[itwasntme]

Originally Posted by pickdj

Also, we have seen some random music being played even when nobody is saying anything. Creepy!

No parrots at home I hope?

https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/45...-african-grey/

[pratyush6]

So, I finally bought the Echo from Amazon and have been using it for about a week now. Amazingly, the CC had told me even if you get an invite the product would be delivered after 2 months (atleast). So it was surprising to get in the next morning after placing the order!

On the device itself, I could not find a lot of reviews, hence posting this here:

1. The voice command (Alexa) is not person specific, will respond to anyone
2. The speaker itself is decent at best.
3. There is no battery backup (did not know this)
4. Amazon uses a propriety charger (not micro USB)

5. Assistant is very good, and there is a huge scope of it getting more feature rich
6. It will even respond to 'Alexa' when playing a song!
7. Well made and really VFM

[libranof1987]

Good to see overall positive reviews, considering the price. I'm sure the device will not even remotely sell as well at full pricing.

Originally Posted by pratyush6

3. There is no battery backup (did not know this)

Potentially *the* reason what made me cancel my order. I was always undecided but it not having its own battery was the deal breaker.

[itwasntme]

My take with the Dot:

+ Well priced factoring in the Prime offer
+ Amazing for kids. My 2 are routinely ordering Alexa around like they do to me
+ Very sensitive microphones
+ Overall intelligent responses and correct hits
+ Tiny form factor
+ Portable as long as you have a power connection
+ Funky lights
+ Seamless connectivity via BT

- Terrible Malgudi Days / Chhota Bheem type voice. Amazon needs to offer a urban Indianized voice at least as an alternative
- Not portable! The Dot at least should have had a battery
- Needs more Indian skills
- Very tinny sound but I am fine with that
- Could have been more rubberised to avoid damage

Overall a good deal!

[pratyush6]

Originally Posted by libranof1987

Good to see overall positive reviews, considering the price. I'm sure the device will not even remotely sell as well at full pricing.



Potentially *the* reason what made me cancel my order. I was always undecided but it not having its own battery was the deal breaker.

That and the proprietary charger. Even if it was a normal micro USB plug, users can work around it. With this though Echo Dot makes more sense, it uses a Micro USB charger and basically does the same things. The sound quality of the Echo to be used as a speaker is pretty ordinary in my view and that is what is bugging me. I have requested another invite to buy the Dot.

Amazon Music is great at playlists, specifically with Jazz! I can see this getting better with some a couple of iterations really.

The minimum Amazon should have done is have some bit of a battery backup so that people use it more without worrying about finding a power input. As of now, specially with kids around thats a toy that won't last long if set at one place.

[Wanderers]

Originally Posted by libranof1987

but it not having its own battery was the deal breaker.

Originally Posted by pratyush6

The minimum Amazon should have done is have some bit of a battery backup

Well I just activated my Echo Plus and will post review soon.

Regarding Battery, this is not a must unless you want to use it along with mobile or JioFi kind of devices.

I use it with Airtel WiFi, which goes down as well when there is power cut and Echo is useless without internet.

For people looking for battery, please visit Aliexpress, some of the offered Echo accessories like stand/holder comes with inbuilt battery.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/New-...StoreLevelAB=5

[mayankk]

Got the echo on a whim, and it made me realise just how lazy our species has become.
There is a full fledged stereo at home that can connect to the mobile, and will do EVERYTHING that the echo can, maybe even better. Probably better.
However, i was ashamed after the initial five seconds when I realised that I found the echo so convenient, because of the "extra effort" required to switch the stereo on, connect through blue-tooth and launch the relevant app on the phone.


Anyhoo, the device itself is beautiful, and like it has been mentioned, it aint portable.
It responds to anyone who prefixes their sentence with "Alexa". I like how both me and my wife can use it thus.
However, what is not so much fun is how my 4 year old observed us for 5 minutes and started going "Alexa, swalla la la song". Though it doesnt work, since we dont have amazon prime music yet, but its fun for him to keep talking to alexa the whole day.
The mics are pretty sensitive, and they can catch your voice even if it is muffled and coming from the loo. Speaker is very decent, even in my large-ish living/dining area.
All in all, good stuff for the price.

[itwasntme]

With 2 kids I'm already sick and tired of Boom Clap, Swalla and Shape of you

[ani_meher]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MECc...=StevenCrowder

Interesting view on Alexa's answers. Does it answer the same here as well?

[Wanderers]

Last week we bought Echo Plus and here is the feedback.

What you like

1. Well priced. Echo Dot is greatest value for money. Amazon prime subscription included for 1 year.
2. Rotary dial for volume in Echoplus
3. Powerful microphone
4. Sweet Voice
5. Response time (provided Alexa understands you)
6. Compatibility with long list of apps (Amazon calls it Skills)
7. No need for Alexa app after initial set-up for day to day working.
8. Smart Home control. Echo Plus have inbuilt Hub and no additional hardware required for IFTTT devices such as Philips Hue. (Echo & Echo dot can also control it with external hub. Very few devices such as Philips needs hub. So Echoplus is not having any great advantage)

What you dislike
1. Echo Plus is odd shape- 9" in height.
2. No color choice like Echo
3. Scope for better Answer. Google Home may be better
4. Bass effect not as great as Bose. You should not expect either.
5. No USB. Although charger pin is not proprietary as someone said in earlier post.



Tall, dark and Handsome (may or may not be)




Alexa with all ears to you.


Morning Alarm

[itwasntme]

Got a colleague to pick up 2 Google Home Minis on the amazing Walmart offer. Effective price came to only $4 each! Should be with me in 2 weeks time.

[kalpeshc]

Though it doesnt work, since we dont have amazon prime music yet,

All Echo in India comes with Amazon Prime Music integrated. Try asking her to play some popular numbers or albums and it would happily do so.

[mayankk]

Originally Posted by kalpeshc

All Echo in India comes with Amazon Prime Music integrated. Try asking her to play some popular numbers or albums and it would happily do so.

Oh, so thats why. The ID with which the unit was bought is not the one the echo is linked to. Thanks!

[nitishk]

Reading the last few positive reviews on Echo dot, I have just sent a request to Amazon for an invite. Any idea, how long does that take ?

My 2 cents on the battery support for Alexa, use your powerbank .

[kalpeshc]

Originally Posted by nitishk

Reading the last few positive reviews on Echo dot, I have just sent a request to Amazon for an invite. Any idea, how long does that take ?

My 2 cents on the battery support for Alexa, use your powerbank .

The power requirement is unlike what power banks can output. I think it's a 9v USB power adapter (check the details though)