This year, Amazon fully committed to Alexa. New Echo Dot, Show, and Plus models, a subwoofer, an audio input device, an auto dongle, and an amplifier were all announced in September. That alone would have been sufficient, but the business also began dipping its toes into the opposing field.
Additionally, Amazon experimented with linked devices in 2018 by releasing a microwave and a wall clock (oh, and a singing fish, too). On the surface, it seems like a bizarre decision. After all, a huge number of businesses are currently competing for a small portion of that mindshare.
However, Amazon has a couple significant advantages. One benefit that the corporation will receive is creating products that are made specifically to go with its Echo devices. Another benefit is that it can sell goods for close to the cost.
Both of these perks are significant for the Echo Wall Clock. Without an Alexa device, the $30 gadget is practically worthless. In actuality, you must set the time with Alexa. In the unlikely event that you come across one of these goods without an Echo nearby, that is a drawback. But when it comes to setup, it's useful.
Locate a location 30 feet or less from a compatible device (Echo, Dot, Show, Plus, E Spot, or Input.). Unlock the rear. Set four AA batteries inside (included). "Set up my Echo Wall Clock," said Alexa. Keep pressing the tiny blue button on the back until the front light begins to pulse orange. When everything is in order, Alexa will start working, and that light will turn blue.
I first tried to configure the device using my home WiFi. Never a good idea to these connect items of this type. Since large industrial networks are unpredictable, the two devices kept turning on and off. You'll want to leave the Wall Clock (as well as the majority of Alexa devices, assuming you have a comparable setup) at home.
Things went considerably better after I moved to a personal network (using a MiFi). The clock will be set to your time zone by Alexa. Bonus: It will automatically advance and fall back one hour during time changes, giving it an advantage over conventional wall clocks.
Before we dig deeper, there are a few points to keep in mind. First of all, the Wall Clock has a cheap-looking aesthetic. It is large and plasticky. No front glass is present. In all honesty, it has the kind of design you'd anticipate seeing on an Amazon wall clock. There is nothing flashy about this. It has a straightforward design and a plain appearance. The end result is that it is sufficiently minimalist to blend in with most living rooms and kitchens.
Its feature set, which is now mainly comprised of timers, is likewise straightforward. All of the edge-lined 60-minute markings are actually individual LEDs. The 10-minute hands will light up and then separately turn dark to count down the time when you say to Alexa, "set a 10-minute timer," for example. The full circumference will slowly flash after the countdown is finished until you instruct Alexa to stop.
And that's basically it. Alarms and timers. One of Amazon's first passive Alexa gadgets is the Wall Clock. The work is actually being done by your Echo, including talking and listening. You require an Echo nearby because you cannot, for example, query the clock or the weather for information. Additionally, it makes no sound when the alarm sounds. Naturally, that results in a lower cost as well as a significantly better battery life.
The device succeeds more as a proof of concept for the ways Alexa and compatible devices can push the boundaries of the smart home. There’s nothing particularly compelling here for most consumers — but at $30, perhaps it doesn’t have to be.
Comments
Post a Comment