Alexa is a 'virtual assistant' device which enables users to use their voice commands similar to Apple Siri, Microsoft Cortana, and Google Now and works flawlessly. Surely, it won't be perfect as Ironman's Jarvis but will smartly facilitate and entertain your day-to-day activities and speed up your routine.
Echo Dot 2nd Gen. is an amazing cloud-connected, voice-activated, Alexa powered virtual assistant device from Amazon. It is always-on, always-listening Internet-connected speakers. This time the design is more compact yet much powerful with internal hardware and a louder speaker.
They have smartly sliced off its top to make it shorter. With this size, one can hardly call it a speaker compared to its previous version. Its ring of far-field microphones, volume controls, LED lights, radios for Bluetooth and Wi-Fi receivers are some of the things you will notice on its exteriors. image source: amazon.com
Even though Echo dot has smaller speakers, this time, you have the option to connect it to your other audio devices by plugging in or over a Bluetooth. Echo Dot is loud enough to ping you notifications such as alarms, voice controlled notifications and much more. Echo's far-field microphones are capable of listening to your commands even from room distance and follow the instructions. Once heard, Echo Dot will connect to the cloud, coordinate with Amazon's servers and do what it can do best for you.
Buy on Amazon ($49.99)
While Amazon Tap and Amazon Fire TV voice remote requires you to press a button to start up with Alexa's voice, Echo Dot is automatic and always on once started.
There is some basic rundown which includes Stream Music, Set timers, and alarms, Read the headlines, Answer your questions, Control your smart home, Keep tabs on traffic and the weather and much more. Moreover, you can also teach her to follow the things such as ordering Pizza from Dominos, a ride flagging skill from Uber, financial management skill from Capital one etc.
Amazon's Open Application Programming interface (API) is again great for using the third-party smart devices to work with Alexa. That includes using voice controls for lights, switches, thermostats etc. You will just need to download the Skills for each gadget from your Alexa App. video source: amazon youtube channel.
Amazon's Alexa also have native support for brands such as Belkin WeMo Switches, Emerson Sensi Wi-Fi thermostat, Nest Learning Thermostat, Honeywell Lyric Connected thermostat, Lifx LEDs, Philips Hue LEDs and few more.
Further, its skill support includes Automatic Lab connected Driving Assistant, Fitbit, Skybell HD Video Doorbell, Vivint, Stringify, TP-Link Kasa, Ooma Smart home phone system and few more.
So far you can use Alexa in Amazon's devices such as Amazon Echo, Tap and Echo Dot smart speakers which costs around $80 - $150. You can also find Alexa in Amazon Fire Tv Stick. Amazon has also allowed the third party to use their Alexa software to incorporate into their devices.
Buy on Amazon ($49.99)
Originally written by Choozurmobile Team, Content Protected!