Amazon Echo Club

[OtinG]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

The resolution on this thing is pitiful. A 1280 x 800 10.1" screen yields a whopping 149 ppi. That's worse than the resolution on Amazon's cheap Fire 7 Tab (171 ppi). By contrast, the resolution of the Fire 10 Tab is 224 ppi.

Is this a joke Amazon?

That doesn't surprise me, after all Amazon has been lowering screen resolution specs on Fire tablets for years. I bet that new model still won't allow you to watch much without paying out the backside. Hulu with live TV is $40/month. I think Amazon and Youtube are still in dispute so no Youtube. Amazon Prime Video might be an option, but much of what they offer comes at a ridiculously high rental fee or purchase price. So basically the new model will likely have slightly better sound, a bigger but still crappy low resolution screen, the same stupid tilted, nonadjustable screen position, and very little affordable video material to view. For that price you can by a decent 25"+ smart TV.

[tubemonkey]

All-new Echo Dot (3rd Gen) - Smart speaker with Alexa


$49.99 -- Echo Dot 3 -- buy 2, save $10 -- release date: 11 Oct 2018

Meet the all-new Echo Dot

Our most popular Echo is now even better. With a new speaker and design, Echo Dot is a voice-controlled smart speaker with Alexa, perfect for any room. Just ask for music, news, information, and more. You can also call almost anyone and control compatible smart home devices with your voice.

• Echo Dot is our most popular voice-controlled speaker, now with improved sound and a new design.
  
• Ask Alexa to play music, answer questions, read the news, check the weather, set alarms, control compatible smart home devices, and more.
  Stream songs from Amazon Music, Spotify, Pandora, and others through the improved speaker for richer and louder sound.
  
• Call and message almost anyone hands-free. Instantly drop in on other rooms in your home or make an announcement to every room with a compatible Echo device.
  
• Alexa is always getting smarter and adding new skills like tracking fitness, playing games, and more.
  
• Can hear you from across the room. And with compatible Echo devices in different rooms, you can fill your whole home with music.
  
• You can also connect to your own speakers over Bluetooth or with a 3.5 mm audio cable.
  
• Use your voice to turn on lights, adjust thermostats, lock doors, find TV shows, and more with compatible connected devices.

[tubemonkey]

All-new Echo Plus (2nd Gen) - Bundle with Philips Hue Bulb


$149.99 -- Echo Plus 2 -- release date: 11 Oct 2018

Meet the all-new Echo Plus

Echo Plus features premium speakers for powerful 360° sound, and a built-in Zigbee smart home hub and temperature sensor. Just ask Alexa to play music, answer questions, make calls, and provide information, news, sports scores, weather, and more. With the built-in hub, starting your smart home is easy.

• To set up your free bulb, plug in and set up your Echo Plus, plug in your bulb, and ask, “Alexa, discover my devices.
  
• Echo Plus has a built-in Zigbee hub to easily setup and control your compatible smart home devices, and an improved sound for streaming music.
  
• New premium speakers powered by Dolby play 360° audio with crisp vocals and dynamic bass response. You can also use your voice to adjust equalizer settings.
  
• Ask Alexa to play music, answer questions, read the news, check the weather, set alarms, control compatible smart home devices, call almost anyone, and more.
  
• Set up your smart home without a separate hub. Ask Alexa to control compatible smart lights, switches, sensors, door locks, and more. Echo Plus also includes a built-in temperature sensor.
  
• Ask Alexa for a song, artist, or genre from Amazon Music, Spotify, Pandora, and more. With multi-room music, play music on compatible Echo devices in different rooms.
  
• Call or message almost anyone hands-free. Instantly drop in on other rooms in your home or make an announcement to every room with a compatible Echo device.
  
• With seven microphones, beamforming technology, and noise cancellation, Echo Plus hears you from any direction—even while music is playing.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

All-new Echo Plus (2nd Gen) - Bundle with Philips Hue Bulb


$149.99 -- Echo Plus 2 (reg $164.98) -- will be released on 11 Oct 2018

Another step backwards. Gen 1 had a volume ring and Gen 2 doesn't. Bad move Amazon.

[tubemonkey]

Introducing Echo Auto - The first Echo for your car

$24.99 -- Echo Auto (reg $49.99) -- save 50% for a limited time -- Invitation Only

Released to the public on 25 Sep 2019

Your voice is in the driver's seat

Just ask Alexa to play music, resume your Audible book, check your calendar, find nearby businesses, make calls, and more. With eight microphones, Echo Auto even hears you over road noise. Echo Auto starts up in seconds, works through your car speakers, and uses your existing smartphone plan.

• Connects to Alexa using your phone, is ready in seconds, and plays through your car speakers. Includes Echo Auto Dash Mount.
  
• With eight microphones designed for in-car acoustics, Echo Auto can hear you over music, A/C, and road noise.
  
• Use your voice to play music, check the news, open the garage door, find the nearest gas station, and more.
  
• Play Audible books, stream podcasts, or listen to Amazon Music, Spotify, Sirius XM, or NPR.
  
• Make calls, set reminders, add items to your shopping and to-do lists, or manage your calendar.
  
• With over 50,000 skills and counting, Alexa is always getting smarter. Skills are like apps and let you do more with Alexa.
  
• Set location-based routines—automated actions Alexa can start when you leave the office or get home.
  
• Ask for directions and Alexa connects to supported apps like Google Maps, Apple Maps, or Waze on your phone.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by OtinG

So basically the new model will likely have slightly better sound, a bigger but still crappy low resolution screen, the same stupid tilted, nonadjustable screen position, and very little affordable video material to view. For that price you can by a decent 25"+ smart TV.

Major deficiencies just to meet a price point. Color me not even remotely interested.

[OtinG]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Introducing Echo Auto - The first Echo for your car


$24.99 -- Echo Auto (reg $49.99) -- save 50% for a limited time -- Invitation Only

This is probably the most unnecessary Alexa device to date. Most newer cars come with BT capable radios and you can hook up you smartphone to them via BT rather than a stupid, ugly, black box with wires. My lower end Rav4 has a built in handsfree phone app that works with my iPhone and can read text messages to me. When I turn on the radio it streams SiriusXM via my iPhone. Unless someone is still driving their old 1980 Yugo, I seriously doubt they would need this device. Even lower end car stereo systems come with everything this device has.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by OtinG

For that price you can by a decent 25"+ smart TV.

Heck, I just bought a 32" Roku TV for about half that price.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

The resolution on this thing is pitiful. A 1280 x 800 10.1" screen yields a whopping 149 ppi. That's worse than the resolution on Amazon's cheap Fire 7 Tab (171 ppi). By contrast, the resolution of the Fire 10 Tab is 224 ppi.

Is this a joke Amazon?

A tablet will be viewed from much closer than the Echo Show. so I don't think the 149ppi is an issue. I must admit I'm tempted.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

A tablet will be viewed from much closer than the Echo Show. so I don't think the 149ppi is an issue. I must admit I'm tempted.

Maybe for some people, but when I'm watching video on a tablet, I don't hold it. I set it in a stand and watch it at the same distance as I'd watch the Echo Show.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by OtinG

This is probably the most unnecessary Alexa device to date. Most newer cars come with BT capable radios and you can hook up you smartphone to them via BT rather than a stupid, ugly, black box with wires. My lower end Rav4 has a built in handsfree phone app that works with my iPhone and can read text messages to me. When I turn on the radio it streams SiriusXM via my iPhone. Unless someone is still driving their old 1980 Yugo, I seriously doubt they would need this device. Even lower end car stereo systems come with everything this device has.

That's not quite true. Aside from the fact that the Yugo wouldn't have the aux jack or Bluetooth connection required to use this device, if I'm reading correctly, this device does not require a cell phone, it itself is a cellular device you add to your plan. So for 49 bucks, it is essentially a quality car microphone (most phones work poorly with road noise) and voice control system for your car. A safer way to call people or play music and podcasts than fiddling with controls while driving.
Seems reasonable for the cost, if you happen to need all that. I don't.

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by OtinG

This is probably the most unnecessary Alexa device to date. Most newer cars come with BT capable radios and you can hook up you smartphone to them via BT rather than a stupid, ugly, black box with wires. My lower end Rav4 has a built in handsfree phone app that works with my iPhone and can read text messages to me. When I turn on the radio it streams SiriusXM via my iPhone. Unless someone is still driving their old 1980 Yugo, I seriously doubt they would need this device. Even lower end car stereo systems come with everything this device has.

Wrong! Those of us who don't have a new car will find this highly useful. My Honda S2000 has no way to do decent hands free except an ear bud Bluetooth, and the call quality sucks on almost all of them. If this does even half of what it claims, it's getting mounted on my center console!

[OtinG]

Originally Posted by ApK

That's not quite true. Aside from the fact that the Yugo wouldn't have the aux jack or Bluetooth connection required to use this device, if I'm reading correctly, this device does not require a cell phone, it itself is a cellular device you add to your plan. So for 49 bucks, it is essentially a quality car microphone (most phones work poorly with road noise) and voice control system for your car. A safer way to call people or play music and podcasts than fiddling with controls while driving.
Seems reasonable for the cost, if you happen to need all that. I don't.

The web page states:

Echo Auto uses your existing smartphone plan and the Alexa app for connectivity and other features. Carrier charges may apply. Please consult your carrier for information on any fees and limitations that apply to your plan.

That might mean it has a cellular radio, or it could mean it requires your smartphone to provide the cellular connection. It isn't really clear at all, so we will have to see what early users say about it.

Regardless, I seriously doubt a cheaply made little box, and Amazon is known for cheaply made devices these days, will compete against an in-car radio system with BT, USB, speakerphone, etc. Older cars that are say 12 years old or older might benefit from this device, but I still think a good smartphone will provide the same services and just as well. Plus, if that thing requires another $10 or more for an additional line on your cellular plan, then that will suck. And since the Echo devices seem to have a lot of issues hearing command in our homes, I can only imagine how poorly it will work in a car with road noise. But to each their own...

[OtinG]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

A tablet will be viewed from much closer than the Echo Show. so I don't think the 149ppi is an issue. I must admit I'm tempted.

You should probably research what it can do and cannot do before shelling out the money. The generation 1 model was highly limited in video capability and availability, especially after Youtube and Amazon parted ways. Prime Video will likely cost extra for many, if not most, of the videos they watch. Hulu with live TV in USA is about $40/month plus taxes. It might allow Hulu shows from a non-live TV account though, but that wasn't clear from the description on the web site. At any rate, I think this unit will be very limited as far as the videos and video services that are available. Also, I think the generation 1 was not capable of being used as a tablet with Android apps, so this one probably won't be either. If you cannot install apps, then you won't be able to use Netflix, Sling, etc. unless Amazon adds those apps at some point.

[Purple Lady]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

The resolution on this thing is pitiful. A 1280 x 800 10.1" screen yields a whopping 149 ppi. That's worse than the resolution on Amazon's cheap Fire 7 Tab (171 ppi). By contrast, the resolution of the Fire 10 Tab is 224 ppi.

Is this a joke Amazon?

The original HD 10 also had 149 ppi. Maybe they had a lot of extra ones laying around so they used them for this?

Specs for the original HD 10:
https://www.cnet.com/products/amazon-fire-hd-10/specs/