Late last year, Amazon started to allow hobbyists and developers to integrate the Alexa virtual personal assistant into their own products through the developer preview of Amazon Voice Service. This effort has already borne fruit with Invoxia’s Triby.
Looking a bit like an FM radio from yesteryear, the Triby immediately loses points in the looks department, especially when compared to the sleek, futuristic aesthetic of the Amazon Echo. It packs a magnetized back, allowing you to attach it directly to any metal surface, such as a refrigerator or knife rack, as well an E-Ink display for showing messages and notifications.
Not only can it be controlled through voice commands, but there’s also an official companion application available for Android and iOS. It also has a number of hardware buttons, which allow the user to flick through their music, as well as call pre-defined contacts with a connected smartphone.
The Triby also includes a two-day lithium ion battery, rechargable through the built-in MicroUSB port. This lasts just eight hours while listening to music and, as SlashGear notes, battery longevity is shortened even further when listening mode is turned on.
Since it uses Alexa, you would be forgiven for assuming the Triby would be able to control the various third-party services that the Echo can, but that turns out to not be the case. Spotify, Belkin WeMo, Philips Hue, and Pandora are all unsupported, according to its Amazon page.
The Invoxia Triby is available to purchase on Amazon right now for $169.99, making it only $10 cheaper than the Amazon Echo proper. You can also purchase it in the UK for £159.99, although this lacks Alexa support which has yet to be made available outside the United States. It comes in four colors: red, blue, green, and grey.