One of the key differences between the appearance of the original Echo and the 2.0 is the height and color. The original is a somewhat boring pillar-esque speaker â nothing youâd want to put on a table as a centerpiece. The new Echo is shorter in stature â just under six inches tall â and comes with more design choices and colors. When the old and new sit next to each other, the height difference is stark.
Setting up
Attach the power adapter to the device on the back and plug into the wall. A blue ring of light around the top of the device will blink, and then Alexa will say:
âHello, your Amazon Echo is ready for setup. Just follow the instructions in the Amazon Alexa app.â
If you havenât already, youâll need to download the Alexa app from the app store. Or if you prefer, you can set up your Echo via your browser. Once youâve got the app, you should be guided through the setup process. If you donât receive a prompt to do this, you can go to settings and then âset up a new device.â Once you do this, youâll see an orange light circling the top of your Echo before hearing Alexa say, âYouâve connected to your Echo, go ahead and finish the set up in your Alexa app.â
back to menu âAUDIO PERFORMANCE
While the original Amazon Echo was an innovative new product when it was released in 2015, one thing that was definitely not innovative was the sound of the speaker. Our reviewer called the device âgood enoughâ in sound quality. In other words, it worked for what it was designed to do, but donât expect to blow your friends away with bass at your BBQ if youâre listening to music via the old Echo speaker.
The Echo 2.0 promised an improvement in sound quality over its predecessor, with a dedicated tweeter, a 2.5â down-firing woofer, and Dolby processing. Amazon says the improvements help the device to deliver crisper vocals and stronger bass throughout the room. Alexa integrates with Amazon Music, Pandora, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn and others, so you can play your playlists from just about anywhere. One key feature for your Spotify lovers is that you can now set Spotify as your primary music source in the app.
back to menu âCapabilities
For regular consumers, hereâs where Google Home will either live or die. Itâs designed to make you life easier by quickly processing everyday questions and firing the answers back at you. With Google being the master of search, itâs fantastic at handling this.
You can also use it to fire up Netflix and YouTube by hooking it up to your TV via Chromecast. Itâll deliver news and weather updates and perform translations and calculations too, as well as play your favourite songs through Google Play Music or Spotify. After all, it is a speaker, though audio isn’t always crisp.
back to menu â
ALEXAâS CONNECTIONS AND SKILLS
Now oodles of products, from smart speakers, thermostats, locks, and even light bulbs, have added the mighty Alexa to their functionality. In order to connect to them to Alexa, all you have to do is search for devices via the âadd deviceâ setting in your app. From there you can control them from anywhere in your home, assuming youâre within earshot of an Echo or Alexa-enabled speaker to direct her. The list of devices with Alexa capabilities are long and continue to grow every day. You can also connect Alexa to devices via third-party platforms like Wink.
Alexa now has more than 25,000 third-party skills that you can enable at last count, and companies are launching more daily.
- All-new Echo (2nd Gen) has a new speaker, new design.
- Just ask ...
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| Binding | Electronics |
|---|---|
| Brand | |
| Color | Charcoal Fabric |
| EAN | 0841667189741 |
| EAN List | EAN List Element: 0841667189741 |
| Item Dimensions | Height: 582, Length: 344, Weight: 181, Width: 344 |
| Label | Amazon |
| Manufacturer | Amazon |
| Model | XC56PY |
| MPN | 53-006466 |
| Package Dimensions | Height: 600, Length: 1600, Weight: 200, Width: 600 |
| Package Quantity | 1 |
| Part Number | 53-006466 |
| Product Group | Amazon Home |
| Product Type Name | DIGITAL_DEVICE_3 |
| Publisher | Amazon |
| Release Date | 2017-10-31 |
| Studio | Amazon |
| Title | Echo (2nd Generation) with improved sound, powered by Dolby, and a new design â Charcoal Fabric |
| UPC | 841667189741 |
| UPC List | UPC List Element: 841667189741 |
