When the Amazon Echo made its big debut in 2015, people went crazy for it, and with good reason. At first glance, it looked like a state-of-the-art device straight out of a sci-fi movie. 6 New(ish) Sci-Fi Movies Better Than Star Wars 6 New(ish) Sci-Fi Movies Better Than Star Wars Is Star Wars really the pinnacle of sci-fi movies set in space? Haven't they already outgrown several movies in the Star Wars series? Here are six we consider to be the best... Read More And while the novelty has certainly worn off a bit, the Echo remains one of Amazon's most successful products.
But a common complaint against the Echo was that it had too many features and cost too much. Amazon Echo Review and Giveaway Amazon Echo Review and Giveaway Amazon Echo offers a unique integration between voice recognition, personal assistant, home automation controls, and audio playback features. for $179.99. Does Echo break on new ground or can you do better somewhere else? Read More Amazon's response to that? Launching two scaled-down variations with smaller price tags:the tap and the echo dot.
In other words, you can think of both as the Amazon Echo Lite, but each is aimed at a different type of end user. Here's our comparison of the three to help you decide which one is right for you.
The Amazon Echo is, at its core, a "smart wireless speaker" - and while the term is entirely accurate, it fails to capture the full potential of this cutting-edge device. It's not technically a personal assistant, but considering how much it can do, you feel as if you had your own helper making your life easier .
But what really sets the Echo apart from other "personal assistant devices" is its ability to recognize and process Alexa voice commands, how does Siri work? Voice control explained Alexa, how does Siri work? Voice Control Explained The world is moving towards voice commands for everything, but how exactly does voice control work? Why is it so glitchy and restricted? This is what you need to know as a lay user. Read More Sure, Siri and OK Google have been around for years before, but Alexa is the first to exist outside of the smartphone.
Currently retailing for $180.
Amazon Echo - Black (1st Generation) Amazon Echo - Black (1st Generation) Buy now on Amazon
The Echo has seven microphones and an omnidirectional speaker, meaning you can activate it from across the room and hear your response no matter where you are. His speech recognition is spotty at first, but after training him over time, he'll understand you well, even if you have an unusual accent or dialect.
By default, the Echo can answer questions, order items from Amazon, stream music (not just Amazon Prime Music, why should you give Amazon Prime Music a second chance, why should you give Amazon Prime Music a second chance) There are several reasons why you might want to give Amazon Prime Music a second chance. It certainly deserves much more credit than it is currently getting. Read to find out why. Read More, but also Pandora, Spotify, etc.), read audiobooks, report news and weather information, deliver sports schedules and scores, and even provide details on local businesses and restaurants.
The most important feature, however, is that Echo can integrate with hundreds of smart home products at affordable prices. How you can echo Amazon to make your home a smart home. How the echo of Amazon can be to make your home a smart home. a new product from Amazon called "Echo" may help bring it into the mainstream. Read more like WeMo, Philips Hue, SmartThings, Nest and more. It can also integrate with IFTTT recipes. 7 Creative Uses for Amazon Echo and Alexa. 7 Creative Uses for Amazon Echo and Alexa. You've seen the ads starring Alec Baldwin, but you're still not sure what the Amazon Echo does or if you need one. your home. We're about to find out. Read More
Amazon Echo Dot is a miniature version of the Amazon Echo. It doesn't come with the dedicated speaker found on the Echo, instead opting for a basic speaker that still gets the job done but allows the Echo Dot to be much smaller and lighter.
Echo Dot is actually Amazon's answer to customers who want to connect their own high-quality external speakers , which is currently not possible with the original echo. With Echo Dot, the speakers can connect via Bluetooth or a standard 3.5mm audio cable.
Currently retailing for $90.
Other than that, the Echo Dot offers pretty much everything the original Echo does:Amazon ordering, music streaming from multiple sources, news and weather, and yes, integration with smart home products. It also works with the same Alexa-based voice recognition system.
At half the price, the Echo Dot is the perfect choice for when you want an Echo in every room in your house. Set one up as an alarm in your bedroom, one as a turntable for the rec room, one in the kitchen as a controller for all your gadgets and smart devices, etc.
The only big drawback is that the Echo Point can only be ordered through Alexa Voice Shopping , which means it's only available to Prime users who already have an Alexa-enabled Echo or Fire TV. The 8 Best Devices to Stream Movies to Your TV The 8 Best Devices to Stream Movies to Your TV There are several ways to stream media to your TV, and deciding which one is right for you can be overwhelming. Let us help you explore what is currently available. Read more . It's not clear if this limitation will be removed or not, but I'd bet it will.
The Amazon Tap is a simpler, more portable version of the Echo. While the Echo is 9.25 inches tall and 3.27 inches wide, the Tap is significantly smaller at 6.2 inches tall and 2.6 inches wide. If you plan to regularly move the device from room to room, the Tap is the much more convenient option.
Another big difference is that the Tap is battery powered. unlike the Echo and Echo Dot, they both need to be plugged into a power outlet at all times. The good news is that the Tap comes close to 9 hours of battery life on a single charge while playing music, three weeks on standby, which should be more than enough for most people.
Currently retailing for $130.
Why is it called the griffin? Because it doesn't have a voice-activated wake word like the Echo and Echo Dot have. Instead, you have to press a button on the device before giving it a command. A bit of an inconvenience, but on the plus side, you won't have to worry about it spying on you with constant listening. Your Smart TV is watching you, and you're not the only one! Your Smart TV is watching you, and it's not the only one! Do Vizio Smart TVs capture information about you and transmit it to Vizio without telling you about it? And if so, is this something you should be concerned about? Read more.
The Tap can answer questions and stream music through Alexa, but it also has a unique feature in that it can connect to your mobile devices via Bluetooth and stream music directly from them. So, for example, you can take the Tap to the beach and play music directly from your phone.
Ultimately, it all boils down to this:
But don't stop there. These Amazon products are just a taste of what's possible when you really get your hands dirty with smart products and the Internet of Things. The Internet of Things:10 Useful Products to Try in 2016 The Internet of Things:10 Useful Products to Try in 2016 The Internet of Things is on the rise in 2016, but what exactly does that mean? How do you personally benefit from the Internet of Things? Here are some useful products to illustrate. Read more . Worried you're going to blow your budget? Fear not and get started with some of these highly affordable gadgets for newbies 6 Types of Home Automation You Can Really Afford 6 Types of Home Automation You Really Can Afford Are you ready to join the smart home revolution but worried? that is beyond your budget? Smart homes aren't that expensive, and there are plenty of components the average homeowner can afford. Read more.
If you need ideas on what to get first, we recommend something intensely practical, like the Nest Thermostat to lower your heating bills. 7 Nest Automation Tricks To Cut Your Heating Bill In Half 7 Nest Automation Tricks To Cut Your Heating Bill In Half If there was a Nest thermostat in every home, it would have the biggest impact on energy use in the history; And it could save you more money than you can imagine. That is how. Read More Buy one of these electronic door locks and get rid of your old keys. Buy one of these electronic door locks and get rid of your old keys. And while security cameras and motion sensors are great, none have more of a wow factor than an electronic door lock. Read More Which smart plug is the best for you? Which smart plug is the best for you? Even if you're not into the whole smart home automation trend, you should still get some smart plugs. They are one of the easiest smart home products to use. Read more.
Just Remember To Stick With One Of These Reputable Smart Home Brands 9 Reputable Smart Home Brands With Products You Can Trust 9 Reputable Smart Home Brands With Products You Can Trust The modern world is moving towards all kinds of smart home automation, and the longer you hold out, the harder it will be when conversion day comes. Read More
How do you feel about the Amazon Echo or its minor variations? Are they pointless tricks? Or are they really as useful as advertised? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!
