Krzysztof is a lifelong future tech junkie investigating the latest stories from companies like Apple, Samsung, Google, and Amazon.

What's the Amazon Echo Dot?

Amazon's Echo Dot is a 360 degree speaker that uses far-field voice recognition powered by the Amazon Alexa voice service/assistant.

Design-wise it looks like a hockey puck with four buttons on top. It's basically a Bluetooth speaker that looks like the first inch and a half of the top of a Pringles can.

The Echo Dot has everything the Echo and Echo Plus has including:

• Long range, far-field voice capabilities

• Microphone off button

• Volume buttons

• Action button (for WiFi setup)

• Alexa, who can answer questions, play music, and give you news, weather, traffic, sports results, and much more.

You also won't lose access to any of the Echo's abilities, including its 100,000+ third party skills like Fitbit, Uber, Domino's Pizza, and Capitol One.

However one major difference between the Echo Plus and Dot is the ZigBee integration in the Plus. This integration turns the device into a smart home hub, which makes it very easy to connect to smart home gadgets from Philips Hue, GE, and many others.

There are other differences listed below but ultimately you'll decide what works for you, so feel free to compare and contrast between the Dot, the Echo, and the Plus.

Echo Plus vs. Echo Dot vs. Echo (2nd & 3rd Gen)

Echo Dot's Best New Features

The 2nd Gen Echo Dot is very similar to the regular Echo yet one of its most common features almost renders the $90 Echo obsolete.

• The Dot contains a 3.5 mm audio output jack that facilitates connectivity to any speaker and turns it into an Alexa-enabled device.

Giving the Echo Dot a manual option to connect to other speakers makes up for its low audio quality, but you'll have to purchase the 3.5 mm audio cable separately.

• The Echo Dot can pair with other Bluetooth devices.

If you have other Bluetooth speakers in your house, then you can pair them with your Dot without the need for an audio cable.

To connect your devices to your WiFi or Bluetooth, download the Alexa app from Fire OS, Android, or iOS devices, go into your settings, choose the device you'd like to connect, and click on Bluetooth devices or WiFi network to begin setup.

If you have a Sonos One speaker, then you can access that speaker's settings through the Music, Video, & Books tab. You'll need to enable the Sonos skill and link your account to Alexa before setup.

• You can enable multiple Alexa devices in your home, and due to the ESP feature, only the nearest Echo will respond when you say the wake word.

The ESP feature makes it easy to set up as many Echo Dots in your home as you want without worrying about them all activating at once. However if that's not good enough, then you can give each device a different wake word. The wake words include: Alexa, Computer, Echo or Amazon.

• The Echo Dot's small size increases its portability and makes it easy to add multiple Dots in your home.
  

The Echo Dot is the smallest Alexa gadget you can buy, which makes it easy to add to any room in your home, however; you'll still need a battery pack accessory to get more portability. If you want complete portability, then try the Amazon Tap.

The Tap is battery powered and can last 6-8 hours on a full charge, however; it needs to be connected to WiFi or a Hot spot for Alexa to work.

• You can customize your dot with different fabrics and covers.

The Dot may only come in black or white, but there are numerous skins and fabric covers available to customize it however you want.

The 6 official styles that you can purchase include:

• Saddle Tan Leather

• Merlot Leather

• Midnight Leather

• Indigo Fabric

• Charcoal Fabric

• Sandstone Fabric

These different styles make it easy for your Echo Dot to blend in with your environment and individual aesthetic.

The Echo Dot's Price Cut

• At a mere $25 to $30, the Echo Dot is 70% less expensive than the Amazon Echo and over $100 less than the Echo Plus.

For that low price you'll still receive the same software and Alexa voice capabilities as the regular Echo and more expensive Plus. No wonder so many tech sites praised this product, often giving it an Editor's Choice Award.

The Echo Dot's closest price competitor is the Google Home Mini, which generally costs around $30. The Mini rivals the Echo Dot in sound quality, size, and ability, but the Dot (and Alexa) has been around longer and it offers a lot more third-party skills than Google does.

Still it wouldn't hurt getting both devices (total cost less than one Amazon Echo) as Google can answer more queries, access Google's database, and boost your productivity.

Unlike phone or laptop brands, your bank account won't break by getting devices from two separate smart speaker brands and it'll improve your smart home/gadget experience.

Echo Dot (3rd Generation)

Amazon recently unveiled the next iteration of the Dot, and it looks better than ever.

This new Dot looks very similar to the Google Home Mini with an encased fabric design, a more circular shape, and a louder speaker system. The next-gen dot comes in three fabric varieties including Heather Gray, Charcoal, and Sandstone.

Perhaps the biggest change versus the 2nd Gen Dot is the much improved speaker that's projected to sound up to 70% louder than its predecessor. That should make a huge difference with not only sound but with Alexa's listening skills.

All the other caveats apply including Alexa skills, music streaming, calling & texting, and the dozens of other Amazon Alexa features that are included.

The 3rd Gen Dot is currently available for $30 at Amazon.com and from a multitude of other retailers including Amazon's owned Whole Foods.

Echo Dot Kids Edition

This new kid friendly version of the Echo Dot comes with a colored bumper case (crayola colored blue, green, and red), a two year warranty, and a year's worth of FreeTime unlimited.

FreeTime Unlimited is a software package that includes a child friendly and more polite version of Alexa, numerous premium games and skills from Disney and Nickelodeon, 300 audio books for kids, customized ad-free audio/radio playlists, and custom alarms from various cartoon characters like SpongeBob SquarePants.

Once the free trial ends, Prime members can continue their Unlimited subscription for $3 a month or $5 a month for non-Prime members.

There's also a free version that comes with parental controls. These controls dictate how long their kids can talk to Alexa and which skills can be used. Parents can also disable voice shopping, calling, and third-party skills (Uber). However the intercom system including drop-in will still be functional if parents want to check-in on their kids.

The Echo Dot Kids Edition is available for $69.99 but it's often discounted for $10 less, which is a great deal when you consider the perks included.

Echo Dot Stands on Its Own

The best part about the Dot is that just one can do 1000's of different things, which is partly why it has become such a massive hit and best-seller for Amazon.

Its brilliant seven-microphone-array design and easy WiFi connectivity make it a must-have home assistant, and additionally, the built-in 0.6" (1.6" for 3rd Gen) speaker delivers sound on par with other mini Bluetooth speakers.

The sound quality will be lacking and won't fill a room with sound, but it's not bad for intimate bedroom listening, and many reviewers agreed that it sounded better than expected.

But if the sound quality bothers you, then you can always connect it to another speaker or perhaps upgrade to the larger Echo. The Echo Dot was always designed to be a gateway to the smart home, which is why consumers often buy multiple Dots for their home.

So if you're willing to forego sound quality, then you can't go wrong with this device.

How to Order an Echo Dot?

When the first generation model came out, you could only order it via three ways:

1. Amazon Echo (1st Gen)
2. Voice controlled Amazon Fire TV
3. Amazon Tap

Those who pre-ordered the first model a month before its launch (March 31, 2016) were fortunate to receive it early though there were limitations on how many you could purchase. I know Amazon doesn't like to release numbers/stats for their items, but you can guess how well the first gen sold based on the amount of reviews and how quickly it was out of stock.

You can now order the 2nd and 3rd generation models...

• online or in-store
• you no longer have to order through Alexa (although doing so does include the perk of a $10 shopping credit)
• there's no longer a limit of one per order and two per customer: you can now order as many as you want, and if you order 2, you get $20 off your purchase.

The new model is Amazon's top seller. When you have a fantastic product at half the price, it's no wonder.

Echo Dot Bundle Deals

Currently their are several bundle deals you can take advantage of on Amazon.com. Some of these deals include:

• Echo Dot 3rd Gen (Black) + Fire TV Stick 4K ($69.98)

• Echo Dot (Black) + Philips Hue White Starter Kit ($69.99)

• Echo Dot 2nd Gen (White) + TP-Link Smart Plug Mini ($39.98)

• Echo Dot (3rd Gen) + Amazon Smart Plug ($44.98)

All Echo Dot deals are 2nd and 3rd Gen only and vary from day to day, so always check back to see what new offerings Amazon has available.

Be on the lookout for special deals on Amazon's Prime day and during the holiday season.

Final Thoughts on Amazon's Echo Dot

As a lifelong futurist and tech junkie, I think the Echo Dot is an excellent product that I'll happily award 4.5 out of 5 stars.

• This product has everything the Echo and Echo Plus has, but at $30 dollars this Alexa-implemented device is a steal.
• The sound quality is lacking, but that's expected from a mini speaker.
• What does prevent me from giving it a perfect 5 out of 5 is that occasionally it's difficult to get the Dot to hear you during music playback, although it's gotten much better with the newer model.

However for all the pros and its excellent price tag, I have nothing but praise for this device. I've been using these products since I pre-ordered the first generation and recommend it to everyone to see what the fuss is all about.

Try it for yourself!

It's a small investment, and it's a much more practical smart speaker than the $90 Echo or $150 Echo Plus unless of course you can't stomach the audio quality.

The Echo Dot is an excellent product that I'll happily award 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Your Turn!

This article is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge. Content is for informational or entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for personal counsel or professional advice in business, financial, legal, or technical matters.

Questions & Answers

Question: Which Amazon Echo should I purchase to play music from one room to another in my home?

Answer: I've been able to play music from multiple rooms (multi-room music) from my regular Amazon Echo (1st & 2nd gen.) and Echo Dot (1st & 2nd gen.).

Question: Do I need to purchase the Echo Connect to make phone calls from the new third generation Echo Dot?

Answer: If you'd like to make phone calls using your landline, then yes you'll still need an Echo Connect. If you're using mobile, then you don't have to.

Question: Does the Echo Dot use my WiFi connection?

Answer: Yes, all Echo devices have to connected through either WiFi or a mobile hotspot.

Question: Can I connect the $50 Echo Dot to the Bose?

Answer: If it's Bluetooth compatible, then you can play it on any device that supports it. The Echo also has an AUX out port, so you can link it to other speakers, too.

Question: Is there a monthly use fee for the Echo Dot?

Answer: There are no monthly usage fees for any Echo product. There are fees for certain third-party premium music services like Amazon Music or Spotify, but you don't have to purchase those services to use Echo for music.

Question: Can I use a third generation Echo Dot to turn on my lamp in my very small studio apartment?

Answer: Personally, I think a second or third generation Echo Dot is perfect for smaller spaces, and as long as you have a compatible smart plug/light, then it shouldn't be a problem. You just have to plug in or install the smart plugs/lights and ask Alexa to discover your devices.

Question: Do I need WiFi or a smartphone to use Amazon Echo?

Answer: You only need WiFi to use it, and you can use the Web/PC version of Alexa to set up your Echo. Just make sure you have an Amazon account.

Question: Can I use different generations of the Echo Dot together? Like the second generation in one room, and the third generation in another?

Answer: Yes, you should be able to. Both generations contain the same version of Alexa, which means they get simultaneous software updates that allow them to be compatible with one another.

Comments

Zainul abid on April 26, 2020:

is it can light control ?

Krzysztof Willman (author) from Parlin, New Jersey on January 08, 2018:

The Tap was intended to be on the go unlike the Echo or Echo Dot, which is why a lack of a WiFi single would make it difficult to take it anywhere.

Things change so quickly that's it's hard to keep track. I remember it coming with a 3.5 mm audio cable, but thanks for letting me know.

Considering tens of millions of Echo devices were shipped with the Dot outperforming all bought items on Amazon.com, I'd say you're absolutely right. I hope they continue to lower the price point of the other smart home accessories though.

NikkiRoxi on January 05, 2018:

The Echo no longer ships with a 3.5 mm Audio Cable. In fact they stopped doing that quite some time ago. I bought my first Echo Dots in December 2016 and none of them came with those cables.

"However, the Amazon Tap is viewed as a middle-of-the-road Bluetooth speaker that lacks cellular data and/or mobile hotspot connections, thus limiting portability. The Tap may be battery powered, but when you constantly need a WiFi connection, it loses its punch."

Your statement above doesn't make sense since all Echo devices require a constant Wifi connection. What did you mean by this?

Christmas 2017 was the year of the Echo Dot. It cost $29.99 and in some cases you could have also picked it up for $34.99 which included a TP Link Smart Plug. I bought several @ $30 as gifts for family members.

Krzysztof Willman (author) from Parlin, New Jersey on November 24, 2017:

I understand but that's the good news, right now the Echo Dot is only around $30, which is a small investment that won't make you hate yourself even if it ends up being a novelty item, but I think there are plenty of uses that should ease your concerns.

Eric Farmer from Rockford Illinois on November 18, 2017:

I am debating getting an Amazon Echo Dot. I just wonder if I will actually use it or if it will be a novelty item. I might get it this year during holiday sales as it goes really cheap just to play around with it.

Krzysztof Willman (author) from Parlin, New Jersey on November 08, 2017:

I am aware of the smart hub integration and will be adding that in. Thank you

Jeff Bryant on November 01, 2017:

The Echo Dot does NOT have everything that the Echo Plus has. Did you miss Amazon's own comparison chart? "Built-in hub for simple setup of compatible smart home devices" Echo Dot does not have these features.

Calvin on October 20, 2017:

As someone who has the echo dot that is waiting for the plus which Includes a lightbulb and has a built in smart hub and more advanced dolby processing, I think that the extra price is worth it. I have spent hours looking at both which are both great products but if you can get connected without a hub with the plus that can save you about 50 dollars and with better louder speakers and many microphones on the plus I went with it. I do like the tap. The only downside is you cannot call using the tap so the dot or echo or plus are compatible with calling and voice messaging. I love that I can just ask Alexa to call and she will do it ! I would suggest comparing the hub no hub, speaker differences, and include that it comes with a free lightbulb and is available in three colors.

Krzysztof Willman (author) from Parlin, New Jersey on July 05, 2017:

The device can play music from Spotify, Amazon, Pandora, or TuneIn but the sound quality will be that of a small speaker. The Dot does have the option to connect to other speakers or you can pair it with any Bluetooth speaker to get better sound.

Wayne A on July 05, 2017:

Does Model number B01DFKC2SO Echo Dot (2nd Generation) play music? without any other products?

Krzysztof Willman (author) from Parlin, New Jersey on June 28, 2017:

I'm sorry to hear about your awful experience, I often take the optional 1 year warranty just in case things like this happen but understandably the device should last you much longer than 6 months. Chances are you were sent a faulty device, which can sometimes be exchanged despite the warranty expiration.

As bad as this seemed, at least you didn't lose out on $180 with the Amazon Echo as $50 is a lot easier to swallow, however; I understand that doesn't negate a 50 dollar product. I've had mostly positive experiences with Amazon and often was able to speak to their customer service team to sort things out but I understand your frustration and mistrust of the company. I still have a first generation Echo Dot that I preordered when it was released in March 2016 and it still works okay.

The majority of customers had positive experiences with these devices but no everyone is so lucky and I would try to get some sort of retribution by talking with customer service even after the warranty expiration.

cobrajockey on June 27, 2017:

If this (Echo Dot) is such a wonderful device (electronically) then why does Amazon only give a 3 months warranty on it? Answer, they know it's a piece of crap and won't last very long and don't want to be deluged with thousands of returns! Mine lasted 6 months exactly when it suddenly "lost it's voice", no audio output through the crappy built-in speaker. For now, it will still talk though a Bluetooth connected speaker, but why the hell should you have to put up with that on $50 device only 6 months old. We've gotten screwed by Amazon again! 90 day warranty, what a farce.

Carlos Bre - From Argentina on June 08, 2017:

Hi, I read and study a lot about Amazon Echo Dot, I bought 3 of them when I went last year to USA. I also bought a lot of ITEA SonOff switches, and one Logitech Harmony Hub. Now my house looks like a house of the future. I program alarms, listen to news, close and open windows, turn off and on lights and electrical devices, also I turn on and of the tv and multimedia devices. All just with my voice, talking to Alexa vía the three Echo Dots 2nd gen that I have in my house.

My wife and son first did not like it but after one day they love it too.

Thank you very much Amazon.

I love you!.

Carlos Mariano Bre

Buenos Aires

Argentina

PS: Amazon, please let my buy your products, I can not buy a lot of them because I am Argentina, I mean, Music, TV Programs, Movies, and I also can not buy a lot of items because you do not send to Argentina. Amazon, please help me. Thank you!

Krzysztof Willman (author) from Parlin, New Jersey on May 30, 2017:

Thank you for that correction, the half price was based off of the first generation Echo Dot which was 90 dollars.

Rpn on May 30, 2017:

Author, $50 is not half the price of $180.

Krzysztof Willman (author) from Parlin, New Jersey on May 06, 2017:

I've got it connected to a variety of Bluetooth devices, mostly speakers and headphones but haven't tried it with a laptop yet.

Minu on May 03, 2017:

Can dot be connected to a Bluetooth laptop and access the same?

Krzysztof Willman (author) from Parlin, New Jersey on April 08, 2017:

You need to purchase a battery pack attachment so it's not technically wireless. If you truly want a wireless experience the Amazon Tap has become a great alternative because you no longer have to tap the microphone button to access Alexa and it runs a good 6-8 hrs on a full charge.

corinne on April 06, 2017:

is the echo dot wireless

Krzysztof Willman (author) from Parlin, New Jersey on March 01, 2017:

Are you referring to the exercise skill because occasionally they'll malfunction.

tracy on February 27, 2017:

i exercised with alexa now she will not not do this for me

Krzysztof Willman (author) from Parlin, New Jersey on January 18, 2017:

I'm happy to hear it I hope you make the most of what the product has to offer.

Donaldo Rober on January 16, 2017:

Just got mine last night. I am already amazed.

Krzysztof Willman (author) from Parlin, New Jersey on January 15, 2017:

That's correct but I've been able to use the Dot in the car and there are third party battery options that some have success with when they attached them to the bottom of either Echo device. It's more portable in the way that it's far easier to move the smaller Echo around and with the 3.5 mm jack it makes it easier to attach to an external speaker for outdoor use and such.

Randy Hogan on January 11, 2017:

How can the Dot be taken outside or be portable any more than the Echo? They both must be plugged into AC power. Only the Tap is truly portable.

For those with questions about using multiple Dots, only the one closest to you will accept commands. At least that's what I've read.

Julia on January 08, 2017:

Hello,

I am looking for a product that is voice commanded for my Mother who is going blind. She can no longer read. Is Alexa able to be used as a telephone?

Krzysztof Willman (author) from Parlin, New Jersey on January 07, 2017:

There's only one official Amazon Alexa app that should be used to connect to all Echo devices however there are plenty of apps for smart devices that also link to Alexa such as the WeMo app or Philips Hue.

Krzysztof Willman (author) from Parlin, New Jersey on December 29, 2016:

The Sonos control will be a huge step forward for both platforms and I know a lot of people are looking forward to it. I'm glad you found additional enjoyment out of the device and even some useful functionality from her many features. I expect a lot more speakers will integrate Alexa into them by next year even if it's just to fully control the audio and playback.

BrianDocili on December 29, 2016:

Got the Echo Dot because soon it will sync with our Sonos system which provides amazing sound throughout the entire house. I did not think we would enjoy the other features of Alexa, but I have to admit, she is pretty cool. Try enabling some of her skills. I like to get a morning flash report with news when I come down for my 1st cup of coffee. She gives me the best traffic route to drive to work, tells me the weather, etc. The speaker sucks for music, but as I said, I use Sonos for music. I just want Alexa to control Sonos which is coming very soon.

Krzysztof Willman (author) from Parlin, New Jersey on December 28, 2016:

The Dot was always meant to connect/sync to a much higher quality unit via 3.5 mm jack so it works well once you connect to say a Bose speaker. People who are looking for better quality without seeking a complementary output speaker should but the original Echo instead.

R. Norris on December 28, 2016:

My wife got an Echo Dot this Christmas. Why people would use this unit as an audio output device is beyond me since the audio quality is awful.

Krzysztof Willman (author) from Parlin, New Jersey on December 27, 2016:

I actually enjoy the Echo's sound quality but I'm also not an audiophile, so what do I know. That's a great tip by the way regarding where the device is placed as most don't realize how impactful the surface plane can be. I think most people would be happy with the audio output of the original Echo unless they own much higher quality speakers like a Bose or a Sonos. It is nice that the Dot allows you to sync with your existing sound systems though, which is what I wish the larger Echo gave you the option to do but that's a nitpick.

I wouldn't want to give people the impression that the Echo is a middle of the road speaker because it certainly isn't. Given its price along with Alexa's integration, 180 dollars is a good price for what you get regarding quality.

Krzysztof Willman (author) from Parlin, New Jersey on December 27, 2016:

Well for 40-50 bucks it's not a huge expense and most connected gadgets require an WiFi nowadays. The "your phone can already do everything" is a common argument but when I'm home it's a lot more convenient to ask for things like sports scores or the weather than look it up on your phone. There are also other benefits if you use smart devices for things like lighting and whatnot. The Dot isn't expensive and it's very convenient when you need quick answers to everyday inquiries.

dfmoberg on December 26, 2016:

Only a couple of notes on the review;

I purchased my Echo this past Spring, (relatively new), and it does not come with a USB cord/adapter, only the outlet power adapter.

The sense I get from this review is that the Echo is nothing more than a Dot on a speaker, and many people say the sound quality is not that great on the Echo. Here's where I part company...

The speaker on the Echo is actually quite decent. I'm a "sound enthusiast" and I am very happy with the Echo's quality. Maybe I got lucky and received one of the "good" ones, or maybe I have realistic expectations of a single device providing quality sound. My Echo, placed on a proper surface in a proper location, sounds excellent.

Place an Echo on a glass table-top in a corner of the room..you should expect it to sound like garbage. Place an Echo on a solid wooden surface (increases lower frequencies) towards the middle of the room (providing 360 degree output), and it is much better than a "middle of road" speaker. Maybe not a Bose quality Bluetooth, put certainly as good as any $130 Bluetooth speaker.

I purchased the 2nd Gen Dot, and when it arrives tomorrow, it will be synced with my Bluetooth sound system in the living room where the Echo resided until two months ago.

I moved my Echo to the kitchen table (solid wood, middle of room) for its convenience. Decent sound quality for cooking and dining, access to online recipes, news and weather, and she makes coffee!

BTW, with regards to an earlier comment about the volume controls, why push buttons or turn a dial when all you have to do is say, "Alexa, volume up. Alexa, volume down. Alexa, volume three. Alexa, my neighbor can't hear this yet"?

Dpostman2 on December 26, 2016:

It's hard to believe that anyone would want one of these. It requires WiFi and you wouldn't have WiFi without a computer and your computer and most likely your phone can do everything this can do. I guess it's cool but maybe ten to twenty dollar cool to me.

iris on December 24, 2016:

do you connect the dot to an app? i see there are amazon alexa apps.

Krzysztof Willman (author) from Parlin, New Jersey on December 23, 2016:

The original Echo Dot is impossible to find for sure and I agree that people just don't have any sense spending so much. Hopefully you got the Dots when they were on sale because for 40-50 dollars it's a bargain. The Echo Dot has routinely been crowned one of the best gadget gifts to get this season and I'm sure whoever gets them will love them. I haven't tried the 2-hr delivery yet but talk about super fast shipping.

Valery Savage on December 23, 2016:

I bought several dots for Christmas gifts. I hope the recipients enjoy them as much as you do. Thanks for all the info. I was really upset that I couldn't find the original echo, except on eBay where people are paying several hundred dollars for after Christmas delivery. I think some people are nuts. I'm now happy I had to settle for the dots. I even had them delivered within 2 hours from Amazon Now. Which I LOVE by the way.

Krzysztof Willman (author) from Parlin, New Jersey on December 22, 2016:

To use the device and Alexa, there's no monthly fee. The only fee would be if you were to join. Music subscription service such as Amazon Music Unlimited.

Mark on December 22, 2016:

Same question as Karen. Is there a monthly fee?

karen on December 22, 2016:

Is there a monthly fee?

Krzysztof Willman (author) from Parlin, New Jersey on December 14, 2016:

Unfortunately there are some questions Alexa simply doesn't yet have the smarts for, and it's one of my biggest complaints. It doesn't take away from the product but it can get annoying for seemingly easy questions.

Mlertym on December 13, 2016:

I asked a simple question "Who was Cuban president in 1955?" and Alexa said "hmmm, I don't understand the question. Why?

Krzysztof Willman (author) from Parlin, New Jersey on December 08, 2016:

Would you care to elaborate?

steven on December 06, 2016:

Review is all wrong.. where you get your info??

Krzysztof Willman (author) from Parlin, New Jersey on December 01, 2016:

Currently the Echo's language is English only although new dialects are being introduced as we speak primarily from the UK. If you can get your hands on a Dot then I don't see why it wouldn't work in New Zealand.

Anne Mair on December 01, 2016:

Will the echo dot work in New Zealand ?

Krzysztof Willman (author) from Parlin, New Jersey on November 02, 2016:

They don't sync up simultaneously yet if that's what you mean.

Mick on October 30, 2016:

I have the Echo. Can I use Echo Dots to augment it in other rooms?

Krzysztof Willman (author) from Parlin, New Jersey on October 26, 2016:

How so? It wastes very little power despite it always being plugged in.

Serg on October 25, 2016:

Won't it waste electricity wasting money

Krzysztof Willman (author) from Parlin, New Jersey on October 18, 2016:

I have multiple echos and I was able to set different alarms for each however I used a different wake word for every one, "Alexa, Echo, Amazon". I'll have to test your theory but the latest update with ESP (Echo Spatial Perception) should mean you can set multiple alarms for a specific dot.

Krzysztof Willman (author) from Parlin, New Jersey on October 18, 2016:

Thanks for the update and that's an unusual take-out. I wonder why they decided to remove it.

Bridgett on October 17, 2016:

Question - If you set an alarm, can you set it to one specific dot?

Scenario - So, the purpose of the dots is to have multiple ones throughout the house. Say I buy 6 dots - one for the living room, kitchen, master bedroom, and three children's rooms. My husband sets the alarm to 6:00am, but my son has to get up for work at 4:00am, and my daughter gets up at 6:30am for school ... would all alarms go off on all of the dots?

Bryan on October 15, 2016:

Note that the generation 2 Dot does not(!) have the rotating volume ring, currently still described in the "What's the Amazon Echo Dot?" section. Too bad, as the volume ring is a very nice feature on the original Echo - much better than klunky volume +/- buttons.

Krzysztof Willman (author) from Parlin, New Jersey on September 16, 2016:

I'm happy to heae you've had such a positive experience. While I know these devices aren't perfect, I've found that more often than not people are satisfied with the Echo or Echo Dot. I'm also glad to hear Amazon making a greater push towards expanding these devices and Alexa into even more platforms. I really want to see her be used to control music settings and perform other functions within the car next. Thats a huge market to tap into.

djvthewriter on September 14, 2016:

Bought the original Echo sometime ago....never been disappointed...love to sit outside and use the remote to change music stations and/or Tune In Radio. Then bought the dot and use it in my bedroom...asking the time, setting alarm, and checking the weather. Now just bought the new dot and will use it by taking it with me on the road....a trusty alarm clock and of course a Wikipedia source of INFO. I'm so happy I bought Amazon stock a few years ago. Good going Jeff Bezos!

Jim Brannan on August 24, 2016:

The Dot is much better than the Echo. They sell you a crammed in speaker for an extra $80 in the Echo that has such a smothered sound I couldn't understand mine if it talked for more that a few seconds and I returned the first and sold the replacement unit. With the Dot it allows you to connect it to some decent speakers by wire or bluetooth anywhere in the room or farther. It's too bad I bought the last one, literally. They were sold out after they shipped mine and they never had any more. I hope they replace it with another similar model and don't just milk us all to death for the profit of selling us that horribly designed speaker model.

Krzysztof Willman (author) from Parlin, New Jersey on July 24, 2016:

That's all fantastic, I hope a lot of people read this comment so they can get a better feel of what these devices can do for them. Tap will work if there's a WiFi connection but it might work off your phones cell data too.

Krzysztof Willman (author) from Parlin, New Jersey on July 24, 2016:

I think it might be on hold for now but I know you can still find it on other places like eBay.

Extol over on July 22, 2016:

Amazon cancelled this product

Krzysztof Willman (author) from Parlin, New Jersey on May 29, 2016:

I'm glad you really love the products because they are quite addicting and represent a cool,, new paradigm shift that we haven't seen since the rise of the World Wide Web. All of your requests describe why people love Alexa so much, POTENTIAL. There's so many possibilities and you've mentioned many of them that could soon be possible.

I think we're a year or two away from seeing many of those ideas becoming a reality and it's an exciting time for consumer tech.

Babs on May 28, 2016:

I am OLD! I LOVE Alexa! I have her,Echo Dot and Tap! As I write, I'm sitting on my front porch with Tap, listening to the Marcus Sakey Trilogy(final one, Written In Fire).Alexa is in the bedroom, where she gives the weather, the news and the verse of the day. Echo Dot sets a timer so I don't burn the cookies, and Tap lets me listen outside. Sure, some of it's skills are silly..but so much fun! Most of her skills are VERY useful...like, set an alarm for a wake up time, set a Noise machine(Alexa, play Ocean Waves, Alexa Loop) that will play ocean sounds all night.Nothing like listening to a good book, setting a timer for it to stop and then drifting to sleep to ocean waves. Waiting for Amazon to have a Smart Home Kit with basics that instantly work with Alexa and is reasonably priced. Also like being able to say Alexa, add XXXXX to my shopping list and have her read it back. She can even PLACE the order. I wish you could record your own thoughts...like a short thought...and keep it. Would be fun to save special events and be able to keep and have her read it...like a personal book. Think GrandOnes, here. Would be fun to be able to read a bedtime story in YOUR OWN VOICE when you're far away...or when they visit to hear their parent read the story. Get busy Devs! Will Tap work if you go on a Cruise Ship

Krzysztof Willman (author) from Parlin, New Jersey on April 12, 2016:

That makes sense across the product spectrum. Reviews are a very broad way of indicating popularity and quality, and I'm very weary of tainted/duplicate reviews sites like Amazon are attempting to do away with.

Nancy Yager from Hamburg, New York on April 11, 2016:

Just to give you a better idea of how it well it is selling, they estimate that only 1 in 50 customers with leave a product review.