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<p class="MsoNormal">---------- Forwarded message ---------<br>
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Date: Fri, Dec 28, 2018 at 7:01 AM<br>
Subject: NFB-Seniors Digest, Vol 108, Issue 6<br>
To: <<a href="mailto:nfb-seniors@nfbnet.org">nfb-seniors@nfbnet.org</a>><o:p></o:p></p>
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Today's Topics:<br>
<br>
1. Amazon's Echo Lineup: What's the Difference? - Very good info<br>
(Robert Leslie Newman)<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
---------- Forwarded message ----------<br>
From: Robert Leslie Newman <<a href="mailto:robertleslienewman@gmail.com" target="_blank">robertleslienewman@gmail.com</a>><br>
To: 0senior division listserv <<a href="mailto:nebraska-senior-blind@nfbnet.org" target="_blank">nebraska-senior-blind@nfbnet.org</a>>, NFB Senior Division list <<a href="mailto:nfb-seniors@nfbnet.org" target="_blank">nfb-seniors@nfbnet.org</a>><br>
Cc: <br>
Bcc: <br>
Date: Thu, 27 Dec 2018 10:57:25 -0600<br>
Subject: [Nfb-seniors] Amazon's Echo Lineup: What's the Difference? - Very good info<br>
Amazon's Echo Lineup: What's the Difference? | PCMag.com<br>
<br>
(Note: I copied this off of a webpage, cut out some links, took out some<br>
spacing, and so still some of the visual formatting will be … strange.)<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Amazon once again expanded its Echo lineup, with upgraded smart speakers and<br>
other devices intended to put Alexa in every corner of your house (and car).<br>
<br>
If you're not sure which one is best for you, here’s a rundown of what each<br>
Echo device offers.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
By<br>
<br>
Eric Griffith<br>
<br>
and<br>
<br>
Chloe Albanesius<br>
<br>
December 20, 2018 5:50PM EST <br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Anyone who's embraced Alexa likely has an Amazon Echo product to thank.<br>
Since 2014, the slim cylinder with the killer wireless speakers has been<br>
listening<br>
<br>
for its wake word, ready to set timers and give you the weather, among other<br>
things.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
New features get added to Alexa all the time, such as <br>
<br>
making calls,<br>
<br>
support for multiple devices in one home, and <br>
<br>
music syncing.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
At the same time, Alexa expands her virtual footprint to <br>
<br>
Other interesting products<br>
<br>
and even software. You can access Alexa in apps like the Amazon shopping app<br>
and <br>
<br>
Amazon Music<br>
<br>
("Alexa, play songs by Peter Frampton") on iOS or Android. Heck, even the <br>
<br>
Cortana digital assistant talks to Alexa<br>
<br>
and vice versa. If we could just get Alexa to replace Siri, we'd be set.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Alexa on an app is nice, but Amazon has some pretty cool hardware to house<br>
its virtual assistant, too. Recently, it overhauled the full Echo lineup,<br>
adding<br>
<br>
gadgets big and small. If you're wondering which one to get, read on for a<br>
rundown of what each device brings to the table.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Amazon Echo (2017)<br>
<br>
The baseline of the Alexa hardware experience is the second-generation Echo,<br>
which is shorter than its predecessor at only 5.9 inches (versus 9.25), a<br>
<br>
little wider at 3.5 inches in diameter, and slightly lighter at 29 ounces<br>
compared to 37.5. It packs the same size woofer (2.5 inches) but a smaller<br>
tweeter<br>
<br>
(0.6 inches).<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
The biggest audio change is the inclusion of Dolby processing to better fill<br>
a room with audio. It now has buttons on top for controlling volume (like<br>
<br>
the second-generation Echo Dot), rather than the first generation's<br>
physically twistable volume ring controller. Using buttons helps lower the<br>
price from<br>
<br>
$179 to $99 (charcoal, heather gray, and sandstone fabric finish) or $119.99<br>
(oak, silver, or walnut finish).<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
In PCMag's review,<br>
<br>
we found the new Echo to be a much more attractive speaker that will fit<br>
more effortlessly with your home décor, at a much lower price than the<br>
previous<br>
<br>
model. That's a killer combination, and it's worth our Editors' Choice for<br>
voice assistant speakers and a spot on our list of <br>
<br>
Best Products of 2018.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
$69.99<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Echo Plus (2nd Gen)<br>
<br>
The new <br>
<br>
Echo Plus<br>
<br>
offers "more powerful" and "clearer" sound with stronger bass, Amazon said.<br>
It also features a temperature sensor, so it can trigger routines based on<br>
<br>
your home's climate. There's a built-in Zigbee smart home hub, so you can<br>
set up your <br>
<br>
smart devices<br>
<br>
by saying "Alexa, discover my devices." A feature known as local voice<br>
control lets you control connected smart plugs and lights on Echo devices<br>
with<br>
<br>
a built-in smart home hub, even if your internet goes down. In <br>
<br>
our review,<br>
<br>
we found that it's a bit louder and offers a bit more functionality than the<br>
standard Echo, but unless you plan to start filling your home with Zigbee<br>
<br>
devices without using a separate hub, it doesn't quite justify its $50<br>
premium.<br>
<br>
$149.99<br>
<br>
at Amazon<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Echo Show (2nd Gen)<br>
<br>
The new <br>
<br>
Echo Show<br>
<br>
features a 10-inch HD screen, offering twice the display area as the<br>
original, plus improved sound quality, for $229.99. New features includes a<br>
built-in<br>
<br>
web browser that will open via voice commands (“Alexa, open Silk” or “Alexa,<br>
open Firefox"). Type a website URL via the on-screen keyboard and bookmark<br>
<br>
favorites. It's a major upgrade over the original, with a larger, more<br>
functional touch screen and a much more powerful speaker system, making it<br>
an <br>
<br>
Editors' Choice<br>
<br>
and a pick for the <br>
<br>
Best Products of 2018.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
$229.99<br>
<br>
at Amazon<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Echo Show<br>
<br>
For something a little more affordable, the <br>
<br>
original Echo Show<br>
<br>
sports a 7-inch touch screen and a 5-megapixel camera for video chats with<br>
other <br>
<br>
Echo Show<br>
<br>
or Look owners. The screen can also show weather forecasts, music lyrics,<br>
surveillance camera feeds, Amazon Video, and more. Audio comes from two<br>
2-inch<br>
<br>
speakers. It lacks a 3.5mm audio line out jack to use other speakers,<br>
something featured on every other Echo; use Bluetooth for that. However, it<br>
does<br>
<br>
have an 8-microphone array, the most of any of the Echo products. It comes<br>
in black or white, but is <br>
<br>
currently only available used.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Echo Spot<br>
<br>
Echo Spot<br>
<br>
combines aspects of the small, inexpensive Dot with the high-end Show. Its<br>
built-in LCD screen is 2.5 inches and circular. The $129.99 device is only<br>
<br>
14.8 ounces and measures 4.1 by 3.8 by 3.6 inches—small enough to be a clock<br>
on a desk or nightstand that does much more. It has a camera in front so it<br>
<br>
will also handle video chats with other users of the Echo Spot or Echo Show<br>
(maybe someday, it'll also make video calls to phone apps, like FaceTime).<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
In <br>
<br>
PCMag's review,<br>
<br>
we found that while the Spot's audio quality isn't as strong as the Amazon<br>
Echo and other <br>
<br>
smart speakers,<br>
<br>
it's far more versatile, and worthy of our Editors' Choice.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
$129.99<br>
<br>
at Amazon<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Echo Dot (3rd Gen)<br>
<br>
True Echo affordability starts with the puck-sized Dot. Amazon's popular<br>
budget <br>
<br>
Echo Dot<br>
<br>
delivers dramatically improved sound, making it an even better buy for an<br>
entry-level Alexa speaker, making it an <br>
<br>
Editors' Choice.<br>
<br>
Get it in charcoal, heather gray, or sandstone.<br>
<br>
$29.99<br>
<br>
at Amazon<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Echo Dot (2nd Gen)<br>
<br>
For $20 less, the <br>
<br>
second-gen Echo Dot<br>
<br>
is still available in black or white. With a 0.6-inch speaker inside, it's<br>
no audio powerhouse, but it sports the same 7-microphone array found on its<br>
<br>
taller, cylindrical brethren, so it'll hear you just fine.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
$24.99<br>
<br>
at Amazon<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Amazon Echo Dot Kids Edition<br>
<br>
The Echo Dot Kids Edition is available<br>
<br>
in blue, green, or red. Amazon claims this version of the Dot includes up to<br>
$109 of savings when compared to the standard Echo Dot since it provides<br>
<br>
one year of FreeTime Unlimited, which normally costs a minimum of $2.99 per<br>
month.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Amazon promises ad-free radio stations, over 300 Audible books, premium kids<br>
skills from the likes of Disney and Nickelodeon, and special character<br>
alarms<br>
<br>
free for the first year. There's also a two-year guarantee included;<br>
usually, the Echo Dot includes a 90-day limited warranty.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
$49.99<br>
<br>
at Amazon<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Echo Input<br>
<br>
For many of us, Echo is a quick way to play our favorite tunes. But Echo<br>
isn't always the most powerful speaker in the home. With the puck-sized <br>
<br>
Echo Input,<br>
<br>
you can bring Alexa to nearby speakers via 3.5mm audio cable or Bluetooth.<br>
In <br>
<br>
our review,<br>
<br>
we found the Input to be an easy way to make third-party <br>
<br>
speakers<br>
<br>
Alexa-enabled, and it helps fill microphone-free gaps in your<br>
always-listening smart home. It's a niche product to be sure, but it works<br>
for that niche.<br>
<br>
$34.99<br>
<br>
at Amazon<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Echo Sub The Amazon Echo Sub<br>
<br>
provides much-needed sub-bass to your Echo smart speaker as long as you're<br>
willing to overlook some frustrating limitations. In <br>
<br>
our review, we found that it can't shake the walls like home theater<br>
subwoofers, and it's held back by a bizarre incompatibility with Bluetooth<br>
streaming.<br>
<br>
$129.99<br>
<br>
at Amazon<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
d nesting level 1<br>
<br>
connects to your existing stereo equipment, letting you control music<br>
playback and volume via Echo devices or the Alexa app.<br>
<br>
$199.99<br>
<br>
at Amazon<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Echo Link Amp<br>
<br>
The <br>
<br>
Echo Link Amp<br>
<br>
adds a built-in 60W, 2-channel amplifier and a left-right speaker binding<br>
post outputs for wiring directly to passive and non-powered speakers. It's<br>
currently<br>
<br>
unavailable, but you can sign up to get an email when it goes on sale.<br>
<br>
$299.99<br>
<br>
at Amazon<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Amazon Echo Wall Clock<br>
<br>
The $29.99 <br>
<br>
Echo Wall Clock<br>
<br>
is...pretty self explanatory. According to Amazon, you pair it with an Echo<br>
device and when you set a timer, the Wall Clock will show you how much time<br>
<br>
remains and a 60-second countdown at the end.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Big Mouth Billy Bass<br>
<br>
The latest <br>
<br>
Big Mouth Billy Bass<br>
<br>
connects to your Amazon Echo speaker to react to Alexa's voice. It's not a<br>
good product, the way we at PCMag measure good products. It doesn't have a<br>
<br>
compelling feature set, nor is it made of high-quality materials. It isn't a<br>
standalone <br>
<br>
smart speaker<br>
<br>
like the <br>
<br>
Echo Dot,<br>
<br>
and it's so poorly made we can't imagine it lasting very long. But your dad<br>
is probably going to love it.<br>
<br>
$39.99<br>
<br>
at Amazon<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Echo Look<br>
<br>
If you're in the market for both fashion advice and Alexa voice assistance,<br>
the <br>
<br>
Amazon Echo Look<br>
<br>
is a unique camera that sees what you're wearing and offers an opinion on<br>
it.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
You could argue that the <br>
<br>
Echo Look<br>
<br>
doesn't belong with all the rest. It's mainly a style helper, but it does<br>
have Alexa integration, so it counts. For awhile, it was only available by<br>
invite,<br>
<br>
but now anyone can get it.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
$49.99<br>
<br>
at Amazon<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Echo Auto<br>
<br>
Google has Android Auto and Apple has CarPlay, so it was inevitable that<br>
Amazon would also get into the automotive space. The Echo Auto is a small<br>
device<br>
<br>
that attaches to the dashboard and responds questions just like it would at<br>
home. It connects via your existing smartphone plan and the Alexa app. It's<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
$24.99<br>
<br>
but you have to request an invitation.<br>
<br>
$24.99<br>
<br>
at Amazon<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Fire HD Tablets With Hands-Free Alexa<br>
<br>
They're not technically Echo devices, but the 8- and 10-inch Amazon Fire HD<br>
color tablets have hands-free Alexa support (even if the screen is asleep),<br>
<br>
meaning they can do everything the Echo Show does.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
The 32GB <br>
<br>
Fire HD 10<br>
<br>
is $149.99; 64GB is $189.99. Both versions come in black, blue, or red on<br>
the back and are available now. (Currently on sale starting at $119.99.)<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
The 16GB <br>
<br>
Fire HD 8<br>
<br>
is $79.99; the 32GB is $109.99. They come in black, yellow, blue, and red,<br>
and arrive on Oct. 4. (Currently on sale starting at $49.99.)<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Those prices are “With Special Offers” (translation: ads); get rid of them<br>
by paying an extra $15—which is still cheaper than the Echo Show.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
These tablets will probably also still support YouTube videos—since you can<br>
just <br>
<br>
Download the YouTube app. In <br>
<br>
PCMag's review,<br>
<br>
we found the 32GB Fire HD 10 to be the best value for your dollar under<br>
$150. The 2018 edition of the Amazon Fire HD 8, meanwhile, <br>
<br>
remains the best media tablet you can get for under $100.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
$119.99<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
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<a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-seniors_nfbnet.org" target="_blank">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-seniors_nfbnet.org</a><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt">Wishing You All the Best, <br>
<br>
Cheryl E. Fields <br>
<br>
<br>
A man has made at least a start on discovering the meaning of human life when he plants shade trees under which he knows full well he will never sit.<br>
--D. Elton Trueblood<br>
<br>
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