Summary: The Amazon Echo was a revolutionary device that changed the technological landscape. But, is it really worth the steep price tag?
Sales of the Amazon Echo have been steadily rising throughout the past years. Every since Amazon released their first virtual assistant back in 2014, their charismatic voice-activated module has been gaining steam and coming out with new models – not to mention the growing list of compatible smart home gadgets. Now, truth be told, the Echo is indeed a hit with many homeowners and it isn’t showing any signs of slowing down soon.
Echo Dot and the Amazon Tap
Now, ever since the Echo was released, Amazon went on to reveal the Echo Dot and the battery-powered Amazon Tap. Both offer the Alexa functionality people have all grown to love and both cost less than the Echo ($180). Furthermore, the Echo Dot and Tap also do things the Echo cannot do.
For one, the tap runs essentially on a portable power supply, making it extremely convenient to place anywhere around the home. The Dot can also connect to an external speak setup via Bluetooth or via auxiliary cable to play music. After a recent update, users can now activate the Tap via voice commands, similar to that of the Echo and the Echo Dot.
Versatile Voice Command
Both the Dot and the Tap react to numerous voice commands. Users can easily get the weather forecast, hear the latest news, and order products on demand. Even more, if you’re an Amazon Prime enthusiast, you can make a voice purchase request to have the Tap search through Prime-eligible items and Amazon’s Choice items. The Tap will then relay whether or not the item is available and provide the user with the name, price, and shipping information. Lastly, Alexa will ask the user to confirm or cancel the order. It’s really that simple, and best of all, the whole process is hands-free!
Is it Worth It?
Now, that essentially makes it the same product as the Echo but with more portability, a better asking price, and a wider variety of functions. The truth of the matter is, the Echo is falling behind its fellow counterparts the Dot and the Tap. After all these updates, you can also consider it to be obsolete. However, don’t count it out just yet. There are strong signs that users will see new Alexa hardware from Amazon which may include a camera and a feature that adds both phone call and intercom capabilities. Now, it isn’t hard to think of many other features the second-generation Echo will come with, but you can be sure it’ll be miles ahead of the Tap and the Dot.
What does the Future Hold for the Echo?
While it’s too early to tell, expect the second-generation Echo to come fully-loaded with special features and functionalities. While it’s likely you’ll see a high price tag like the first generation, you might find that it could potentially offer everything that a near $200 device should have. With numerous portable power companies releasing new technologies, you’d expect Amazon to take it up a notch.