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It’s been a few years now since smart speaker-digital assistant devices started infiltrating our homes. The devices have continued to improve and evolve, and they’ve been redesigned too. Amazon has been iterating constantly with its lineup of Echo devices: whether you want a small and simple Echo device like Echo Dot, a big, high quality sounding Echo Studio, one with a screen like Echo Show, or something Goldilocks would appreciate somewhere right in the middle, like the Original Amazon Echo, there is an Amazon device that will fit easily into your space. I recently had a chance to go back to basics and re-try the 3rd generation 2019 Amazon Echo in my home for a few weeks. Here’s what I learned.
Amazon Echo, like all other Echo devices connects you with Alexa-an intelligent cloud-based voice service/digital butler-to allow you to play music, make calls, set alarms and timers, ask questions, check your calendar, get news, weather, traffic, and sports scores, manage to-do and shopping lists, and control smart home devices.
You can even place Amazon.ca orders just by asking. As an aside, the original device is simply called the Echo, while other versions go by Dot, Studio and Show. Alexa is the name of the digital assistant who’s at your service 24/7.
At its core, Echo is a speaker; a 360 degree/omnidirectional speaker so you get audio in every direction, no matter where you place it. The speaker quality is quite good. Whether it’s podcasts or music, the speaker sounds clear and actually has pretty decent bass. For its size and price I think you’ll get a lot out of it.
What’s new with Amazon Echo?
What’s new this time? Primarily the speaker quality. New premium speakers powered by Dolby play 360° audio for crisp vocals and dynamic bass response. Now you can also personalize your listening experience by adjusting the equalizer settings. Or pair with a second Echo (3rd Gen) or Echo Plus (2nd Gen) for stereo sound. Unlike the Echo Plus, this version doesn’t have a built in smart home hub or temperature sensor.
What can you do with Amazon Echo?
Personal digital assistants can do any number of tasks for you, all without ever having to pull out your smartphone or type on a keyboard:
• play music; whether you ask for a song, an artist, a genre or an album, Alexa can find it.
• play streaming music from services like Spotify
• adjust volume
• control your smart home devices (see more below)
• learn about new features: Just say. "Alexa, what new features do you have?"
• get current news, weather and traffic info
• have a book read aloud to you via Amazon's Audible books-on-tape service (Does not appear to be available in Canada yet)
• convert recipes and measurements
• set timers and alarms
• make phone calls
• use multiple Echo devices as an intercom system
• read your calendar to you, even an Apple or Outlook calendar
• check on your FitBit stats. Once you sync your FitBit with Alexa, there are many things you can ask, like, "Alexa, ask FitBit how I'm doing today." (Does not appear to be available in Canada yet)
• get nutrition information. "Alexa, how many calories in a hard boiled egg?"
• get guidance for a workout. After enabling the 7 Minute Workout skill, just say, "Alexa, Start 7 Minute Workout."
• control your compatible TV
• play radio via Tune In radio
• integrate with IFTTT
• customize its look with add-on covers, skins and decals
Setting up Echo devices
Setting up an Amazon Echo has always been pretty easy, but Amazon has made it even more streamlined. Download the Alexa app, then plug Echo in and it will greet you with an audible tone and a voice message that asks you to follow the set-up instructions in the Amazon Alexa app.
Open the Alexa app; if you wait 5-10 seconds, you’ll get a pop up in the app which will prompt you to complete set up. You’ll login or register for an Amazon account and then connect to your home’s Wi-Fi network. If you already have an Echo device in the house, it will automatically connect the new device to the same network.
Using Echo devices as an intercom
A neat feature of the Echo devices is the ability to use them as in-home intercoms between rooms. You can speak from your phone to an Echo device, or from Echo to Echo. You can call or Drop in. Calling lets the other person decide whether to respond to your call, while Drop In lets you open a two-way conversation any time you want.
31 июл 2024
