Amazon.com Inc. streamed a media event Tuesday focused on new devices. As you might expect, it included updates to its Echo family—including a 15-inch smart frame—and Ring security products. But also true to form, the tech giant unveiled some slightly more oddball devices, including a kids’ interactive projector and a wheeled home robot called Astro.
Many of the products announced reflect increasing synergy between Amazon ’s hardware brands—such as a Ring Alarm Pro that marries the security system with an Eero Wi-Fi router. A number of additions look like they were developed to compete directly with popular products on the market, many currently sold on Amazon. They also nudge customers toward the company’s premium services, which charge monthly fees on top of the already hefty Prime subscription.