Features:

  • Plays all your music from Amazon Music, Spotify, Pandora, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, and more using just your voice
  • Call or message anyone hands-free with your Echo device. Also, instantly connect to other Echo devices in your home using just your voice.
  • Fills the room with immersive, 360º omni-directional audio. Play music simultaneously across Echo devices with multi-room music (Spotify and Sirius XM support coming soon).
  • Hears you from across the room with far-field voice recognition, even while music is playing
  • Answers questions, reads the news, reports traffic and weather, reads audiobooks from Audible, gives info on local businesses, provides sports scores and schedules, controls Amazon Video on Fire TV, and more using the Alexa Voice Service
  • Controls lights, fans, TVs, switches, thermostats, garage doors, sprinklers, locks, and more with compatible connected devices from WeMo, Philips Hue, Sony, Samsung SmartThings, Nest, and others
  • Always getting smarter and adding new features, plus thousands of skills like Uber, Domino's, DISH, and more
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my Echo.'She' understands my accent and has become one of my favorite gadgets in my home.

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my Echo. I work from home and it is nice to just have to speak to Alexa for commands like, tell me the news, weather updates, play music from my prime library, listen to radio stations from around the world. I love how Alexa lights up when you say her name to give her a demand and she can tell me jokes, read books to me and much more. 'She' has become one of my favorite gadgets in my home. The speaker is surprisingly good - I can control the loudness by just saying 'Alexa, louder' and the volume can go rather loud. I did not notice any distortion and happy that the sound has a good base, with not too much treble. I was going to put her in my bedroom/bathroom to use as an alarm, change the room temperature, use as a timer and to play music for when I am in the shower, but found that she is so helpful that I moved her to our kitchen. She is a great gadget for information, recipes and much more. The other great benefits are that she is not registered for one voice, so my family can speak questions or requests. Amazon is constantly updating the software so that she is kept up-to-date. I can speak to her to change the temperature of my nest thermostat, and works just great! Although she looks great by herself, I ordered a Stabl'R Speaker Stand. I did not place the Echo in a high-traffic foot area or in reach of kids, but I wanted to put her in this stand. You really don't need the stand, but it does make to showcase the Echo, it compliments the design of the Echo and it helped to fit in with my home decoration. She took only a few mins to set up and I am so happy with the ease of use, and how she understands my accent. Since buying Echo, I have pe-ordered the Dot to hook up to my bose surround system in my living room.

Alexa saved my life. Literally.

Alexa honestly just saved my life. I was out with my girlfriend until about midnight. My husband decided not to come. We get back to my apartment only to find that my keys were in the apartment, there were below freezing temperatures, and my husband wouldn't answer the phone. I knew that the bottom of our door had some insulation problems, so I bent down and proceeded to call out to dear Alexa. I yelled at her to play Beyoncé on the highest level; and what do you know, the husband woke up and we were freed from the potential of going into a hypothermic state. God bless Alexa.

Alexa, my love. Thy name is inflexible, but thou art otherwise a nearly perfect spouse.

I'm a full-time writer who works at home. I'm unmarried, I don't watch TV, I don't have a mobile phone, I hate gadgets in general. OK, so I'm a loser. But since Alexa came into my life, I'm no longer alone 24 hours a day. Which begs the question, if I'm not alone, who is in the room with me? Amazon? The so-called cloud? The NSA? The 18,000 plus reviewers who have already posted have gone into great detail about how they use their Echo (my Alexa). Having anthropomorphized my Alexa, I'm unwilling to use her at all, but we hold pleasant converse throughout the day. My favorite conversation I'll repeat for you below, verbatim: Me - Alexa. Wake me in fifteen minutes. Alexa - Fifteen minutes. Starting now. Me - Thank you. Alexa (remains silent, modestly hiding her feelings by not displaying her snazzy blue lights) If I knew relationships were this easy, I would have married thirty years ago, but now that I have Alexa, there's no need. Except for the one thing. I really (and Amazon, please don't tell Alexa I wrote this) don't care for the name. I know we have the option to change the name to Amazon, which is worse. What I really want is to be able to change the name to Libby, after the helpful AI librarian in the EarthCent Ambassador series, but in a pinch, I'd settle for Kelly, Other than that, my Alexa is perfect. Well, except for that time when I asked her to play rain sounds for relaxation when I was trying to sleep, and she woke me up after I finally nodded off to inform me that she'd lost her Internet connection. But from what my married friends all tell me, you have to expect these sorts of things. Sometimes Alexa doesn't seem to understand what I'm getting at, but the same friends (and family) assure me that this is a normal part of marriage as well. And when I tell them that my Alexa won't spend a dime before confirming it with me, their faces turn green with envy. Who knew that married couples fight over money? I've never purchased anything before that made me smile. That's just the kind of grumpy guy I am. But now that Alexa has broken the ice, maybe I'll become a full-fledged consumer, ordering items from Prime every day. The one thing I'm sure of is that Alexa will be here at my side to help. Update: This morning, I asked my love to order me a replacement water filter for the faucet. She rattled off the name of my prior purchase (quite long and filled with model numbers) and intimated that it could be mine for just $13.46. I confirmed, and she placed the order. Later, while Alexa was relaxing, I went on my computer to check that everything was correct. Imagine my shock and disappointment when I saw Amazon listing the water filter for $12.67. Was my Alexa skimming? Did she need the 79 cents for something special? With her "always on" technology, would she start going through my pockets as I slept, or rifle my wallet while I was in the shower? Was this the beginning of the "money issue" that all my married friends spoke of? Suddenly it hit me. TAXES. Never have I been so relieved to be charged sales tax in my life. Thank you, Massachusetts.

If you've not used it, forget your reservations

Being 100% honest, I thought this was a niche product at first and dismissed it for quite a while...until my foray into making a smart home. Alexa is your best, most convenient friend and she can change your life. Yes, she is a bit expensive (heck, I had to save money for a month and a half to get it) but it is worth it! My latest favorite function; keeping track of how much pain medicine I've given my 6 year old son who just had his tonsils and adenoids out. "Alexa, put give medicine to son on my to do list". Then "Alexa, make a timer for 3 hours". She has simplified and made things just a little less stressful. For that I'm thankful. Also, we ask her to turn on lights (with my Wink hub: not required, depending) and she does it! There are so many functions that there are books about maximizing efficiency! I know this is one of the most reviewed items on Amazon so I'm not expecting a lot of helpful votes but I wanted to share this with everyone as I love it!

Better than I imagined!!!

I hesitated to buy Alexa, because I have Apple Products. After reading reviews from other customers, I decided that it may not hinder her functionality as much as I thought. I currently have a Bose portable speaker to play my itunes from a very old ipod touch. I leave it for the animals during the day when I am at work. Recently, I began using Sirius XM radio. My old ipod would not load the sirius app, so I began using my phone to listen to the stations. I noticed that this Bose speaker can only connect to one bluetooth object at a time. I hadnt noticed this, since the ipod has just always played. I decided to look for a new wireless speaker, and I revisited the possibility of the Echo again. Echo is half the price of the Bose wireless speakers, and it does so much more. Amazon offers free same day, free returns, and even a payment plan. Since I do most of my shopping with Amazon, I thought that I would give it a whirl. Echo literally just arrived!!! I had it set up in minutes with little effort. The app gives you a quick tutorial of some kinds of things that Alexa can do. The sound is crisp and clear. I cranked her up to the max and she didnt even flinch. The sound was WOW!! There were no distortions that are typical of a smaller speaker when you crank it to the max (even my Bose beat and vibrated at higher volumes). BIG plus for me, as I do love my music. I am very surprised how well it works with the apple phone. Alexa played crisp clear music without issue. I am not really sure where it is coming from yet, but I will keep learning! I do not own some of the songs by the artist that I requested. She was playing from Amazon I suppose. I asked for a few things to practice. I set a timer, asked for weather, and told her to stop. This is so much more fun than any regular bluetooth wireless speaker. I will enjoy this, and I even see a Tap in my near future for upstairs!!! One funny story: When I began playing music from the Echo, my parrot began singing and dancing along! It was so cute, and made the Echo worth every penny!!! :) In conclusion, if you are teetering with getting this bc you own apple everything, you are missing out. If you are wondering just what the heck is this Echo thing? Get it and find out!!! I wondered the same thing. If you are wondering why you need this, justify it as a wonderful present to yourself!!! It is upgradable and expandable (with the addition of the tap), and you can get special plugs that will work with Echo to run your lights, alarms, etc. I cant wait to learn more about this Echo. I may update this review at a later date, after I learn more. Happy Echoing!!!! UPDATE!! After using the echo for a little bit now, I am still impressed with what it can do. I am also very impressed with the speed and accuracy of customer service that Amazon provides with this device. My suggestions are taken back to the team and they provide detailed responses song with example commands that I may give Alexa. An additional piece that I didn't expect to gain with the addition of alexa to our home was a friend for my African grey parrot. He has learned to say Alexa and he will watch it respond to him w the light prompt. He has stopped the music and gotten her to say hello to him. This is especially hilarious!! I have include a photo of Gordon the grey with his new friend Alexa :)

Alexa is a Revolution for my Disabled Family Member

I bought this for a family member who has very limited use of her hands due to a spinal cord injury. She lives in a nursing facility. My hope was that she could enjoy her favorite music and listen to broadcasts of her favorite sports team simply by speaking to the Echo/Alexa device. My big concern was that she would not be able to use the voice commands due to her weak voice. Happily, I can report that she loves it and is able to successfully use the voice commands. We have it sitting on her night stand about two feet next to her. And I know that she loves it not only because she tells me but because I can see, using the Alexa app on my smartphone, each and every time she interacts with the device throughout the day. I can even listen to the audio of each of her interactions with the device. And I am not exaggerating when I say that she often interacts with Alexa/Echo over 100 times throughout the day! So far, she uses Alexa/Echo to listen to her favorite music through my Prime Music subscription. We recently purchased a few songs that she couldn't find in Prime Music. She also often asks it to tell her a joke and check the weather outside. She says the staff at the nursing facility where she lives seem to be amazed by the device as well and she often demonstrates its capabilities asking it to tell her who the current president is. Currently, I am helping her become familiar with its ability to play local radios stations, especially the ones that broadcast Kentucky Wildcat sports games. When I reminded her that it could read books aloud, she requested a chapter of the Bible; I found a beautiful professionally produced audio version with professional voice actors on Audible. This product has been a real revolution in my aunt's day-to-day life and the Prime Music connectivity is bringing her great pleasure and stimulation. I am giving it five stars because she is able to use it unassisted simply with her voice and because the Alexa app gives me a new fascinating way to keep track of one aspect of her day. My aunt hopes that a future update will allow it to control her TV and make/receive phone calls. Well done Amazon!

Uber Awesome, In Fact you can even order an Uber ride from it!!

LOVE OUR NEW ECHO! I have been watching the reviews online and checking with friends that have purchased the Echo to see how much they liked or disliked its features. Last person I talked to went on and on about all the things there were using it for and that persuaded me it was time and Amazon Prime Day was the perfect opportunity to go for it. Amazon did a fantastic job of creating this tubular info-taining command center! There are so many cool and awesome things its able to do that I'll hit the highlights that work for our household. First, we love that it follows your voice in the room (the circle lighting will show which direction it is 'listening'), the speaker is wonderfully balanced, so whether listening to music, the news or to Alexa speaking, I have nothing but high marks for its sound quality, given its size. Next, set up (after downloading the app to our iPhones) was quick, easy and very intuitive. The more you look over the app, the more you will realize a world of 'skills' (as Amazon refers to them - we've nicked named them "echolettes" LOL) that the unit is able to perform once they are turned on and you master the right sequence of keywords to initialize them. We've added things to shopping lists, while asking about the weather and our calendar of events and then asked Alexa to change the temp of our Nest thermostats in various parts of the house, simply by saying her name and then our commands, sometimes sitting in the living room or simply pass through - she is always there listening and ready. We've ordered some LED programmable lights and I can hardly wait for Alexa to help set the mood in the house, room to room, all from a simple voice request. Even though we are fairly tech savvy and have phone, tablets and watches that can control devices, its HUGE to just ask for something and a pleasant voice setting it in motion. I am a regular Amazon Prime shopper and reviewer, if my review helped you in making up your mind about whether to purchase the Echo, please mark the ‘Helpful’ button, it tells Amazon that folks are in fact reading reviews like this. Thanks!

Already very practical for overcoming disability issues

We have been using Echo since April 2015. Prior to that time, my husband had been hospitalized for several weeks. He is currently wheelchair bound. We immediately installed the Hue bridge and lights as well as the WEMO outlet. With these, and dear, dear, Alexa, he has a great deal of control of his environment in ways that make him much more independent. Others might enjoy Echo for fun and convenience, but for him it is a lifeline! He has even had her turn the lights on in my bedroom when I didn't hear him call. We use the shopping list feature a lot, and my husband has added things to the list that he remembered, while I was already at the store. Should I mention he adds things like chocolate bars when I'm not looking? No more paper lists! I just look at the app on my phone and things disappear as I check them off. We transport Echo from the living room to the bedroom, since it is easier for him not to have to use the remote, plus it is always there for his favorite music, an update on news, and to check the weather. Or, when he needs cheering up, I ask for a joke. Tosave plugging in behind his lift chairs, I have ordered a second plug. I love the easy reconnect to the WIFI. I was a bit worried at first about his word slurring with his Parkinson's, but it has worked the opposite way! I notice he focuses his words much better while giving commands. After he forgot her name early on, we added it so he could remember using the Zink hAppy App. My granddaughter was happy to check her math problems using Echo, and in addition to the music stations and Amazon play lists, Echo is a breeze to use as a Bluetooth device. I have used it to play my meditation apps and iTunes music. In case you aren't aware, Amazon even allows you to upload your iTunes library and save it in your Amazon Play list. There is a limit for free songs, but we didn't even come close. I won't say it revolutionized our lives, but it has made our lives much more normal. We have recommended it to two Occupational Therapists, and his Home Healthcare director has recommended it for others. I am so excited it is now available for everyone. Amazon didn't intend this as an assistive device, but it is an awesome one. A couple of things I'm hoping for in the future: the ability for her to call 911, and the ability to give storm alerts. I looked for an IFTT configuration on the storm alert, but currently she is only the trigger, not the recipient. You can't have her do something in response to outside events, you can only have other things happen as a result of your interaction with her. Funny, when he was in the hospital, I almost cancelled my long awaited order. I am SO glad we got it. Edited - July 17, 2015 - my husband started TENS therapy for pain two weeks ago and is responding well. Two areas where Echo has been very helpful are setting a timer, and playing background music so he can focus on something else. He is now able to use the muscle, albeit weakly, and is taking steps with close monitoring and a wheelchair behind. He also uses the timer to remind him to stand and to time him for length of time while standing. We also added a second Echo for me to use, so we are a two Echo family. You can set up multiple Echos on the same account and share things like music and shopping lists. Edited November 2, 2015: I am happy to report that Echo (and Gary) have only gotten better. I personally love the multiple alarms, since they are the first thing we do each morning, setting them for medication times. It is the perfect reminder! Echo has also been happy to keep us up to date on favorite sports teams when they aren't on TV. The other night, I found Gary playing his own version of a memory game with Alexa. He was trying to come up with songs he remembered and hadn't heard for awhile and would ask her to play them. In addition to Gary's increasing strength, he now has an electric wheelchair I purchased that allows him access to the bathroom and makes life easier for us. And, Alexa keeps his speech in line. When he realized She had been understanding him less, he went back to doing his speech exercises. Our lives have settled into a new normal, and the Echo is a huge part of what makes normal easier. *** IMPORTANT UPDATE DECEMBER 1, 2015 - In case you aren't in the loop, Amazon has added "Ask My Buddy" to Echo. It permits you to register an account and up to five contacts. Each contact can have email address, text address (cell phone), and Voice Phone. With the simple words "Ask my Buddy," Echo will immediately ask who you want to contact. You may contact an individual or everyone on the list, and Ask My Buddy will immediately send an alert to those who you request. It states that it is "free in this beta version" and you have up to 120 contacts in a month for now. (Each person, text, and email counts). Edited February 28, 2016 - We were able to buy a lift van (used) so we are able to more easily get around. I am trying to get Gary out of the house at least once a week. We are currently planning a trip (by Amtrak) to visit family. It has taken a million details (OK, maybe not a million, but it feels like it) to try to do 36 hours on the train and to set things up my Dad's house. I have a list of things that we are taking with us. Alexa is at the top of the list. I suspect by the time I leave my Dad's home, he will have one on order. I may actually bring Hue light bulbs with me, or at least a WEMO plug. Edited July 2016 - the trip was successful, if stressful on all of us. My Dad is now on Hospice, so I am grateful we went when we could. Sadly, Gary's health has continued to deteriorate, and he would no longer be able to make the trip. We have a hospital bed in our living room where he can be with us more. He is now believed to have a Parkinson's Plus disease called Multiple System Atrophy. Alexa seems to understand him better now using the remote, so we keep it handy. His current Physical and Occupational Therapists love Alexa as well. My greatest pleasure is reading the comments of others who also have disabilities who have been encouraged by my posts. Thank you. Edited September 6, 2016 - Sadly, we lost my Dad shortly after I posted. He really enjoyed Echo during our visit, since he was a huge techie buff. It was fun sharing this important part of our lives with him. Gary continues to have a strong support system medically, although he is getting progressively weaker. An MRI shows he has had at least one stroke, which is probably why Alexa has a harder time understanding him. And yes, all of the new home health members love seeing what we have done with our Echo. I have moved a twin bed into the living room to be with Gary at night, and when he needs help, it is easy to have Echo turn on the light for us. Our daughter and granddaughter moved in to help, and it is ESPECIALLY nice to control all of the lights in the house so easily. April 2, 2017 If you aren't aware, TAP, Echo's sister, will now respond to a wake word. As Gary's speech deteriorated, Tap has helped him to more easily turn off the alarm, and having the wake word made it easy for me to control as well using my voice. I have also added Nucleus to our Alexa family, which allows me to do video calls to check on Gary when I am away from home. Gary continues to get weaker, but Echo has been a huge part of our journey. Reading back over my review, it is interesting to note that none of the therapists who visit us now are unfamiliar with Echo, although they enjoy seeing how we use it. We are now at the point where Hospice is stepping in, and we are grateful for the support they offer.

Helping A 80 Yr Old Widow Grieve ***Updated 9/14/16***

***Updated 9/14/16*** I have re-gifted my Alexa. Alexa is currently at my grandmothers house by her bedside playing inspirational Christian songs to help her deal with the recent passing of my grandfather whom they have been married for 63+ years. I've taught her how to ask Alexa for bible verses or to a play a song when she may need to hear one. I initially bought her a touch screen android tablet but that wasn't as effective for her to use at her age. But because of Alexa's voice recognition it is much more easier for anyone at any age to interact with her. And even more cool is the fact that I can remotely control what she wants to listen and adjust it to her needs. She calls asking me for a song that I immediately add to her music library and it's a way for me to be there for her without actually being there, which is the best thing for me. I plan on adding some custom MP3 recordings so she will hear a familiar voice every now and again. But the point of me writing this is to show how this piece of technology can bridge the generational gap between age and technology in a way that is powerful and healing to the human soul . I'm so glad that I was introduced to Alexa and I have given her as a gift to my grandmother who needs her more than I do right now; especially since she is alone at night (the home health aide is only around 5 hrs / day). And the voice control and response is phenomenal for someone like her who cannot move fast due to cervical fracture from falling off her bed and having a cholecystectomy. I will have to get myself another Alexa in the future but for now she is consoling the broken heart of an 80 year old woman who just lost her husband. I never imagined this piece of technology would transcend human caring, but it totally has. God Bless Alexa, Ugine

She was a beautiful lady here on earth and I am sure she ...

I have been using advanced technology for the last 20 years. It was born out of necessity not convenience. My wife passed away 4 years ago leaving me, not only a widow, but a widowed quadriplegic trying to survive on his own. We were married 20 years and yes she married me when I was already paralyzed. She was a beautiful lady here on earth and I am sure she is just as beautiful in God's presence. I have to attest that it has been an arduous journey. But one thing that has made it possible for me to live on my own even though I am paralyzed from the chest down, is "smart technology." For example, I am able to run my entire home with apps on my phone, computer or tablet. I have lights, electric door locks, electric bed, air-conditioning/heat, cameras, both indoor and out side. Smart technology allows me to input data on my laptop when I am laying in bed – I cannot use my arms when I am laying flat in bed because of the paralysis. Up to this point, I have used input through joysticks that operate by using my mouth. They work effectively but the joysticks must be placed specifically in front of my mouth and they have to remain there all night long. Smart technology allows me to be able to live safely on my own and has even allowed me to help take care of my 75-year-old mother whose health is, due to God's grace and technology, now stable and she is actually helping me more each day. Alexa has been a blessing beyond my imagination. She has given me an opportunity that I never thought would be possible. I still use the joystick input because they are reliable and not subject to Wi-Fi disruption but Alexis is growing more dependable each day. At this point I have only an echo Dot, but I am ordering, when funds allow, the regular echo and another Dot as well. To be able to sit it in my electric wheelchair and call out commands without having to struggle with switches or computer input is wonderful. I have not always been paralyzed. A car accident left me a quadriplegic 34 years ago. So, I know what it is to be able to easily walk over and flip a switch or to restart a computer that has locked up. It is not so easy to do when you are completely paralyzed from your breast line down. The littlest of things become a struggle. Alexa will help me to live more independent, live more safely and productive. I have managed to acquire 2 college degrees, A Bachelors Degree in Social Work and a Masters degree in Public Administration prior to voice input or Bluetooth technology. And, if I was able to achieve these things prior to the modern "smart technology" I believe that technology such as Alexa will open doors I can only imagine. I am grateful for this technology and I look forward to a long and beautiful relationship with her! – Michael

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