{"id":2658,"date":"2018-09-09T00:50:56","date_gmt":"2018-09-09T00:50:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pickmyreader.com\/?p=2658"},"modified":"2020-11-25T08:20:25","modified_gmt":"2020-11-25T08:20:25","slug":"amazon-echo-dot-second-generation-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pickmyreader.com\/amazon-echo-dot-second-generation-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Amazon Echo Dot Second Generation – Review & Buying Guide 2020"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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We bought an Echo Dot as an early Christmas gift to ourselves and we’re so glad that we did. It’s a very useful gadget because there’s such a wide variety of things we can ask Alexa to answer or tasks that she can do for us (eg: alarms\/timers, calendar, ordering, weather).<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
Half the size and half the price of the original Echo, Amazon\u2019s second generation Echo Dot has paved the way for scores of voice-activated devices.<\/span><\/p> More and more people are becoming sold on the many benefits of smart home technology and we\u2019ll look today at the role of this most recent iteration of Echo Dot so you can see whether you fancy this speaker with a difference.<\/span><\/p> We\u2019ll first highlight the chief advantages and drawbacks of this highly capable little speaker before we explore what it does best in more detail\u2026<\/span><\/p> <\/p> What We Like<\/b><\/p> What We Don\u2019t Like<\/b><\/p> <\/p><\/div><\/section>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t Design is pretty subjective but it always plays a part in any buying decision so how does Echo Dot shape up?<\/span><\/p> Imagine the original Echo lopped in half and you\u2019re pretty much there.<\/span><\/p> Measuring up at just 3.3 x 3.3 x 1.3 inches, the new Dot has a tiny footprint and you can pop it just about anywhere.<\/span><\/p> Although it weighs less than 6 ounces, you need it plugged in at all times so it\u2019s not a portable device despite its scaled-down dimensions.<\/span><\/p> You\u2019ve got a circle of LED lights around the top of the device serving as a status bar of sorts.<\/span><\/p> There are 4 simple buttons for Action, volume control and enabling or disabling the mic.<\/span><\/p> An anti-slip base is specially coated to prevent your Echo Dot from taking an accidental tumble.<\/span><\/p> There\u2019s a straight-up choice of black or white although you can invest in a case if you fancy a bit more color.<\/span><\/p> Impressive functionality is encased in a glossy plastic rather than the matte body of the previous generation.<\/span><\/p> For a diminutive voice-activated speaker to slot into any smart home even if you\u2019ve got limited space, Echo Dot looks better than ever before.<\/span><\/p> While looks are important, there\u2019s useless if form triumphs over function.<\/span><\/p> How does Echo Dot shape up on the performance front then?<\/span><\/p> While Echo Dot is marketed as a speaker, the first thing you should do is connect your device to an external speaker! This seems almost ridiculous to state but you\u2019ll get far superior results. <\/span><\/p> There\u2019s no line-in cable provided but that\u2019s to be expected considering the cut-throat price.<\/span> You can get started immediately with a Bluetooth connection so start enjoying a richer sound through your existing speakers.<\/span><\/p> While this underwhelming speaker performance might be frustrating, Echo Dot is no different to any Echo device: it serves first and foremost as an access point for Alexa. We\u2019ll look into that in a bit more depth shortly.<\/span><\/p> Many facelifted models offer very little by the way of improvement but that\u2019s not the case with Echo Dot. Where the first generation microphones often struggled to pick up your voice, especially over the sound of music, this second generation Dot is much more capable with the 7 microphones hearing you from right across the room. If you intend to consistently play loud music, you could consider investing in a dedicated Alexa voice remote.<\/span><\/p> Beneath everything, though, Echo Dot is fundamentally an Alexa access point so what\u2019s all the fuss about?<\/span><\/p> As we\u2019re sure you know, Alexa is a cloud-based, voice-activated digital assistant that just keeps on getting better.<\/span><\/p>Design and Options<\/b><\/h2>
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Performance and Features<\/b><\/h2>
Alexa All The Way<\/b><\/h2>
Alexa Upgrades: What\u2019s New?<\/b><\/h3>
Smart Home Integration<\/b><\/h4>
Security Concerns<\/b><\/h4>
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