Siri was not the first but, as usual, it was Apple who popularized virtual assistants. He did it in 2011, with the launch of his iPhone 4S, and since then more and more of us use them. On a mobile, we can use them from to ask you to wake us up at an hour to create reminders or to indicate the route and time of arrival anywhere. But this type of assistant decided to get out of mobile phones a long time ago, and today there are some smart devices that use Alexa, the virtual assistant developed by Amazon.
Better speakers with Alexa
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Echo Pop | Speaker... | See features | 4.614 reviews | View deals |
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Echo Dot (5rd ... | See features | 17.193 reviews | View deals |
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Echo Dot with Clock (5th... | See features | 8.444 reviews | View deals |
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Echo (4th generation) | ... | See features | 5.249 reviews | View deals | |
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Echo Dot 4rd Generation
The 4th generation Echo Dot is the newest of Amazon's round speakers. It has a circular design, available in three colors, which looks good on any surface. It offers all the possibilities of Alexa, among which we have play music from Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify, Deezer and other services, with or without subscription (when possible).
Es compatible with other home automation devices, so we can control, for example, a WiFi thermostat by asking our virtual assistant. If we have other compatible Alexa devices, we can use it from Walky-Talky. And one of the most interesting points is that it is manufactured with our privacy in mind, which includes a button to disconnect the microphones.
Echo Show 8
The Echo Show 8 is an Alexa device that offers a little more, and that also shows in a price that is twice that of the Echo Dots. Includes a 8 inch and it offers stereo sound, so this is something like a hybrid between smart speaker and tablet, saving the distance.
In addition to offering everything that Alexa can offer, we can also use Show 8 to perform video callsas long as the target device has the Alexa app or an Echo device with a display. The Show 8 is compatible with many streaming music services, and not only music, since we can also enjoy Netflix and other services such as Amazon Prime Video.
As for other functions, it also has the privacy button To deactivate the microphones, we can cover the camera and ask the usual Alexa for everything we want.
Amazon Echo Spot - Alarm Clock
The Echo Spot is another Alexa device with screen, but not a square one like the one in Show 8, but a circular one. Taking a look at the previous two, this is like what we would get if we put them both in a mixer: circular design that looks good anywhere and a screen that will allow us to make video calls, among other uses.
The price of the Echo Spot is also higher than that of the Dots, but it is easy for us to find it on sale. And for everything else, we can ask Alexa for anything, like checking what the weather will be like, setting alarms, asking you to tell us jokes or accessing streaming music services like Spotify or Apple Music.
Echo Dot 3rd Generation
If we want something a little cheaper and with a different design than the first on the list, we also have the 3rd generation Echo Dot available. Personally, the I like this design more than 4th generation, but this is a personal feeling.
And everything we can do with the 4th generation Dot, we can do with it, such as playing music from streaming services, calling with the Alexa or Skype app, we can add new skills thanks to the Skills and we can control other compatible devices from the same speaker. The privacy controls, which allow us to deactivate the micros, are also present.
Auto Echo
And since Alexa doesn't want to stay home alone, it also exists in Echo Auto. It is a device that connects to the phone's Alexa app to sound through the speakers of our car. Basically and simply it is like the Alexa speaker that we would use at home, but ready to use in our car.
Has a total of 8 microphones, with long-range technology that will allow us to be heard wherever we are, even when the music is playing. Like other speakers, it is also compatible with streaming music services such as Spotify or Apple Music and we can ask our virtual assistant for anything we would ask for. For privacy, we can also disable the microphones.
Keep in mind that the Echo Auto not compatible with all cars and phonesAlthough it should work with moderately modern telephones and cars.
Is it worth buying an Alexa speaker?
The world of technology is moving faster and faster. The era of smart began with mobile phones, and today there is practically no one who does not have one, including the elderly. Among the latest that has gotten on this train we have the devices related to home automation (smart homes), and in that section, at least in part, we can put the smart speakers. These types of speakers can play music and radio, otherwise they would have no reason to be, but they also have other capabilities.
As for the question of whether it is worth buying a speaker with Alexa or not, we are going to have to examine what we want to do with it. Although it also depends on the model and its price, these speakers usually offer good sound, so they are worth more than the ones on the laptop that I am listening to music on as I write this article. If we add the smart functions to the good sound, and that many of the Alexa speakers have an affordable priceI would say yes, they are worth it. And in the next point we explain the reasons, or more specifically what the Amazon assistant can do for us.
What can Alexa do for me?
As we have explained, Alexa is Amazon's virtual assistant. What it can do for us will depend on the device in which we use it, because we can also access it from some Smart TVs. In this article we're talking about smart speakers that use it, and those speakers with Alexa can do things like the following:
- Clock, countdown and alarms: we can ask the speaker "Alexa: what time is it?" and it will tell us, or "Alexa: 10 minute countdown" and it will notify us when those 10 minutes have passed. We can ask you almost anything related to watches, as well as to time or set an alarm.
- Meteorology: If we have something to do tomorrow, we can ask what the weather will be like anywhere to find out, for example, if we will need umbrellas or wrap ourselves up more. As other examples, we have "Alexa: what will the weather be tomorrow in Seville?" or "Alexa: Will it rain this afternoon?"
- Play music: If our speaker includes any promotion, such as access to Amazon Music, we can ask it to play music. For example, "Alexa: Play 'Smoke on the Water'" and Alexa will "tap" it for us. We may also ask you to play entire discs, music by an artist or a style.
- Jokes and games: It is not the most useful, but it is funny, especially if there are children or we want to impress our acquaintances. For example, we can ask him directly to tell us a joke, and he will, but they will be very bad, which is also funny. We can also say "Alexa: knock knock" or "Alexa: let's play 20 questions." If we ask her "Alexa: Where's Chuck Norris?" She might be able to help us too.
- News: we can ask you to tell us what has happened in the world, with commands such as "Alexa: what's the news today?" In some countries, you may also be asked to read the news to us from some media, such as NBC.
- Go shopping: Alexa will also allow us to go shopping, or more specifically not to go. What we will do is fill our shopping cart, where we can also modify some orders.
- Control other devices: if we have other home automation devices, and they are compatible with Alexa, we can also control them with these speakers. For example, if we have a smart wifi thermostat, we can raise or lower the temperature by asking the speaker.
- Wear them like Walky-Talky: if we have several, and they are compatible with the function, we can also use them as Walkies-Talkies. With a speaker, we can also do it, but we will have to use the Alexa app on the smartphone and use the Drop In function. With two or more speakers, we can do it with our voice saying, for example, "Alexa: call the kitchen", if we have an Alexa configured with the ID "Kitchen".
When can you buy a cheaper Alexa?
Prime Day
Prime Day is one of the best options to buy an Alexa at a good price. It is a day of sales, but one offered by the store that also develops the famous virtual assistant, Amazon. Amazon's "main day" is an annual event that usually takes place in October, where we find many offers from the online store with very significant discounts. In addition, there are also "flash" offers, which are items with even more significant discounts, but with a limited quantity. Keep in mind that Prime Day only available to Prime users, that is, those of us who pay the subscription to take advantage of some advantages such as faster shipments or services such as Amazon Prime Video.
Black Friday
Black Friday, like the next day that we will explain, is a sales event in which we will find all kinds of discounted items. Is he Friday after Thanksgiving in the United States, and his intention is to invite us to make the first Christmas purchases. Although the day should be Friday, sometimes the offers are extended throughout the weekend, and even join the following Monday. During "Black Friday" we will find Alexa devices with special discounts.
Cyber Monday
Like Black Friday, Cyber Mondey is a sales event that also invites us to do Christmas shopping, but it takes place the following Monday. In the beginning, what we should see at a reduced price they are electronics products, but some stores skip this rule and offer other items as well. Smart devices are one of the star products that we will find at a discount during "Cyber Monday", so, after Prime Day, Cyber Monday is the best option to buy an Alexa device.
Alexa or Google Home?
The answer to this question could be summarized as if what we prefer is Amazon and its services or Google and theirs. Alexa is Amazon's virtual assistant, and it is the best option if what we want is interact with our house together with the latest and most modern home automation devices. The speakers, at least the Echos, offer good sound quality, and the music service is excellent. They work very well, but keep in mind that they are very new and some actions / commands may not work in the best way.
Moreover, Google Nest, which is how Google HOME has been renamed, are the speakers developed by the company of the famous search engine, who is also behind Android and Chrome. They stand out for including a good screen and a good selection of video, as well as for using the Google Assistant, with special functions such as real-time language translation. Sound quality varies depending on the chosen speaker.
All the general differences are few. Many users like Alexa better; many others like the Google assistant better, but in both cases you can interact with other devices and the user experience is good. In addition, both Amazon and Google are great technology, which ensures that they will improve over time and become more and more useful.
