Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen) with clock | Compact smart speaker with Alexa and enhanced LED display for at-a-glance clock, timers, weather, and more | Glacier White

The Amazon Echo Dot with clock (5th generation) is a compact and stylish smart speaker. The clock display is clear, making it easy to see the time, alarms, and timers. Alexa responds quickly to voice commands, and the sound quality is surprisingly good for its size. Perfect for nightstands or desks. I recommend it.

I am a longtime internet radio listener. Suddenly, and without warning (for me), Logitech recently pulled the plug on their servers after 10 years and instantly obsoleted the three internet radios I had around the house. I decided on Echo Dots as probably being the best solution to replace the radios. And indeed that is the case. Like my radios, with TuneIn on the Dots I can access just about any genre of audio format programming from around the world with a simple "Alexa play..." Sonically, these little guys are quite impressive given their size. They're not going to fill a room with concert-hall-quality sound but that's not what they're primarily designed to do. As for Alexa integration and set up, I did not find that to be as easy as Amazon suggests. The Dots come with minimalist setup instructions that basically say download the app, plug in the Dot, and follow the prompts. However, my router is partitioned into Primary, Internet of Things, and Guest. I wanted to install the Dots on my IoT. But an option was never given to select the partition I wanted. Apparently the Dots were going to install on whatever network the tablet was on that I was using for setup. It took me a while to work through what to do in order to get them installed as I wanted. There were also other problems that needed to be solved through trial and error that required some googling to figure out. Eventually the first Dot sprung to life but I still don't really have a good grip on what I did to make that happen. Luckily, once the first Dot was installed, the other two were essentially PnP. But the whole process took hours, not minutes, along with a fair amount of anxiety and uncertainty about what I was doing. NOT.SO.SIMPLE. I also don't find the Alexa app to be very user friendly. It's not at all intuitive and takes a fair amount of internet searching just to find out what you can do with the Dots let alone make it happen. Finally, no one should ever forget that in days of yore, government agents would either have to sneak into your home or get court orders to place a bug. The old East German Stasi would never have believed that people would willingly bug themselves like this. These smart speakers are listening devices you are voluntarily putting in your home or office that listen to everything you say, presumably just waiting for the magic word "Alexa" before they start processing the information you provide. As paranoid as it may sound, it doesn't take too much imagination for how these devices could be employed or hacked to violate someone's personal privacy in some places around the world now or in the future. Fortunately, the Dots have a prominent button to turn off the microphone so you can lower the Cone of Silence when necessary (assuming you really want to believe that the mic couldn't be turned back on by a determined foe). The problem, however, is that these Dots are so small and unobtrusive that they just fade into the background, out of sight and out of mind. You forget they're there and listening!

I recently purchased the Amazon Echo Dot, and I must say, it has exceeded my expectations in every way! This little device packs a big punch with its versatility, quality, and ease of use. Let me share my thoughts on why I highly recommend the Echo Dot. First and foremost, the versatility of the Echo Dot is outstanding. It seamlessly integrates with various smart home devices, allowing me to control everything from lights and thermostats to music and entertainment systems, all with just my voice. The wide range of compatible smart home brands ensures that no matter what devices I have, the Echo Dot can handle them flawlessly. It truly makes managing my smart home a breeze! Moreover, the quality of the Echo Dot is exceptional. The sleek and compact design not only looks great in any room but also allows it to blend seamlessly with the decor. The sound quality is surprisingly impressive for such a compact device, delivering clear and crisp audio for both music playback and voice responses. The microphones are incredibly sensitive, effortlessly picking up my voice commands from across the room, even when there is background noise. The Echo Dot’s ease of use is another standout feature. Setting it up was a breeze, thanks to the intuitive app and clear instructions provided. Once connected, controlling the device is as simple as saying the wake word, and the Echo Dot promptly responds, ready to assist with any task. Its voice recognition is top-notch, accurately understanding my commands and executing them swiftly. I particularly appreciate the ability to customize the wake word, adding a personal touch to my interactions. Additionally, the Echo Dot’s integration with Alexa, Amazon’s virtual assistant, enhances its functionality. From getting weather updates and setting timers to answering questions and playing my favorite songs, Alexa’s vast array of skills adds tremendous value to the device. The continuous software updates ensure that the Echo Dot stays up to date with new features and capabilities, constantly improving the user experience. To sum it up, the Amazon Echo Dot has become an indispensable part of my smart home setup. Its versatility, quality, and ease of use are truly impressive. Whether you’re a tech-savvy individual or new to the world of smart home devices, the Echo Dot will enhance your daily life and make your home smarter and more convenient. I wholeheartedly give it a five-star rating and encourage everyone to experience the wonders of the Echo Dot firsthand.

Hi .CAVEAT: I really did not like too much technology in my home.------ I like this device, very useful. The unit is fairly easy to install. The features are a little harder, but doable. If not YouTube helps. A ton of features. Good one is drop-in, you can talk to all echos in all rooms. Good for family like intercom. It has so many features. Very customizable. It has become essential. You can set timers and alarms. Just great. Highly recommend!!!! IMPORTANT: the main review. I went on vacation down south. This is my first device. For older people, this can be life saver!!! My sister in law showed me how, if you hook up cell phone to Echo. If you fall or other, you can call family member, to come by or call emergency services . This makes this highly valuable device. Also you avoid paying monthly emergency call fees Great to help older family members. It will call 10 contacts, even doctors number . UPDATE: Still works great, finding so many uses for it, the AI does seem to be not sure, dumbed down(good thing?) Remember awhile back you could ask questions and get some very interesting answers, and hold conversation. Doesn't do that anymore??? Guess OK???