Amazon Echo Family Expands With Pint-Sized Dot, Echo Tap

Amazon'southward Alexa family unit has ii new members: Echo Dot and Tap.

The younger sibling of cylindrical speaker Repeat, the easily-free, voice-controlled Echo Dot fits into whatsoever room, making information technology piece of cake to play music, guild dinner, and request an Uber. No bigger than your smartphone, the gadget connects to speakers via an audio cablevision or a Bluetooth connectedness, adding voice control to your home stereo system.

With the same far-field voice recognition as the original Echo, Dot provides hands-free command over Amazon Music, Prime number Music, Pandora, Spotify, iHeartRadio, and TuneIn. Just enquire Alexa to play Adele, NPR, or surprise you with her ain picks.

The $89.99 Echo Dot is available exclusively for Prime members. There'due south a catch, though. You tin can only society it via Alexa Vocalism Shopping, meaning you have to already ain the pricier Amazon Echo or Fire Goggle box. Just say, "Alexa, society an Repeat Dot."

If y'all're in the marketplace for something a bit more portable, the Amazon Tap looks similar most other Bluetooth speakers, merely uses the Alexa Voice Service (when connected to Wi-Fi or a mobile hotspot) to read the news, provide weather condition reports, even turn on and off the lights.

As its name suggests, merely tap the microphone push to inquire for a song, artist, or genre; dual stereo speakers with Dolby processing promise 360-degree omni-directional sound.

A unmarried battery charge in the included Charging Cradle provides up to ix hours of continuous playback. Also pick up a Tap Sling instance in of six colors for $19.99, to protect against everyday article of clothing and tear.

Amazon's voice-controlled Tap is bachelor now to pre-order for $129.99; information technology arrives March 31.

Download the free Alexa App on Burn down Os, Android, iOS, and desktop to set up your new devices and connect to various services and other smart home products.

Nest Learning Thermostat owners, meanwhile, can look forward to new Alexa integration, set to become live presently. Pair the thermostat with an Echo or Fire TV device, and then enquire Alexa to alter the temperature and written report the humidity levels, or tell the smart thermostat yous're leaving for the weekend.

For more, see PCMag's review of the Amazon Echo and the video below.