Amazon reportedly working on premium Echo-style speaker with touchscreen

According to a report from Bloomberg, Amazon is working on a premium Echo-style speaker powered by Alexa. The report citing sources familiar with the matter further claims that the new speaker will sport a 7-inch touch screen that will make it easier for users to access content such as weather forecasts, calendar appointments, news and other data, where Alexa's voice can't offer a perfect information.

Moreover, the premium Echo model will also get a new design, that will be different from the current cylindrical shape. It will be larger in size tilt upwards so users can access the screen while standing.

Besides touch screen and a new design, the new Echo will have "high-grade speakers". For software it will run Android based Fire OS, that also powers Amazon's Kindle Fire tablets and Fire TV. The report also mentions that the new premium Echo speaker could be announced as early as Q1 2017.

The news comes after Google's Echo competitor called Home hit the market at $129, which is $50 less than Echo. With the addition of touchscreen, it appears that Amazon wants to stay a step ahead in the competition went it comes to smart home speakers.

Previously a report claimed that Amazon is working on a tablet-like device code-named Knight. Apple and Microsoft are also reportedly working on Echo-like device powered by Siri and Cortana respectively. 

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