Echo Dots and Eero Wi-Fi Mesh Extensions for Amazon – A Great Way for Kids to Have Fun with Alexa
The sound of the echo dot is not that rich or crisp, but it does sound very good for a small speaker. The updated model uses a bigger driver for clearer vocals and deeper bass.
Not only will you get enhanced designs and better audio, but the company’s handy Eero Wi-Fi mesh technology will be built-in to at least two of the products — allowing them to double as Wi-Fi extenders for an existing Eero system.
When I ask Amazon for the weather for the day, I used to listen to it, but when I look at the display, I see it scroll by in numbers. The rain icon gave me an instant view on what to expect on the day. If an alarm is set by looking for a dot on the bottom you will be able to see if it was set. I am in constant fear that I will not wake up, so it is useful to see if it was set. The latest Echo Dot adds $10 to the price if you have a clock display. I think it is a worthwhile upgrade.
If your kids dig the adorable Panda and Tiger designs of the Echo Dot Kids, they are going to love the newest additions of the Owl and Dragon. They will still be able to have fun and useAlexa with gusto, although parents will be happy to know that parental controls are holding strong. The Amazon Parents Dashboard lets you set daily time limits on the Echo Dot Kids as well as filter explicit content and review all of their activity.
A two-year guarantee is included with the purchase of the Kids+ subscription which gives them ad-free books, games, videos, songs, and dedicated kids skills.
Amazon’s Echo Studio: Enhancing the Sound of Home Devices Using Wi-Fi Mesh Beacons and a Smart Home Adapter
The powerful Echo Studio is getting a boost with new spatial audio processing and a frequency range extension for deeper bass and more clarity on mid-range. Amazon said that the sound of movie and TV shows in surround-sound can be similar to what you hear from a hi-fi stereo system.
All the new devices will come with a switch to turn the mic on and off, as well as the option to view and destroy voice recordings. Which is great news for people who are concerned about Big Brother hanging out with another person.
The front display has a brighter, scrolling display that can show things like the time, the weather, the music you’re listening to and more. It may not seem like much at all. but I found it to be surprisingly useful.
As for the temperature sensor, yes, it tells you the temperature of whatever room it lives in. This was more useful than it sounds, especially if you have a Alexa routine in your home. For instance, this sensor can interact with other smart home devices to turn the overhead fan on or off when the room hits a certain temperature.
I use it to read the weather forecast, and also to listen to audiobooks and audio books. I did spend a few days streaming music and while it can’t compete with my Sonos speaker, it was fine for casual listening. I found it to have a strong, room-filling sound and that it didn’t sound tinny. It isn’t possible for a device with multiple drivers to have a wide range of frequencies, but the one driver is capable enough.
The Dot can be used with other Fire TV devices in your home to make better sound. If you don’t normally use a soundbar, you might find this delivers a better audio experience than your TV’s speakers. However, Amazon removed the 3.5mm audio jack from the 5th gen Echo Dot so you can no longer physically connect it to a larger speaker.
Amazon’s eero mesh Wi-Fi system uses beacons to carry and extend the Wi-Fi signal throughout the house. How much you use is determined by the size of your home. To test this, I updated my eero router to a newer (eero 6+) generation, replacing the main eero router in my office as well as the beacon, or extender, in the middle of my house. The guest bedroom is on the opposite side of the house and my goal was to extend that coverage to the opposite side.
When I discussed this with Amazon in my email, they mentioned that there were a few factors that may affect the performance and coverage in the home. They recommended I change the location of the devices and suggested removing the extra beacon I was using. When I ran the next speed tests, I still didn’t get the increased speeds I was hoping for, but at least it was no longer slowing things down.
Amazon, Google, and Apple: How Do Smart Speakers Go? A Comparative Study of Amazon’s HomePod and Apple HomePod Mini
While Amazon keeps refreshing its devices, it would be great if the company also refreshed its outdated app. While consumers continue to add smart home devices, the app doesn’t help keep them organized and accessible, and is difficult to navigate. The home tab of the app has information about linking my calendar, but I would love to be able to control my devices and do things I might not know how to do.
The $50 Google Nest Mini is also a capable smart speaker with access to Google’s highly trained voice assistant. But, you won’t get the add-ons, like clock or LCD screen. If you want to use your voice to control Nest Thermostats or security systems, you may consider the Nest Mini, because it integrates better with other devices.
Then there’s the $99 Apple HomePod Mini, which boasts better audio quality than the Echo Dot with Clock but also costs almost twice as much. Apple HomeKit support will be appreciated, but it does not support many music streaming services. You don’t get to play with that clock, screen and manual controls.