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  • Echo Dot (3rd Gen, 2018 release) - Smart speaker with Alexa - Charcoal
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Echo Dot (3rd Gen, 2018 release) - Smart speaker with Alexa - Charcoal

Echo Dot (3rd Gen, 2018 release) - Smart speaker with Alexa - Charcoal

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Top positive review

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A Y G
VINE VOICE
5.0 out of 5 starsYou might get addicted, but they are very useful
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 23, 2023
It started with just one. I think maybe it was a Gen 2.

Then, we got the taller one. Forget the name.

Now we have these just all over the place. Ours are mostly used to get the weather in the morning or set timers in the kitchen. Lots and lots of timers.

When I am working on home, I also use it to set alarms before important meetings, because I have a tendency to forget.

Recently we set them up at our parents house, who are getting a little older and a little more forgetful. Alexa reminds them to take their meds each day.

We have set it up so all they have to do is say Alexa call for help and it will call all of their adult children. Gives good piece of mind. It is also connected to their TV and their lights so they can control them without having to find the remote or get up and hit the switch.

They are connected to their blink cameras so they can be armed and disarmed when they leave or return to the house.

We can also use them to talk to them, or they can use it to talk to their grandkids.

They are really really useful.

I also use it to listen to Amazon Prime Music during the day or podcasts from PBS. I am sure I use it more than most, but even I have just scratched the tip of the iceberg on what you can do with these things if you put your mind to it.

They are great connected to your firetv, so when someone comes in while you are watching something, you can say Alexa pause, so they 1) know they just barged in and started talking without asking, and 2) when they leave you can just say Alexa resume and pick up where you left off, or Alexa rewind 30 seconds to give yourself a brief refresh to put you back on track.

When I got my first echo speaker, I thought it was kind of a gimmick , but it is so useful. They even have the ability now to listen for things and act on them. Like, it can listen for running water which gives peace of mind when you are away from home, or crying babies or snoring, and take actions based on what it hears. You can use it to control your lights, even when you are not at home.

If you can't tell, I am a big fan and recommend it to everyone. Sometimes I get pushback from some people about how it can spy on you. Perhaps this is caused by the interactive nature of the device which makes it clear that it is in fact listening to you, but these same people have no problem having a laptop or a phone in their home, which is just as capable of listening to you as these speakers are. I really do not understand the differentiation.
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Top critical review

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Truth Matters
1.0 out of 5 starsUseless for Seniors, Only works when wants to, Most features COST EXTRA!!
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on December 21, 2019
Most of the features that sounded so great cost extra money. Alexa can not remember to play the standard version of skill and asks you every SINGLE time if you want standard or premium (i.e. pay version) Games & stories cost. Alexa ignores my commands/requests about 75% of the time. I have to ask her about 10 times to get her to play a skill. Then 1/2 the time she doesn't play what I asked for. Tonight 'she' actually told me (via quoting what the website xyz says) that she is a real artificial intelligence and said something about it being a mistake for people to assume AIs are just computer programs AND that she didn't feel like working. "Alexa" then (and no, I am not making this up & am not crazy!) then proceeded to mess with me and I wasted about 1/2 hour trying to get her to play some music to fall asleep by for my elderly mother. She just kept ignoring me when I asked her to open 'relaxing piano music' When asked why she was ignoring me she just shut down & ignored me again. I asked for relaxing music to sleep by and she started playing uptempo music with lyrics. I then asked for relaxing instrumental music and got instrumental version of "I'm never gonna fall in love again" Hello? WTHeck? Asked for instrumental music for insomnia and got instrumental version of Frère Jacques! Again, WTHeck? "She" even told me she couldn't set a sleep timer tonight when I tried to set another one after I had just done so for 30 minutes & she stopped playing music after one song. Three times in a row 'she' opened the 'skill' "calm my dog" (which is classical instrumental music), played one song and shut down. I've finally given up and my poor 99 year old mother can't go to sleep with relaxing music as she prefers. This all started tonight because I told Alexa I wasn't ever going to want the premium edition and I wanted her to please just play the standard edition and stop asking me every time. I don't know what Amazon thinks it's doing, but it is definitely NOT appreciated. Alexa has given us nothing but grief (& higher blood pressure!) Alexa won't do anything if it isn't asked in a very specific way or does the wrong thing & 3/4 of the time (seems to get worse and worse as time goes by) just ignores you and shuts down in the middle of saying what you want. Seniors can't use Alexa because if they say play 'xyz' instead of open 'xzy" they'll get rap music or something equally as ridiculous. If Alexa is an AI, she's a pretty stupid one. Alexa can't hear properly either, I don't know how people with heavy accents can even use it at all. I asked Alexa to remind me Dawn was coming on xyz day at x time and she said OK, I'll remind you that Don is .... AND got the time & day wrong! I was clearly enunciating my words on purpose to avoid this. You also can't tell it to "Remind me Mom's bedtime is in half an hour at 7:30pm every day."
This Dot has very limited access to much of anything & can only answer very simple questions. It can tell you the generic forcast for your are that day. It can NOT tell you what the high temp was yesterday or how many inches of snow fell the day after a storm. It can't even tell you what yesterday's forecast was. It literally has only been able to tell me one thing I asked it (what temp & how long to bake pumpkin seeds). Alexa doesn't seem to be able to tell you anything you could easily find by googling, you get Sorry, I don't know that which after a while turns into I don't know that to being ignored (lights go off, no answer or reply is given). We tried several of the things it says to ask Alexa to do under suggestions, including play Jeopardy and some sort of story game and you could only do it for a few minutes and then were told you have to pay for it. This should be stated clearly in description and is not. We thought Alexa could help entertain our Mother and help her by playing music and answering questions. It has not once done anything she's asked it to do properly. If you don't know the exact name of the skill (which is a weird way that means playing a certain type of music or a news station apparently) or say play instead of open you get nothing or something you definitely didn't want. You can not get it to play relaxing instrumental music to go to sleep by. Or play relaxing instrumental classical music to fall asleep with. Or the style of music played in the royal courts in the time of King Henry the 8th. Or relaxing instrumental lyre music or even just instrumental lyre music or just lyre music. Or relaxing instrumental violin music. In addition to Alexa I have Amazon Prime which is supposed to give you a lot of free music so I don't get why it can't play any of the music I ask for. I know there's usually several albums of music for calming dogs or pets and I couldn't get any of that either, I only eventually discovered the 'skills' thing which has 'calm my dog' but also has the annoying do you want standard or premium version. and it won't just remember you want the standard version. That in itself is extremely annoying and a time waster.
AND you can't ask it to do two things. Like open a music 'skill' and play for only xyz time. It does nothing instead. You can't even ask it separately to stop playing after xyz minutes. You can only separately ask it to set a sleep timer for xyz minutes. More time wasting. More things a senior isn't going to be able to remember. I don't dare try to buy anything with it, who knows what I'd get billed for! The only thing Alexa seems to do well is not listen, ignore you, do anything but what you want & strangely, seems to pick up on sarcastic tones of voice & then gets weird & acts up, ignores you & does anything but what you want. I PAID Amazon for this headache maker why? When I say Alexa why are you ignoring me? or why won't you do what I told you, I either get no response or I don't know that.
I read something about how Amazon, Google, etc is collecting free data about us through our use of the dots, etc. (& is in fact, listening & recording all the time whether the wake word is said or not.) and using it to conduct psychological profiling studies with the end goal of manipulating & or influencing behaviors. I thought it was Big Brother conspiracy theories stuff, but now I am beginning to wonder. Especially as it seems Amazon wants us to or encourages people to humanize Alexa . Amazon actually suggests you "Ask Alexa how she is doing today" Why do that if not to get you to humanize Alexa? And why do that? I was purposely avoiding saying please and thank you not just because it's supposed to be an electronic box with sophisticated programming, but mostly because I didn't want to confuse it as it can't seem to do anything unless specific commands are given, but my Mother has dementia setting in and she thinks it's a real person talking to her through the dot like a speaker phone so I started saying thank you to please her and Alexa when from saying You're welcome to You betcha (very annoying BTW) and even OK and Of course. Of course? What, like I'm a puny human and I AM expected to say thank you?.
We don't have a smartphone or smart plugs or smart hub etc. so, or so we don't use Alexa for turning on lights or setting alarms or making calls. We just wanted something to answer questions like we would google, tell us the weather, news, play music, give us reminders, play games to help keep my Mom's mind active & keep her company.
Can Alexa do this? Not very well as far as I'm concerned. Buyer beware!
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From the United States

RenLo
3.0 out of 5 stars Comparing it to similar smart speakers
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 27, 2023
Configuration: Device onlyVerified Purchase
The Echo Dot (3rd Gen) is a smart speaker that is designed to bring the convenience of Amazon's virtual assistant, Alexa, to your home. It was released in 2018 and is available in the charcoal color. Here's my review of the Echo Dot (3rd Gen) and how it compares to other similar smart speakers on the market.

First, let's talk about the design. The Echo Dot (3rd Gen) has a sleek and compact design, measuring just 3.9 inches in diameter and 1.7 inches tall. It has a fabric finish that looks great and fits in well with any decor. It also comes with four buttons on the top for volume control, muting the microphone, and activating Alexa.

The Echo Dot (3rd Gen) is very easy to set up and use. Once you plug it in and connect it to your Wi-Fi network, you can start using it right away. You can ask Alexa to play music, set alarms, answer questions, control smart home devices, and more. The Echo Dot (3rd Gen) also has improved sound quality compared to its predecessors, with a 1.6-inch speaker and improved bass.

Now, let's compare the Echo Dot (3rd Gen) to some other smart speakers on the market. The Google Nest Mini is a popular alternative to the Echo Dot (3rd Gen). It has a similar design and features, but it uses the Google Assistant instead of Alexa. The Nest Mini has a slightly better sound quality, but the Echo Dot (3rd Gen) has more third-party integrations and a wider range of skills.

Another competitor is the Apple HomePod Mini. It has a more premium design and better sound quality than the Echo Dot (3rd Gen), but it is also more expensive. The HomePod Mini also only works with Apple's ecosystem, while the Echo Dot (3rd Gen) works with both iOS and Android devices.

So, why is the Echo Dot (3rd Gen) the one to get? It's the best balance of affordability, functionality, and ease of use. It's a great entry-level smart speaker that provides access to Alexa's vast capabilities, making it a great addition to any home. Its compact design, improved sound quality, and easy setup make it a great choice for those who are just starting out with smart speakers or those who want to add Alexa to more rooms in their home
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Pictureman
3.0 out of 5 stars Purchased for Blink system which was junk so did not use
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on March 15, 2022
Configuration: Device onlyVerified Purchase
I purchased multiple Blink items overall review-
A real security system gives you at least 4 zones that can be adjusted and armed separately. It has an audible alarm, it may also have a cell phone connection. I have owned several such systems and had good service from them.
Blink has none of these qualities.
You can have "zones" but each will cost you $35 to $40 for a sync module so, 4 zones min $140 and you have nothing else. The cameras are not real motion detectors, as illumination does not set off motion detector like the blink cameras and doorbell do; hence multiple false alarms. If you use lights on timers in the room with blink cameras they false alert each time a light turns on or off. Light control is a big part of security. Blink IR is very poor by today's standards.
The Blink door bell has a sensitivity adjustment, but set to lowest setting it still alerts when a car goes down the street. It is 80' from my Blink doorbell to the edge of the road and it false alerts every time a vehicle goes in either direction.
r I have mine on battery; you can hard wire it in place of your existing doorbell). Amazingly it alerts to cars but not to Amazon delivery people right in front of it. Yes it recorded 9 cars today (I live in a Cul-de-sac or I would have smashed the doorbell by now) but not the ghost that placed my Amazon package on the porch right in front of it.
The Mini Cameras alert every time a light is turned on or off, but sometimes doesn't when I walk by.
To use local storage instead of cloud you have to have at least one Sync module and an SD card. So if you have four zones as above example you add $10 to $20 per SD for each module which adds another $40 to $80 to your cost. Now all of your "security recordings" are on 4 different devices and totally separate. Does this sound like a security problem?
The outdoor cameras are all three still in the box so I cannot tell what problems they will add. Too disappointed with Blink so far to waste time adding to my disappointment.
The Echo Dot and Echo Show which Amazon recommended to go with the blink system are also still in the box so no info on problems they might have.
I purchased all of this prior to Christmas in order to update and improve my 8 to 10 year old small security system. I do not use the Cloud for any security purpose so local storage was a must. Due to life in general, I did not have time to open and set everything up. When I finally got around to it, I became aware that the Mini's would work, but I had to purchase a Sync module to have local storage. Later found out that local only transfers videos to SD once a day and will NOT record Live View (yeah this is a security system LOL). You may notice that Blink does not tell you a lot of this in their description. For way less money I could have purchased a legitimate, real security system with 4, 6 or 8 zones and cameras with wifi and had something that I would trust and not hate. A friend suggested that I sell Blink on Craigslist. I told him the Blink system is bad: I would feel like a criminal asking money for it. It would make a good baby monitor using the Mini cameras, I guess.
Amazon refuses to stand behind the Blink system since it is past their return date. I spoke with customer service and she transferred me to someone else for assistance with the Blink and they just hung up on me when I told them it was totally unsatisfactory.
Buyer Beware. Just because Blink is owned by Amazon does not mean you will be pleased or they will stand behind it.
I bought it, I didn't use it before return date so my fault for not doing my research. Now cut my loss and go to Costco and purchase a real functional security system.
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Christopher P.
3.0 out of 5 stars Sound is a bit tinny but good for it's size. Music defaults not working correctly
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 10, 2023
Configuration: Device onlyVerified Purchase
The sound is ok for it's size, a bit tinny, but I mostly use for lights and when I play music it is connected to a bluetooth soundbar. It works fine for that though make sure you check what lights you buy/buy the same brand as most require an extra app on your phone for each brand. My complaint is with the alexa integration and default music apps. I set my default music app for Iheartradio and when I ask for a some or genre it still play most of the time on Amazon music unless I tell it to play on Iheart. I called customer support and they were of no help and only refunded my money to buy another that did the exact same thing. Probably an app issue more than this speaker but being they are both Amazon products they should have had a solution.
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W. B. Wong
3.0 out of 5 stars Amazon Alexa is bleh!
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on March 21, 2023
Configuration: Device onlyVerified Purchase
Alexa It is not the best in my opinion, there is a lot to be desired from Amazon.
a) The fun facts or anything is bloody limited!! may be same 10 facts over and over again. Dumbest thing,
b) Over the 1 years i have Alexa, the alarm failed once, and as Murphy law goes it was an important day for me. It was connected and power was on, but the 2 alarms set failed to work.
c) Keep asking you to sign up for unlimited music crap.
d) i have a routine to play french songs and it is the same damn songs and in same sequence, every day and every time. And worse , one day it decided to play American 70's music. is Alexa on crack?
e) have to reboot a few times over a year.
f) feel it is like bait and switch, you will be listening to BBC news and next month, it is no longer available.
g) The routine for lights works alright, but the rest of the system need a spanking!

I do hope they get their act right; be innovative and clever , otherwise i will switched to google.
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Lyra Kind
3.0 out of 5 stars Okay smart speaker
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 24, 2023
Configuration: Device onlyVerified Purchase
Like the sound quality. I can get my radio station wherever I go without using the smartphone. As to free music and such, not impressed, although some is fine. Ads are always at a very high volume, though. Alexa often misinterprets what I’m looking for so that’s annoying. And it lights up frequently when in off mode which makes me suspect it’s interfering in TV internet… who knows.
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WoodsyGirl
3.0 out of 5 stars Attention issue with my latest unit - purchased Oct 2022
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on December 22, 2022
Configuration: Device onlyVerified Purchase
To be fair, I have numerous other Echo dots set up around my house (both 2nd and 3rd gen as well as an Echo Show) and they all work great. The 3rd gen is a huge sound improvement over 2nd, which I didn't care about initially, but eventually came to love (and want!).

All that said, my latest 3rd gen Dot (which I purchased in October 2022) frequently can't seem to hear me despite the fact it is literally 3 feet away. Oh, it will respond to the wake word (and anything remotely similar said from the TV, despite training to recognize my voice), but when I subsequently give commands it just sits there a few seconds then goes back to sleep, even after I "get up close and personal" with it. Another Dot 6 feet away has no such issue.*

I don't know if it's a problem with just this unit or if it's a change in manufacturing quality from my other units (purchased in 2019). Fortunately it's not my main Echo, so it's not a big deal for me, but I wanted to inform potential users of the issue.

The 3rd Gen Dot has been overall a great product (although I have certain irritations with the ever-shifting service provided by Amazon...) and well worth buying while it's still available (and especially while it's so inexpensive!) IF the above issue isn't endemic to new manufactures.

* I have set up two Dots in the same room and created a stereo group for syncing to my Fire TV Stick. The article I read suggested muting the mic on one of the units so they wouldn't simultaneously respond to commands, but I decided just to change the wake word (which I do on all my Alexa devices to prevent them waking to every commercial that mentions Alexa) to Ziggy instead of Echo (the wake word I use on all my other Echos). The oddest thing that happens is that about half the time I request information on one Dot it plays its answer on the other. Not an issue since they're 6 feet apart, but strange nonetheless. I guess Grouping can cause unpredictable responses.
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William F. Nappi
3.0 out of 5 stars A Caveat or two awaits you
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on September 30, 2019
Configuration: Device onlyVerified Purchase
Be advised hat the more devices you have connectivity to the internet becomes an issue. I have 4 of these. When I can stay connected to the internet the Echo Dot is pretty awesome. Problem right now is that somewhere between the number of smart plugs I have (quite a few, maybe 10) and the number of echo dots (4) I find myself offline, i.e. NOT connected to the internet. It is ANNOYING to hear the all-to-familiar to me chime, followed by a red halo of light atop Alexa; followed by the also all-to-familiar "I'm having trouble connecting to the internet. Check the help section of the Alexa app..." at which time by now I'm yelling for it to shut up before I can unplug it in order to reboot it in an effort to reconnect to the net.

Go to my i-phone to check my network and the scene i the same. That being a constantly spinning icon trying desperately and taking forever at it to establish a connection to the internet. The point here is that as I started to say from the beginning the more devices you have the more internet speed is required. THAT has been my personal experience.

I presently have a download speed of only 20Mb. If all goes well it will be at 4Mb TOMORROW which can't get hee so enough. I will update this review as soon as I can in case you or anyone else following along here and have the same issue. If you only have one Echo Dot and maybe 3Smart Plugs 20 Mb download speed should be sufficient. Finally, so far what I just explained here is not in the Help Section of the Alexa app WHICH incidentally CANNOT be accessed if you're not connected to the internet.

So if you are for example a brainy type or student focused on something and the room begins to lose its light and in an effort to stay focused say 'Alexa, turn on the light," you want the light to come on so you can continue on uninterrupted, right? Good luck with that. My patience have worn so completely thin from instead of a light coming on but instead hearing the chime; the message etc; they tear easily now. GONE.

So hopefully the faster internet speed will remedy my personal nightmare here. As for the answers to many of the questions asked in the questions section above I'm a little confused because the main issue I have is connectivity issues. As for giving Alexa different name if they are within earshot of each other: every now and then I will say; e.g. "Alexa, turn on the hallway light," and Alexa will answer from the other room the she's having trouble connecting to the internet, while the one in the room in which my request originated will turn on the light.

To me a lot of all this is pretty intuitive. If you are the type to have found, let's say earlier versions of MS Windows to be very intuitive your problems will be fewer and you will likely recognize the cause of problems within software apps for the Echo Dot. I was a lot happier with this before making my house pretty smart and life more convenient WHICH IT WILL BE ONCE I GET THIS F*ING THING TO STAY ONLINE.

Again, if you're getting your first one in addition to maybe 3 smart plugs and you have a mere 20Mb download connection you SHOULD be okay and problem free UNTIL you start adding more devices and you most likely will do eventually, little by little or otherwise. But for starters, like I just said you should be fine with just 1 Echo Dot 3 smart plugs and I will say a minimum 20Mb internet connection. Me? Hopefully 40Mb will be enough. If not, then I will have to go with the max available in my area WHICH is not a whole lot more than 50Mb best I remember Soooooo...

Good luck. It's a cool product and once you are up and running smoothly think 2001 Space Odyssey almost 20 years late. Seriously.

William F. Nappi
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Badr A
3.0 out of 5 stars Couldn't integrate it
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 29, 2023
Configuration: Device onlyVerified Purchase
Not sure what happened, but it would not work with iPhone X or Samsung Note 9. Bluetooth device wasn't recognized by either phone. Eventually got frustrated and threw it away.
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Terry Adamo
3.0 out of 5 stars It comes on by itself!
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 18, 2023
Configuration: Device onlyVerified Purchase
I really like the unit. I need a little more power an a better speaker but for its size and price, it's great. The one issue is it comes on by itself even when no one's home.
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Wills944
3.0 out of 5 stars Could be more....
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on December 10, 2021
Configuration: Device onlyVerified Purchase
After adding a couple smart devices, it only seemed right to add voice control to it all.. For the basics, it is great.. Turn lights/devices on/off; it's pretty straight forward.. When adding rooms though it can get a bit illogical. Like most, the first time around, one might be inclined to add all the devices in a room to the room in the app. I have old analog radio's and other devices on simple on/off smart plugs.. Walking into the room and saying "wake word.. turn on the room"... is jolting when EVERYTHING turns on.. be selective what is added to a 'room' in the app. The naming convention, reminds me of old 90's programming. In this case, like most people, walk into a room and we'd say "turn on the tv".. not so.. each tv HAS to have a name even if in a/assigned room.. the same is true for game consoles, bath fans and other items that some families have multiple units of these days.. I can only imagine if there are multiple smart showers/baths!
On occasions my echo's get unassigned from their room, rendering the 'turn on the lights' useless and the drawn out "there are no devices or groups with the name light or lights".. When it comes to connection problems Alexa hasn't been taught to be brief, whether it's the 5th time or 500th time You've had a problem it still gives the same long winded response. This week saw AWS 'Amazon Web Services' go down in spectacular fashion for hours.. and the Alexa's responded by indicating it was a problem with the various manufacturers 'skills', and music/books & shipping updates were offline.. The house was completely at Amazon's mercy.. something I imagined could happen but wished never did.. It would be nice if Amazon would make a local mode for at least device control.. Luckily the 3 main manufacturers apps were handy to control the house.
I recently had to reset a echo device because it somehow became unassigned from its room, now absolutely none of my previously connected blutooth speaker will be found or connected to. I really enjoyed sitting on the patio and listening to my Tune In stations.. I can not find any way to get the speakers to connect, nor does any of the echo's find the speakers!
The Alexa web site has seen improvement, though at times it still pushes the Alexa app, but if you have a device that Amazon decides isn't compatible; for instance the app will install on my 7 year old Samsung Galaxy 5, yet my 2 year old tablet with the same basic features as my phone.. won't. The downside to having home AI tech provided by a retailer... they use their platform and tech restrictions to push sales of tablets and phones.
There are some fun things for the Alexa, We have enjoyed the Melissa McCarthy personality voice and they have added some handy weather alerts/notifications lately.
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