My new AMAZON "ECHO DOT 2"

Amazon ECHO DOT 2 - Your digital friend and assistant.

Ordered  "ECHO DOT 2" from Amazon India on 7th Oct, 2017 through request an invitation, as it is not available for direct sale. Had 30% off introductory offer while ordering.  Received the product on 3rd Nov, 2017.

Amazon released 2nd gen ECHO DOT version in india directly. You can buy now or request for an invitation from below link.

Buy (or Request for an invitation)  ECHO DOT2 for India

Package contents :

1.  One echo dot device (I ordered white).
2.  A well built and longUSB - Micro USB charging cable .(its the generic cable mostly we use for android mobiles)
3.  Indian version power adapter (says output 5v 1.8 Amp)
4.  Cards/Pampletes - Getting to know echo dot , warranty card, on various uses of echo dot as of now.

Device doesn't work out of the box or as soon as you plug in. It needs to be configured for the first time to work. Though its a simple process, but might be confusing for non techies.

 Getting Started

1. Use the micro usb cable and the adapter provided.  Echo dot 2 doesn't have any battery for backup or to run on its own. So it is and to be "ALWAYS powered"  device.  May be a battery is awaiting in the next generation model.
2. It starts itself with a welcome voice assistant and asking you to download alexa app in your mobile. I downloaded alexa app from android play store.  Starts with a light around the corner circle of the device beautifully. It will run in orange color till you connect to further steps. You need to setup the device now.
3. After you install the app, you need to go to wifi setting of your mobile, and look for the "Amazon-xxx" wifi signal. Tap it and device would be connected to it automatically. 
4. Come back to the app in mobile. Tap the device you want to connect(in my case its amazon echo dot)  show your existing wifi connection to the alexa device and enter the password.
5. The device should show as online in your app. If everything is good, you are all set to go to speak to your alexa digital assistant.

What it did on the first day

Note : Every time, you need to start with the word "Alexa" when ever you want help from your digital assistant. Its the only way it distinguishes from what you speak with it and to others or anything.

• I have asked for playing latest music.   It simply started playing bollywood music. It would be good if it has prompted me for which language of songs I would have preferred.

•  I have asked weather report - gave a prompt reply about my current location.

•  I have asked for any cricket matches - it gave prompt reply.

•  Asked for latest news - started reading top news from ndtv. (flash mail from ndtv)

•  Asked for latest movies.  It read latest releases in my current location. Asked for movies playing in a different location. It did gave the reply for the location i asked. Good.

•   Asked for amazon shopping latest offers. It gave few item list that I have bought earlier, but not the offers that I have asked for.  You can switch off this voice shopping settings in the app, so that accidentally it would not order something for you.

•   I asked what could you do for me.. sing, shop, new....!!  again i asked the same question -- now sorry i dont know that one.

•  You can ask to increase the volume, it increases by itself.

•  How are you today - ans : I am great, how are you ?  same question again -- ans :  as good as ever.

•  Volume is sufficient enough for a 10 feet room.

• I asked if it could speak my local language, it said it could speak english and bollywood (sighhhhhhh... AMAZON... bollywood is not a language).

• I asked if it could work , when there is no wifi - it said it is not sure.

Dis advantages

• Mostly the time, alexa gives single line answers. no further conversations or reverse prompting for any other info.

•  No battery for backup. should always be powered through line.

•  This specific Echo dot device, you need to be a bit near to it.

• As I am writing this blog, power went off and whhen it is back, it took some little time to connect back again. May be it took time to connect to my wifi.