Amazon Echo Unboxing, Review and Demonstration

Full review:
http://www.biblemoneymatters.com/amazon-echo-review-voice-controlled-bluetooth-speaker-and-virtual-assistant/

A short while ago I heard about a cool new product that Amazon was releasing called the Amazon Echo. The Echo is a Bluetooth speaker, an audio player, and a virtual assistant along the lines of Siri or Google Now. When I heard about it, I thought it sounded pretty cool, and knew I had to have one. The only problem was that you could only get one by invitation. So I signed up to be put on the waiting list.

A week or two ago I got an email from Amazon saying I was able to order one of the devices (only one). It could be at my house within 2 days. I hesitated for a day, and by that time the delivery date was 3 weeks out. Finally I jumped on and it just arrived this week.

Here's my unboxing and review video of the #AmazonEcho. If you want to just jump in and watch as I ask the Echo questions, head over to the 7 minute mark: http://youtu.be/q-9qdDvCt4w?t=7m

Get put on the waiting list for the Amazon Echo here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00L9EOQCO/?tag=bibmonmat0f-20

So what's my verdict on the Amazon Echo? We’ve been having a lot of fun with the Echo and really enjoy it.

When the Echo first arrived, my wife said she couldn’t imagine that she’d ever use it. Later that night I was putting my son to bed upstairs and I could hear her asking the Echo to play music from one of her favorite artists downstairs. She’s been converted by how fun the Echo is to use. You say it, Echo plays it!

My son is no different. He’s been having a blast playing his favorite songs. The only problem? I’m not sure yet of a way to lock him out – he tends to turn the volume up as high as he can by saying “Alexa, louder!”, and the Echo is plenty loud when it’s turned up.

I’ve been using the Echo every morning as I eat my breakfast, I ask it for a flash news briefing and it gives me the news of the day from NPR and other sources. Handy.

I’ve been impressed with the Echo and how well the voice recognition works. While it still needs a bit of work in the number of questions it can answer, that can only get better over time. The Echo’s speech sounds very natural, and it’s easy to start thinking that you have adopted a new member of the family when Alexa starts talking.