Amazon has taken the wraps off the Echo Dot Kids Edition, a more rugged, locked-down version of its puck-sized Echo Dot smart speaker that vows to make it harder for children to make accidental purchases.
The Echo Dot Kids Edition comes dressed in a child-friendly rubber case, complete with access to FreeTime Unlimited (Amazon’s refreshed $2.99 per-month subscription for children’s content) and FreeTime Parental Controls.
FreeTime has been around for the Echo for a while now, offering parents the facility to set various restrictions for their child’s echo, including the all-important option to turn off voice purchases and hide inappropriate skills.
The much-used feature was updated on Wednesday, April 25 with support for a number of useful new tools, including a resource called Magic Word that encourages children to say “please” when issuing commands to Alexa.
Related: Amazon Echo Spot
FreeTime Unlimited builds on that service, adding support for more than 300 free audiobooks from Audible, music playlists from iHeartRadio Family and new Alexa skills developed by child-friendly providers, like Disney and Nickelodeon.
Being a product aimed at little tykes, the Echo Dot Kids Edition is bound to take a tumble or two. That’s why Amazon is offering all owners a two-year warranty, as part of which it will replace any broken unit for free – no questions asked.
The Echo Dot Kids Edition is available to pre-order in the United States for $79.99 from April 25, with units scheduled to start shipping to customers on May 9. There’s no word on whether it will make its way to the United Kingdom.
Are you planning on picking up an Amazon Echo Kids Edition? Let us know over on Facebook or Twitter @TrustedReviews.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.