski, mający doświadczenie w wygrywaniu Ligi Mistrzów z Bayernem Monachium, mógłby odegrać kluczową rolę w osiągnięciu tego celu. — “Posiadanie gracza formatu Roberta Lewandowskiego w meczach Ligi Mistrzów i Serie A z pewnością byłoby krokiem naprzód w posiadaniu ofensywnej przewagi, jakiej Juventus praktycznie nigdy nie miał w tym roku” — powiedział Di Marzio w podcaście *Caffe Di Marzio*.

Lewandowski wzbudza zainteresowanie także innych klubów. W grze o jego podpis są AC Milan, zespoły z Saudi Pro League oraz Major League Soccer, według informacji niemieckiego Sky — Chicago Fire. Jednak to Juventus wydaje się najbardziej zdeterminowany, aby sprowadzić polskiego napastnika. Decyzja o przyszłości zawodnika powinna zapaść w najbliższych tygodniach.

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Wild aim to end playoff woes vs. Dallas | News, Sports, Jobs

AP photo: Referee TJ Luxmore (21) looks on as fights break out between the Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild in the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Arlington, Texas.

As playoff races were raging down the stretch, Commissioner Gary Bettman pointed out that the NHL in years past has had first-round matchups decided on the final day of the season.

Needing until the final day is true once again, with three matchups yet to be determined before the playoffs begin this weekend. A look at the matchups (division and seeding noted):

West: Dallas (Central 2) vs. Minnesota (Central 3)

Dallas (50-20-12, 112 points): The Stars won’t have injured center Roope Hintz for at least the first two games and top defenseman Miro Heiskanen’s return timing is also uncertain but Dallas is still stacked. Strengths: Jake Oettinger can be a wall in net, especially in the third period, and winger Mikko Rantanen has shown he’s a proven playoff performer. Jason Robertson and Wyatt Johnson both scored more than 40 goals. Weaknesses: Injuries may just be too much for Dallas, taking out too many key players against another top team.

Minnesota (46-24-12, 104 points): The Wild are 0-9 in their past nine playoff series and have not advanced past the first round since 2015, though this time they have elite D-man Quinn Hughes after a December trade. Strengths: Top wingers Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy are dominant forces, as is Hughes back on the blue line with Brock Faber. Weaknesses: Depth down the middle at center sticks out like a sore thumb, as does Minnesota’s inconsistent goaltending since the Olympic break in February.

Whyno’s pick: Dallas (-100) is a slight favorite but is banged up at the wrong time for this kind of series. Wild in seven.

West: Vegas (Pacific 1) vs. Utah (wild card 1)

Vegas (39-26-17, 95 points): Firing Bruce Cassidy and hiring John Tortorella with eight games left worked out and then some as the Golden Knights won seven of them to win the Pacific Division. Strengths: The high-end talent of Jack Eichel, Mitch Marner and Mark Stone makes Vegas championship caliber, and this core isn’t far removed from winning the Stanley Cup in 2023. Tortorella cannot be considered anything but a strength, too. Weaknesses: Goaltending is a problem after the fourth-worst team save percentage in the league this season; Carter Hart is likely to be the guy in net.

Utah (43-32-6, 92 points with 1 game remaining): The Mammoth qualifying in the franchise’s second season in Salt Lake City is cause for celebration, and taking that step shows evidence of GM Bill Armstrong and the front office building a contender. Strengths: Their top forwards are excellent, from captain Clayton Keller and budding young star Logan Cooley to Nick Schmaltz and JJ Peterka. Mikhail Sergachev is a true No. 1 defenseman who can produce offense. Weaknesses: Like a lot of teams, Utah has relied a lot on its starting goaltender, with Karel Vejmelka starting the most games of anyone at the position in the league.

Whyno’s pick: Vegas (-190) should be able to ride experience into the second round and possibly beyond. Golden Knights in four.

What is left to determine

The final two matchups in the West will be settled Thursday night.

Colorado, the Presidents’ Trophy winner, will face Los Angeles, Anaheim or two-time defending conference champion Edmonton. The other two teams will play each other.

East: Carolina (Metropolitan 1) vs. Ottawa (wild card 2)

Carolina (53-22-7, 113 points): The Hurricanes are in the postseason for an eighth consecutive year since Rod Brind’Amour took over as coach, and as the top seed in the East they have home-ice advantage through the conference final. Strengths: They have experience, with three trips to the East final over the past eight years and have seven 20-goal scorers led by Seth Jarvis with 32. Weaknesses: Goaltending is still a question mark, as is the reputation the team has developed for being unable to score when the competition gets tougher.

Ottawa (44-27-11, 99 points) The Senators were 15th out of 16 teams in the East on Jan. 25. They won 20 of their next 29 games to clinch a spot. Strengths: Travis Green’s team plays hard, and when Linus Ullmark is on his game in net they can beat anyone. Injuries down the stretch only showed how much organizational depth they have. Weaknesses: Ottawa has taken the seventh-most penalties of any team in the league and is the fourth-worst at killing them off. They also expended a lot of energy making up ground.

Whyno’s pick: Carolina (-175) is a justified favorite based on talent discrepancy but it will be a grind. Hurricanes in six.

East: Pittsburgh (Metropolitan 2) vs. Philadelphia (Metropolitan 3)

Pittsburgh (41-25-16, 98 points): The longshot Penguins are giving the trio of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang another chance after three years without a postseason berth. Strengths: Erik Karlsson has been great at 35, and rookie coach Dan Muse plays a style that allows his team to score in bunches and turn the tide on opponents quickly. Weaknesses: Defending isn’t the Pens’ strong suit, and neither is their goaltending, so they often need to outscore their problems.

Philadelphia (43-27-12, 98 points): The Flyers have been the NHL’s best team since March 7, going 15-5-1 to make it in for the first time since 2020. Strengths: They can lean on experienced elders like Sean Couturier but are in the playoffs because of young, emerging stars Tyson Foerster, Porter Martone and Matvei Michkov. Weaknesses: Goalie Dan Vladar played a ton down the stretch because he needed to, and he and his many of his teammates are largely new to this kind of pressure.

Whyno’s pick: Pittsburgh (-160) has too many players who have been there, done that and could make a longer-than-expected run. Penguins in five.

East: Buffalo (Atlantic 1) vs. Boston (wild card 1)

Buffalo (50-23-9, 109 points): The Sabres bounced back from losing 18 of their first 29 games to end the longest playoff drought in league history and win the division, with Lindy Ruff becoming the front-runner for coach of the year in the process. Strengths: Unlike last year, the players are accustomed to tight games and winning them instead of folding. Tage Thompson can score from anywhere. Weaknesses: A lack of experience tends to show this time of year and how players respond to playoff hockey will be critical.

Boston (45-27-10, 100 points): Back in the playoffs after a one-year blip, the Bruins relied on 100-point scorer David Pastrnak, goaltender Jeremy Swayman and top defenseman Charlie McAvoy to steady the ship. Strengths: They’re well-coached by Marco Sturm, and Swayman has had an excellent season. Weaknesses: They are a solid if not spectacular team that needs to rely on Pastrnak and the top scorers a little too much.

Whyno’s pick: Buffalo (-190) gets it done after getting pushed to the edge. Sabres in seven.

East: Tampa Bay (Atlantic 2) vs. Montreal (Atlantic 3)

Tampa Bay (50-26-6, 106 points): The Lightning endured injuries to the likes of defensemen Victor Hedman and Ryan McDonagh to top centers Brayden Point and Anthony Cirelli, and yet they’re among the Stanley Cup favorites thanks to winger Nikita Kucherov, goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy and roster depth. Strengths: Vasilevskiy gives them a chance to win every game, and the extended absences have shown why coach Jon Cooper is one of the best. Weaknesses: Hedman has not played since mid-March and his status in uncertain.

Montreal (48-24-10, 106 points): The Canadiens won eight in a row down the stretch and 15 of their final 21 games, with Cole Caufield becoming the organization’s first 50-goal scorer since 1990 and center Nick Suzuki crashing the MVP race. Strengths: They move the puck extremely well and quickly and can strike at 5 on 5 or the power play. Weaknesses: They will have to prove they can play playoff-style hockey by defending and getting some stops in net.

Whyno’s pick: Tampa Bay (-235) has the pedigree, but Montreal is hot at the right time. Canadiens in six.