Amazon has released a special edition model of the Echo Dot, the Doraemon Edition.
This is a Japan-only product with a small smart speaker Echo Dot (5th generation model) with a design that looks like Doraemon is sticking out from behind the passing hoop.
In terms of functions, it is the same as the regular model, such as music playback, calls, conversations with the assistant Alexa, and various skills. In addition, when Doraemon reads the time with the “Doraemon Times” skill, you will receive the benefit of saying an additional word depending on the timing.
Amazon sells a product printed with its own design on the spherical fabric of the Echo Dot as a regional limited edition, and Doraemon was chosen as a design from Japan, making it a limited edition model.
Last year, they sold a Doraemon-shaped stand that carries the (regular model) Echo Dot, and the reason why they introduced the Doraemon Edition this time was that it was well received.
Doraemon Times, which reads the time in Doraemon’s voice (played by Wasabi Mizuta), has been available in the Echo series, including non-Dot for a long time, but by activating the included benefits, for example, if you are a little before 3 p.m., “It’s time for a snack!~”, etc., about 30 additional lines are spoken. It is the same content as the benefits that came with the Doraemon Stand.
The design is not Doraemon’s face as it is, but Doraemon wearing headphones and waving from behind the hoop passing by.
According to Amazon Japan, although the plan to make Doraemon as it is was considered, it was designed as if Doraemon was actually in the room as a smart speaker and Doraemon was actually (beyond the street hoop).
Certainly, if you make it Doraemon’s head perfectly, it will be in a state where “only Doraemon’s head is on the desk” rather than “living with Doraemon”.
In addition, the Echo series has a somewhat unusual function that allows you to change the wake word (Hey Siri, OK Google, etc.) when calling to “Alexa” as well as “Echo”, “Computer”, etc., but just because it is “Doraemon Edition” does not mean that it can be operated with “Hey Doraemon”.
I would like to see an assistant that calls Doraemon and does anything, but if it is realized in the current situation, it will be necessary to prepare Doraemon’s voice and tone for all of Alexa’s responses, and depending on the skill, there may be discrepancies in Doraemon’s character.
▲Image: Liquid Doraemon served at the presentation. Lemonade inspired by this design. Contains lemon slices that resemble a passing hoop.
The Amazon Echo Doraemon Edition is 11,293 yen, which is about 4,000 yen premium to the regular Echo Dot. Pre-orders will be accepted from today and will be shipped from March 10th.
