Amazon has a big surprise event today - will we see the Amazon Echo 2?

TechRadar is in Seattle today for a big surprise Amazon event, where the tech giant is set to reveal a bevy of new devices. 

Just what they will be we don't yet know, but our bets are on a big update to the Amazon Echo smart speaker and also upgrades to Fire TV and more.

Amazon doesn't usually do big events at its headquarters so what it has planned must be pretty significant for the company. 

In recent weeks there have been a trickle of rumors about new devices. The biggest of these was Amazon getting into the smart glasses arena

We're not that convinced that we will see that sort of gadget today - it feels too early - but it does point to what Amazon is trying to do with Alexa, it's smart voice assistant. 

It wants Alexa to be omnipresent in your life, available to call up at anytime. 

Alexa everywhere

It's likely we will see bigger integration with Alexa in some of its devices today, however. 

The most significant being Alexa in the Amazon Fire TV. Currently you have to use the remote to use Alexa, or link it up to an Echo device

It's likely that it will be full embedded in the system and rumors are pointing to the ability to use Alexa for controlling your TV and any system you have connected to it.

The biggest and most likely announcement will most likely be Amazon Echo 2. It's been a few years since the Echo was first launched in the US so it is primed for an update. 

With the Apple Homepod soon to arrive and Google Home now rivalling the system, we are expecting a big update here, including a completely redesigned chassis and a significant audio boost.

The press conference starts in Seattle, 10:30am PDT / 6:30pm in the UK. Details will be on TechRadar as and when we have them.

Marc Chacksfield

Marc Chacksfield is the Editor In Chief, Shortlist.com at DC Thomson. He started out life as a movie writer for numerous (now defunct) magazines and soon found himself online - editing a gaggle of gadget sites, including TechRadar, Digital Camera World and Tom's Guide UK. At Shortlist you'll find him mostly writing about movies and tech, so no change there then.