Daily Archives: March 3, 2016

Amazon announces new Echo devices: The Tap and Echo Dot

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echo_dotToday, Amazon announced two additions to the Amazon Echo family:  The Amazon Tap and the Echo Dot.

The Amazon Tap is a smaller, portable device that is similar to the Echo, but with some big differences. The Tap is considered to be an Alexa enabled device. Alexa devices are always on. With the Tap, you must turn the device on to access the Alexa features. This feature is a bonus if you are someone (like me) that has privacy concerns and does not want an always on device.

It is smaller that the Echo (6.2 inches to the Echo’s 9 inch height). Unlike the Echo, the Tap can connect to wi-fi hot spots using the Alexa app. While the original Echo was designed to be used at home, the lack of wi-fi connectivity for the had been a problem for some users trying to use it while traveling. Like the Echo, the Tap requires the Alexa app for settings and connecting to the Internet or wi-fi networks.

Since it is designed to be portable, the Amazon Tap comes with a specially designed charging cradle and retails for $129.99. The device will ship March 31, 2016. The optional sling is $19.99.  You can find out more information or order the Tap here.

The Echo Dot is currently available in limited quantities and is only being offered to Amazon Prime members. The item also can only be ordered through Alexa Voice Shopping. It can only be ordered through the Echo or the Amazon Fire TV.

The dot is a small (1.5″ x 3.3″ x 3.3″) device that can be connected to other speakers, making its most obvious purpose the ability to add voice controls to “dumb” speakers . It is only being offered to to those already using the Alexa system, although it seems to have many of the same capabilities (playing music, controlling smart lights, etc.). It does have a small built in speakers. It is bluetooth capable, although not with systems which require a pin for pairing. Like the Echo, this device is must be plugged in and is designed for use with a home wi-fi system. The device retails for $89.99. You can read more about it here.

I am seriously thinking about giving the Tap a try. I did notice in the video on Amazon that everyone seems to be picking the Tap up and using it like a microphone, while people always seem to talk to the Echo from across the room. I wonder if there is a difference in the microphone technology between the two devices?

How about you? Do either of these look interesting? If you have an Echo and would like to share any thoughts, I’d love to hear what you think. 🙂

Daily Links and Deals: $17 smartwatch sending data back to China shows perils of buying unknown brands

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daily_links_1Daily Links for day, March 1, 2016:

$17 smartwatch sending data back to China shows perils of buying unknown brands [Video] (9 to 5 Google) – This is a really scary story!

Digital history: Archbishops’ Registers go online for first time (Yorkshire Post) – This looks like an amazing historical collection of medieval and early modern work.

Want to learn a programming language? Code School is dropping its paywall this weekend (TNW) Free for 48 hours. Want to try learning to code?

B&N Reports Store Revenues down, Nook Revenues Down 33% Last Quarter (The Digital Reader) – And they are still not giving up – apparently….

Apple creates a general support channel on Twitter (Techcrunch) – Finally! Glad to see this as Twitter is many people’s go-to place for help.

Comcast accused of violating NBC merger commitment and net neutrality rule (Ars Technica) –  This may lay the groundwork for really defining these types of services.

Deals of the Day:

Amazon’s Kindle Daily Deals includes three books in the Hannah Swensen series by best-selling author Joanne Fluke as well as books in the  Chronicles of Nick Book series by Sherrilyn Kenyon.

The Barnes and Noble Nook Daily Find is Spies, Sadists and Sorcerers: The history you weren’t taught in school by Dominic Selwood for $1.99. The Romance Daily Find is Moonlight Masquerade (London Encounters Book #1): A Regency Romance by Ruth Axtell for 99 cents.

Kobo’s Daily Deal is The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom for $1.99.

iTunes’ Weekly Bestsellers Under $4 includes Death Before Decaf: A Java Jive Mystery by Carolyn Fardig for $2.99.

(A note on Daily Deals: All prices current at the time of posting and subject to change. Most items marked Daily Deals are good for only the day posted.

Many large promotions have discount pricing that is set by the publisher. This usually means that titles can be found at a discount price across most platforms (with iTunes sometimes being the exception). If you have a favorite retailer you like to patronize, check the title on that website. There is a good chance that they will be matching the sale price.)

Daily Links are interesting links I discover as I go about my online day. The frequency and number of links posted depend upon the daily news. I also post other, different links of interest on Twitter and on the Google Plus eBook Evangelist Page.