Amazon reveals first e-reader that doubles as digital notebook

Amazon reveals new devices: The tech giant unveiled a bevy of new products Wednesday, including a new version of its Kindle e-reader, called Kindle Scribe, that allows users to take full pages of notes and annotate documents using an included pen. Other announcements: 

• Halo Rise is a new bedside sleep-tracking device and the latest example of Amazon testing the willingness of customers to trust its privacy promises in the interest of improving their health.

• There are several updated Echo products, including new Echo Dot smart speakers and a smaller Echo Auto device.

• Amazon consumer robotics leader Ken Washington laid out a number of updates coming to the company’s at-home robot, Astro — we’ll hear more from Washington at our upcoming GeekWire Summit next week in Seattle.

Office layouts in the hybrid work era: Many tech companies, including Zillow Group, Qualtrics and Amazon, are rethinking how existing space is designed and used as the physical office becomes more about gathering and collaborating in this new era of work.

Mental health startup aims to help seniors: Seattle-based Rippl raised a $32 million seed funding round to develop a care program focused on seniors with dementia and other neurocognitive conditions.

Connecting military personnel to communities: BaseHubs, a company led by former aQuantive exec Jeff Lanctot, is taking on giants such as Facebook, Google, and Yelp with a recommendation platform designed specifically to cater to active military and veterans. Read more. 

Tech Moves: Microsoft Teams leader joins Seattle startup Highspot; Edifecs and Acumatics add execs; and more key personnel changes.

Thanks for reading and have a great day. — GeekWire managing editor Taylor Soper. taylor@geekwire.com.