Amazon is introducing two new products to expand upon the role of Alexa, Amazon's cloud-based voice inside it's cylindrical Echo speaker (which became Amazon's first major showcase item when it debuted in late 2014), in its customer's home and everyday life.
The products unveiled Thursday are essentially spin-offs of the Echo: the Amazon Tap and Echo Dot. Both cost less than the $180 Echo and offer slightly different features as Amazon continues its attempts to plant its Internet-connected microphones in more homes and other places.
The Amazon Echo Dot is what one would get if they were to chop off the top inch and a half of the preexisting Echo, but without destroying it. Considering that its really just a miniaturized version of the Echo, the Echo Dot possesses most of the functions that its predecessor is capable of. Just like with the original Echo, you control the Dot by talking to Alexa and just like the Echo, the Dot connects to Cloud to stream music, reads news headlines, or controls connected appliances in your home.
The core difference between the two is that unlike the Echo, which comes with full-sized speakers, you can hook up the Dot to your own audio setup, through either a line out jack or Bluetooth. This means that you can hook up Dot to your own audio system without putting to it waste. Dot does have a built-in speaker, but it's not full-sized.
On the hand, the Amazon Tap is essentially the Echo on a diet. It too is capable of a variety of the functions that its predecessor is of. Just like with Echo, you control the Tap by talking to Alexa and once again, just like with the Echo, the Tap can stream music, read headlines and control your connected home.
However, the key difference is that the Tap doesn't need to be plugged in for use, making it a grab-and-go version of the original Echo. In exchange, however, you need to tap the device - hence its name - in order to summon Alexa and have her do your bidding. Otherwise, the device will remain in standby to conserve battery power. Fortunately for users, Alexa will activate and warn you shortly before Tap is about to run out of power.
Both of these devices come as Amazon continues to vie for supremacy over Google and Apple in the war to build hubs in "smart" homes, where everything inside is connected to the Internet.
Both products are slated to ship by the end of March and can be pre-ordered starting today. It should be noted however, that while the $129.99 Tap can be purchased by anyone who chooses to do so, the $89.99 Echo Dot, for the time being, will only available to Amazon Prime members who have already purchased an Echo or Fire TV device.
