Echo Dot and Amazon Tap: 2 New Ways to Ask Alexa Anything, Anywhere

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Amazon added two new devices to its stable last week with the launch of Echo Dot and Amazon Tap. Both are closely related to the Echo, the first device to use Amazon’s voice assistant Alexa. With the introduction of Dot and Tap, Amazon is letting you ask Alexa anything, anywhere.

The three siblings, Echo, Dot and Tap, look like large, medium and small versions of the same device. But each has unique features and prices that make the choice of which one to get more interesting than simply deciding upon size.

[tip]=> For more information about Amazon Echo see: Amazon Echo — The Knowledge of the World at Your Command![/tip]

What Alexa Can Do

All three devices (plus the latest model of the FireTV) offer Alexa, Amazon’s increasingly helpful voice assistant. When Alexa was first introduced in the Echo last year, she was limited to a handful of commands.

Each week, Amazon sends an email to announce new tasks Alexa can accomplish, making her a more potent assistant. Alexa can now perform hundreds of tasks, all you have to do is ask.

You can ask Alexa what she can do or head to the Things to Try section of the Alexa app.

Simply say, “Alexa” to get her attention and ask your question.

Alexa can be both smart and fun.

Ask Alexa:

• What is the weather in Stockholm, Sweden?
• Convert 100 kilograms to pounds.
• How much is one euro in dollars?
• Play (song, title, artist, radio station).
• Tell me a joke (including ones about US presidential candidates).
• Set an alarm for 6:30 tomorrow morning.
• Set a timer for 20 minutes.
• Ask when the next game is for your favorite sports team.
• Who was the President of the United States in 1959?
• Find movie showtimes.
• Hear your calendar appointments for the day.

You can listen to music using Alexa through Amazon’s Prime Music (free for Prime members), Spotify, Pandora, iHeart Radio and TuneIn. Alexa can play Audible audiobooks and Kindle books that have narration enabled.

Pair Alexa with your IFTTT recipes to turn your home into a smart home. Use your voice to command Alexa to turn on your lights, set the temperature in your house and close your garage door.

You can make life more fun with Alexa. You can ask Alexa to order a pizza from Domino’s and a ride from Uber. Alexa will even play games with you such as The Wayne Investigation, an audio game based on the movie Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice.

The more deft Alexa becomes, the more worthwhile these Echo devices become. Ask her anything, with weekly updates to her skills she may surprise you with her answer.

With so much invested in developing Alexa, Amazon is bringing new ways to bring her to its customers. The Dot and Tap make Alexa more convenient and affordable, allowing more people access to Alexa.

Echo Dot

Echo Dot is the smallest device in the lineup, measuring a mere 1.5 inches/3.8 cm high. If someone sliced the top off of the original Echo, it would look a lot like the Dot.

This compact device provides Alexa, but with a less powerful speaker than the original Echo. Instead, you can connect the Dot to your own speaker via a cable or Bluetooth.

The always-on Alexa waits silently for your command, until you ask her to play music or an audiobook through your speaker. Dot can give you instant music through your speakers at your request. You can also use Alexa for any other commands you can request on the original Echo.

This video shows you how the Dot can help you throughout the day:

https://youtu.be/24Hz9qjTDfw

Availability of the Dot

Amazon intends the Dot to supplement the original Echo and is restricting who can buy a Dot. You can only become a member of the exclusive Dot owners’ club if you:

a) already own an Echo and

b) are an Amazon Prime member.

Other publications have revealed ways around these restrictions, but it’s too soon to tell if orders placed those ways will be fulfilled.

The Dot costs $89.99 (half the price of the Echo) and is available only in the US, for now. To order, just ask Alexa (on the Echo or FireTV) to buy a Dot.

Amazon Tap

Amazon Tap is the medium-sized Echo, meant for those who want Alexa available on the go. Tap is battery-powered, with up to 9 hours of listening time. Place Tap onto the charging cradle to juice up the battery.

Here’s Tap in action:

https://youtu.be/5ugqcUYdHRA

Unlike the Echo and the Dot, Alexa isn’t always on with Tap. You have to tap Tap to summon Alexa.

Tap does come with powerful speakers, with Dolby processing, that send sound 360°. Use Alexa to play music or connect your phone via Bluetooth to use Tap as a speaker.

Tap needs Wi-Fi to work, so you must connect it to a Wi-Fi network or use your phone as a mobile hotspot, if available. You can ask Alexa any questions on Tap that you can on the Echo or the Dot.

You can buy a Sling carrying case for Tap, to get some protection, color and hanging capabilities for the device.

Availability

The Tap is available for anyone (in the US) who wants it, unlike the Dot. No need to be a Prime member or previous Echo owner to order a Tap.

Tap costs $129.99 and is available from Amazon with shipping on March 31, 2016. The Sling is available for $19.99.

Your Thoughts

Have you ever used Alexa? Are you excited about Dot or Tap? Which features are most interesting to you? Is there anything you wish Alexa could do?

Share your thoughts in the Comments section below!

Apple Support on Twitter

In other big tech news last week, Apple launched a new Twitter account with customer service as its mission. @AppleSupport offers tips and tricks for using your Apple devices as well as answering questions and troubleshooting.

Here’s a sample tweet from @AppleSupport about the Notes app:

The Notes app has some awesome hidden tricks. A favorite of ours: how to turn lists into checklists. #AppleSupport pic.twitter.com/6fdzsRT1i4

— Apple Support (@AppleSupport) March 3, 2016

This Twitter account responds to tweets 7 days a week, 5am-8pm PST.