Amazon Echo
3
So… Amazon has sold out of the Echo and based on the last few months it seems like it might be a deliberate ‘fire sale’ sort of sell out to clear inventory ahead of a new release. Has anyone heard anything about a new Echo? I just bought one last week for $100 from Staples and am trying to decide if I should keep it or take it back and wait for the new one. This is especially topical because I was considering buying a second for my bedroom.
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Maybe they figure people will be moving over to the Show?
@sammydog01 Maybe.
The only place I can think of wanting one is my kitchen for recipes or videos while working in there. It’s neat but not $230 neat for me.
@jbartus Maybe they’re taking the price down closer to the dot? You can get a pretty nice little speaker for the price difference.
@sammydog01 maybe. Not sure what to make of the outage in that case though.
@jbartus Didn’t the Echo originally intro at $229?
@ruouttaurmind Yeah, I think the weirdo Amazon developers want a camera in every bedroom in America. I bet they come down in the next year.
@sammydog01 Certainly they hope for some of that - but I suspect the original Echo is simply due for version 2, just like the Echo Dot.
I always lean toward version 2s. We jumped in with the 2nd gen Dots.
The Echo has an ideal form factor with its small foot print. The show footprint would not work in as many places.
$30ish
https://smile.amazon.com/Speaker-Control-Hands-Free-Streaming-Bluetooth/dp/B071JN3KYN
Maybe they shipped them all to Whole foods:
https://www.engadget.com/2017/08/28/amazon-sells-echo-speakers-at-whole-foods/
Mac Rumors mentions the new Echo rumor in the last paragraph here:
https://www.macrumors.com/2017/08/29/amazon-echo-multi-room-playback/
A new model probably will come out, but definitely for more than 100 bucks. So it’s up to you if you want the current one for a cheap price, or wait for the new one for a more expensive price.
Or the Echo dot “like” devices that don’t have all of the same specs i.e. ability to pair to a bluetooth speaker for bout $20 less.
We have 2nd gen Dots and will wait for the 2nd gen Echo since by the holidays, competition and Amazon volume pumping is likely to bring even the 2nd gen Echo back down to the same $89 (?) as on Prime day… for at least a day.
On the other hand, if a (new) 1st gen Echo were to become available for say, $59 or $69, we’d have a tough time resisting…
We have the Echo & are happy with it. If a 2nd gen comes out, I’m sure we’ll have an update so ours can do basically anything the new version will be able to do (exception of capabilities the 2nd gen has due to physical change, i.e. camera). I’d go with cheaper.
I’m most excited about the echo now being able to sync audio across multiple echos. So, now I could listen to music in my whole house instead of out of just one speaker–definitely motivation to get more than one full sized echo (as opposed to the crappy sounding dot).
@phatmass Indeed, but you CAN connect the dot to a better external speaker via wires or Bluetooth.
I have my dot located in the bedroom and connected to the “whole home audio” system via RCA cables. The way I have it configured, this plays in the master bed and on suite bath and in the kitchen. The main Echo sits in the living room that has it’s own surround sound system and no in-home speakers, so now we’re able to play the same music throughout the main level. I also have the ability to connect to a bluetooth receiver that will play over the living room surround sound and/or outdoor deck speakers!
I could certainly use another Echo dot for the basement, though. Down there, I re-purposed the 2 in-home speakers for use in a 7.1 surround sound system. (it was previously only wired for a 5.1 system) With another dot, I could have it connected via RCA or bluetooth to the surround system. Then I would truly have full home Echo audio!
Both garages have their own, disconnected audio systems…Maybe I need 3 more echo dots…
@medz Are you telling me I can connect each Dot to a speaker system of my choosing in every room? And now, with Amazon’s syncing ability, I can play music on all those Dots at the same time and have every system in my house play the same music simultaneously? RAZZLE DAZZLE!!!
@phatmass you bet your phatass you can!
Edit: although if you do Bluetooth on some, that night create audio delays and sound out of sync with the other speakers… Will vary by device and connection method
@medz I never opened my Dot. Doesn’t it have an aux out port?
@ruouttaurmind it sure as shit does! A 3.5mm jack and comes with a male to male “head phone” cable. I am using an adapter to go from the 3.5mm plug to RCA plugs.
@ruouttaurmind I run mine through a JBL mini.
@ruouttaurmind the dots have aux out and Bluetooth both in and out. I have one in the living room paired to the Philips Eye of Sauron speakers from Meh and it works very well.
@djslack Everyone with a Dot running through a Meh speaker raise your hand.
@medz Does the Amz synchro use BT to communicate among joined Dots, or WiFi? If Wifi, this would eliminate the sound sync issue, ya?
I still have no use for one. I don’t listen to music, and the 1 time I used Alexa ordering to save extra dosh I just used my Fire TV stick. I’ve read extensively about how Echo and Alexa will make all my worldly dreams come true, but I guess I don’t dream big enough for Alexa to be of any use to me.
@ruouttaurmind Best kitchen timer ever.
@ruouttaurmind fairly certain it’s done via WiFi, but I haven’t seen technical details. I haven’t tried play everywhere when one or both is synced to a Bluetooth speaker
I have 2 Dots, each connected to meh speakers by Bluetooth.
I grouped them to play music together, but as soon as the music starts, the Bluetooth disconnects. I don’t think they use the Bluetooth to synchronize because in many houses they would be too far apart, but I repeated this several times. If I tell Alexa to reconnect, it says it is still connected to the speakers, but the flashing light on the speakers tells me they are disconnected.
I don’t know if this is by design or user error. If anyone knows how to fix it, I’d like to know. The workaround is use the 3.5mm jack and a wired connection. The little Dot speaker is fine for talking to Alexa, but not acceptable for music.
All in all, this is a pretty cool skill. Now Alexa needs to be able to recognize voices and switch between accounts.
Keep it!! I use it so much, bought the lights to go with and have her control so much. You also can do intercom between different ones.
If you are still looking for a cheaper Echo, QVC has a TSV pre-sale for $74.95, or 5 Easy Pays of $14.99, with free shipping – available in white or black:
http://www.qvc.com/Amazon-Echo-Speaker-with-2-Plus-Months-Music-%26-Audible-Books.product.E231174.html?sc=PRODFEED&TZ=EST
There are refurbished Echos and Taps at Amazon today for $79.99 in Gold Box Deals:
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/goldbox/ref=nav_cs_gb?nocache=1504694792172
@jbartus Guess you were right. https://www.geekwire.com/2017/amazon-devices-services-team-holding-mystery-press-event-morning/
@walarney now I’m wondering if I made the right decision buying the second $99 first gen. It looks like getting it roughly equivalent and functionality to the Echo Place without drilling into it too far so I probably got a better device than the new $99 Echo but still
@jbartus The technology treadmill doesn’t stop, you’ve got to jump on running. (I’m still just watching this one.)
@walarney oh I hear ya, I just don’t know without digging deeper if the old Echo’s feature set was better or worse for my purposes.
I want an Echo spot. It looks fun.