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So last week I acquired an Amazon Echo Dot (2nd gen.). There are a couple of flavors of Echo's (echo is the hardware terminal) and Alexa is the AI assistant/guide. They all have the same function, except the higher models have better speakers (if you want to listen "stand alone").
https://www.amazon.com/Amazon-Echo-A...ode=9818047011
I'm new to digital assistant's , so if you all know already ... then don't bother to read farther.
Coming from an IT background, I'd call it basically a display-less, voice i/o terminal. It's just a link to it's home server , with very little processing power on it's own.
It is NOT mobile like Siri , but can control the "smart home" ... gets access to your wireless router. Only physical connections are power and a 3.5mm (mini audio) jack.
So been having lots of fun learning it. Configured it to play Pandora. The sound quality from the jack to my amp to the 120Ti's is outstanding. Getting away from streaming through my old laptop eases up on the CPU usage and SQ is comparable to the laptop outputting optical to an external 24/192 dac.
There are also many free apps (Amazon calls them "skills") that you can download. It currently works in English, Japanese, German and Spanish. When I ask for a Viet translation, it replies "Havn't learned that language yet", if it's servers don't know ... it contacts Microsoft's server and then sends me an instant message with the answer.
Can be configured to interface with your car, thermostat, roomba ,etc,etc.
Can be moderated from iPhone, Android, pads or PC/Mac. It's communicates with the user via colored animated leds. Very intuitive. 7 mics and you can wake it from across a room w/o raising your voice.
The Alexa service is FREE once you have the ECHO hardware. The lowest price model of the ECHO line is the Dot, which (I think) was initially $100 , then dropped to 50, now that the gen3 version is coming next week, they've dropped the gen2 to $30 shipped. An absolutely incredible deal. These would make great Xmas presents for that tinkerer who has home wi-fi.(and time to burn)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...d_i=9818047011
Echo Dot is a voice-controlled speaker that uses Alexa to play music, control smart home devices, make calls, answer questions, set timers and alarms, and more
Play music from Amazon Music, Spotify, Pandora, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, and SiriusXM
Call or message family and friends hands-free, or drop in from the Alexa App to your Echo device
Controls lights, locks, thermostats, and more with compatible connected devices
Use the built-in speaker, or for bigger sound, connect to speakers through Bluetooth or audio cable
50,000+ skills, including Jeopardy!, Lyft, Audible, and Domino's. Always getting smarter and adding new features
Hears you from across the room with 7 far-field microphones for hands-free control, even in noisy environments or while playing music
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