Why you Need an Amazon Echo Dot
Amazon
If you haven’t bought an Amazon Echo Dot yet, it’s time to get one. It’s like having your own live-in personal assistant and, on command, it can play music, answer questions, book taxis, read recipes, recite the news headlines and even order takeaways – all from just £16.99.
A slim new look
One thing that put me off the first generation of the Amazon Echo is its look; its cold, hard, black, cylindrical plastic shell. Amazon clearly have addressed this now, though, with its new series of finishes that are guaranteed to help the device integrate into the decor of your home.
So what do I love so much about this new Heather Grey Fabric finish?
Firstly, grey blends in perfectly with any other colour scheme. Secondly, grey is on-trend in itself. Thirdly, I love the textured hessian appearance; it’ll help to add character into a space with lots of smooth surfaces. Lastly, it has a concrete-esque look, and ties in beautifully with an industrial scheme.
If you’re not sold on the Heather Grey Fabric finish, though, there are 4 others to choose from:
What can it actually do?
So enough about how it looks. Why would you want an Amazon Echo? What can it do for you?
Well, the genius behind the Echo comes down to the robotic brain inside. She’s called Alexa, and she can do all manner of things, like:
1) Play your favourite songs
If you love to listen to music, you don’t have to strum through your CD collection anymore – you don’t even have to search your online music library. Just hook up your Spotify or Amazon Music account to your Echo, tell it want you want to listen to, and away you go!
For me, this would go something like – ‘Alexa, play me some Fleetwood Mac.’
You can even fire genres and eras at it – ‘Alexa, play me some pop songs from the 90’s.’
2) Book you an Uber
If you use online taxi-booking service Uber, then you’re in for a treat with the Echo.
Picture this – you’re getting ready for a night out. Maybe you and your friends are having a few pre-drinks. Maybe you’re adding the finishing touches to your hair or your make-up. Then it comes time to book the taxi.
You don’t want to go rooting through an app on your phone. Once the Echo is hooked up to your Uber account, you simply have to say, ‘Alexa, book me a ride,’ and the cab is on its way!
You can even check on the taxi’s progress via Alexa, or cancel it completely.
3) Answer (almost) any question
You know those random questions that pop into your head, out of nowhere? Like, ‘What happened to the guy who played Rufio in Hook?’ Sure you do.
Well, much like you would type such a question into Google back in the Dark Ages, you simply have to verbally ask Alexa now, and she’ll find the answer for you:
‘He’s really not doing all that much. Hook was definitely the highlight of his career.’
4) Order you a takeaway
Not a fan of cooking? Or simply love ordering in the weekly Chinese takeway or twelve-inch stuffed crust? Hook Alexa up to the JustEat app and you can place your favourite orders hands-free!
5) Read You A Recipe
Love cooking? You don’t have to flick through a recipe book anymore with your disgusting cake-mix-dripping fingers. Just ask Alexa to recite a recipe to you, and she’ll take you through it one step at a time.
6) Tell you the weather
Popping out to the shops, and not sure which way that overcast sky is going to go? Just ask, ‘Alexa, what’s the weather forecast?’ and she’ll tell you that it’s going to rain, because if you’re reading this, you likely live in England, and it always rains here.
7) Run through the headlines
Just woken up from a power nap, and want to know the state of the world? Ask Alexa for the latest news headlines, and she’ll tell you all the important stuff that you might have missed – like the giant ice storm heading towards the UK.
So there are some of the reasons why you might like to invite a gorgeous new Echo into your home this season!
To visit this must-have device on Amazon, where’s it’s currently selling at £89.99, just click here: Heather Grey Fabric Amazon Alexa Echo