I just heated up a mug of water in a microwave. It got hot. The difference is that I used the new AmazonBasics Microwave, which works with Alexa. That “works with Alexa” phrasing and the fact that this isn’t the “Echo Microwave” should tell you that this thing doesn’t have any microphones or a speaker (beyond one that can beep) on it. Instead, it’s a $59.99 device meant to showcase Amazon’s new system for companies to make their regular gadgets into smart gadgets. 
 
 The way the Alexa integration works is pretty clever: when you set it up, it will get paired to your Alexa system as “the microwave,” and then you can command Alexa to, you know, cook stuff. There are very few buttons on the microwave because all the presets for various food types have been stored in Amazon’s cloud instead. 
 
 It is, indeed, a microwave 
 
 There is an Alexa button on the microwave, and it does two things: it turns on the microphone on one of your Echo speakers so you don’t have to use the “Alexa” wake word, and, more importantly, it sends a signal so that whatever you’re about to say will be in the context of controlling the microwave. For example, you can hit the button and just say “stop,” and it’ll stop the microwave. (How this is more efficient than just hitting the stop button is unclear.) 
 
 The fun feature is the popcorn, though. When you set it up for the first time, you’ll have an option to sign up for a subscription to buy microwave popcorn from Amazon. Then, as you pop it, Alexa will keep track of how many times you have said, “Alexa, make popcorn,” and it’ll reorder automatically when you’re running low. There’s also a popcorn button on the device. 
 
 Is all this worth $59.99? Sure, it’s a pretty dead-ahead 700W microwave after all. It’s black and boxy and simple. I don’t have a lot more to tell you about the hardware. It has a rotating tray on the inside. There are vents and a metal enclosure. It ships on November 14th. 
 
 The point isn’t to wow you, though. The point is for Amazon to wow gadget makers with how simple, secure, and easy it is to integrate its Alexa Connection Kit. That little module includes Amazon’s new Real Time OS, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and so on. The idea is that it’s a more plug-and-play solution for making more things talk to Alexa. It’s a smart move for Amazon, and it’s increasing its lead as the de-facto hub of gadgets in your house. ||||| SEATTLE—In a bid to control the smart home of the future, Amazon.com Inc. is offering makers of electronics a small chip that would let people use their voice to command everything from microwaves and coffee machines to room fans and guitar amplifiers. 
 
 The online retail giant is hoping big manufacturers will sign up to incorporate the Alexa-enabled chips—which cost a few dollars each—in lower-end, everyday household devices. 
 
 The... ||||| At its event, senior vice president of Amazon Devices Dave Limp said "Alexa, one potato" to the microwave, and it set a timer and turned on. He then said "Alexa, add 30 seconds to the microwave," and the assistant updated the countdown. He also told Alexa to stop the microwave. The nice thing about telling Alexa to cook your food is you won't have to agonize over how long to heat different things. The new microwave will come with "dozens of quick-cook voice presets," much like traditional microwaves already offer, except you won't have to lift a finger. 
 
 Of course, this isn't the first microwave with Alexa voice control features, other companies like GE, Whirlpool, Kenmore, LG and Samsung have either made or are working on appliances with Amazon's cooking Skill. But this is the first Amazon-branded microwave, meaning it's hardware from the company itself and offers better integration with Alexa. The AmazonBasics brand also tends to be cheaper than competitors, giving consumers greater options. The new microwave will be shipping later this year, and you can pre-order it now for $60. 
 
 Follow all the latest news from Amazon's Alexa event here!
– Running out of things to do with Alexa? Don't despair. Soon, you'll be able to tell your Amazon personal assistant to heat a mug of water, defrost a chicken, or prepare some popcorn. It's all thanks to the new AmazonBasics microwave that connects to Amazon's Echo device so you can give it voice commands. The microwave was unveiled Thursday in Seattle, Engadget reports. The appliance will sell for $59.99 and will ship starting Nov. 14th, per The Verge, which calls it "a pretty dead-ahead 700W microwave." It features many of the standard microwave buttons, but most of the cooking presets are voice activated (such as "Alexa, one potato," a command used by Amazon's David Limp a demonstration). You can also set it up to automatically order products from Amazon. "What this microwave does is keep track of how many times you cook popcorn and make sure you never run out," Amazon VP Daniel Rausch tells the Wall Street Journal. Also debuted on Thursday were other smart devices, such as an Echo for cars and a home security system, as well as improvements to Alexa like the abilities to whisper and hold conversations. It all adds up to Amazon's push to "unite a scattered industry," the WSJ notes. Through products like the new AmazonBasics microwave, the company hopes to get big manufacturers to use its Alexa-enabled chips affordable household appliances. As The Verge puts it: "The point is to wow gadget makers with how simple, secure, and easy it is to integrate its Alexa Connection Kit."