Amazon unveils Echo speaker that listens to you

Amazon continues to push deeper into hardware development.

The online retailer dropped a surprise unveiling on its website Thursday: the Amazon Echo, a speaker users control with voice commands. It's available for $199, or $99 for Amazon Prime members. However, the ability to purchase Echo is available through invitation only.

The speaker -- measuring 9 inches tall -- will feed users news, weather and sports simply with a vocal request. Users can also perform tasks like create shopping lists and play music, obviously.

Amazon says the speaker is "always on," and will wake up when owners use the word "Alexa."

Amazon says the Echo features seven microphones along the edge of the device, and employs far-field voice recognition to hear users at any range, even while music is playing.

The Echo is another interesting move for Amazon, as they move further into the device business. Last month, they unveiled a Fire TV Stick that streams media content to TVs. The company has also jumped into the smartphone and tablet markets with its Amazon Fire line.

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