There are more than 50,000 user reviews about Alexa Echo Dot smart speaker on Amazon, and in this article, I wont be very original, but I will write another review from a point of view of a stock trader and a father of a little baby girl.
I purchased our first Echo Dot smart speaker at the end of August 2019, it took more than 2 weeks to get it shipped to Georgia (country) and just in the mid-September, it was finally here.
Disclosure: This article contains links to Amazon, by clicking on links on this page and by making a purchase on Amazon site, I might earn an affiliate income from that at no cost to you.
How To Order Goodies From US to Georgia - Usa2Georgia.com
Frankly speaking, this was the most awaited gadget I've ever ordered from Amazon. I got that feeling that this device will change our lives forever, as a washing machine did it back in the 50-ies.
The motivation behind this purchase was because of the baby - I wanted to have some smart gadget she could talk with (well she is just 14 months old, and it will take some time, but I can see huge potential here).
As a stock trader, I wanted to check stock prices constantly throughout the day, using a phone is OK, but using Alexa Echo dot is even more OK. You could even set up your brokerage account (There is a skill for Interactive Brokers( with Echo Device and trade voice only.. hmm, not yet ready for this, but in the future why not? Selling options from Alexa device sounds cool.
Echo dot smart speaker
For now, I decided to put it on a kitchen counter.
Echo Dot works best when placed in a central location, at least 8 inches from any walls. You can put Echo Dot in a variety of places - on a kitchen counter, the end table in your living room, or a nightstand.
From Amazon
Our most popular Echo is now even better. With a new speaker and design, Echo Dot is a voice-controlled smart speaker with Alexa, perfect for any room. Just ask for music, news, information, and more. You can also call almost anyone and control compatible smart home devices with your voice.
For making phone calls internationally and local (both cell phones and landlines) we have a Skype Out Subscription (about $9/mo), it was really easy to link Echo Dot With Skype Out. To make a call now is all about saying - Alexa, call ....
Use your voice to play a song, artist, or genre through Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify, Pandora, and others. With compatible Echo devices in different rooms, you can fill your whole home with music. Also listen to Audible, podcasts, radio stations, or pair with Fire TV to voice control movies and entertainment.
Echo Dot owners can enjoy Amazon Music Unlimited just for $3.99/mo (a 30-day trial is available) - just say - Alexa, try Amazon Music Unlimited
Echo Dot smart speaker
Make your life easier at home. Use your voice to set timers, add items to lists, and create calendar events and reminders. You can also check the news, weather, or traffic. Ask for sports scores, movie showtimes, restaurant hours, or information.
Creating a new shopping list is as easy as saying - Alexa, add tomatoes, cucumbers, and pasta to shopping list
Switch on the lamp before getting out of bed, turn on the coffee maker on your way to the kitchen, or dim the lights from the couch to watch a movie—all without lifting a finger.
Control multiple devices with a single voice command, like locking the doors and turning off the lights at night. Learn more about over 10,000 compatible smart home devices, including lights, thermostats, TVs, and more.
You can also enable Alexa Guard to get Smart Alerts if your Echo device detects the sound of smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, or glass breaking.
You should buy separately smart plugs, USB sticks, smart bulbs to control with voice. Cool. One of the next things I'm looking to buy is a smart color-changing bulbs to control with voice and USB stick to control TV
Last, but not least - Echo Dot is great for entertaining kids and toddlers (songs, stories)
Make your Echo, Echo Dot, or Echo Plus just for kids at no extra charge by enabling Amazon FreeTime in the Alexa app. Automatically filter explicit songs, add approved contacts, set time limits, or review activity with easy-to-use parental controls in the Amazon Parent Dashboard.
With an Amazon FreeTime Unlimited subscription (starting at $2.99 per month), your kids can access over 1,000 Audible books, premium kids skills from brands like Disney and Nickelodeon, ad-free radio stations and playlists, and more.