Buy an Echo Dot and get a free smart plug

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We know that the Amazon Echo has the ability to control smart home features, but what good does that do if you don’t have any smart home devices? 

Right now, when you buy a third generation Echo Dot you can either get an Amazon Smart Plug for free or a Sengled smart bulb kit for $20 (the full-priced kit costs $52).

Add voice control to any outlet in your home with the Echo Dot and Amazon Smart Plug — use the device to schedule lights, fans, and appliances to turn on and off automatically. Though the smart plug connects with Alexa, you don’t need to be within speaking range to control it. You can access the plug from anywhere with the Alexa app, meaning you can control your plugged-in devices remotely while you’re away. Read more…

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Snag two Echo Dot Kids Edition devices for the price of one at Amazon

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You know that Amazon’s Alexa can answer your questions, control smart devices, and queue your music, but did you know that Alexa is also a kid-friendly DJ, comedian, and storyteller? That’s how Amazon describes its Echo Dot Kids Edition, equipped with a kid-friendly Alexa assistant.

If you have more than one kid and they’re not into sharing, we have some good news: Amazon is running a buy one get one free deal on the Echo Dot Kids Edition with the code KIDS2PACK, meaning you just pay $69.99 for two of the devices.

Your kids can ask Alexa to play music, answer questions, read stories, tell jokes, and more, and every response will have younger ears in mind. So, you can rest easy knowing your children won’t be exposed to adult content. Read more…

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Get an Echo Dot Kids Edition for just .99 cents when you sign up for Prime Book Box

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Getting your kids excited to learn in a world of extremely accessible technology can be a struggle.

You want them to appreciate physical books, but also want them to take advantage of the learning possibilities that technology affords — but what’s the line that separates healthy usage and brains turning to mush? Screen time effects are harder to measure than you think, and there’s not a one-size-fits-all limit yet. In the meantime, you can experiment to find the right balance for your family.

Amazon wants to give busy parents a hand on both ends: Through March 26, you can get an Echo Dot Kids Edition for just $0.99 when you sign up for a Prime Book Box subscription. That $19.99/month will get you hand-picked children’s books up to 40% off and delivered right to your door. Read more…

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Alexa skills top 80,000 after a big Alexa-powered holiday season

Amazon had a record-breaking holiday quarter, with revenue of $72.4 billion and profits of $3 billion, but it’s not making much money off its top-selling item, the Alexa-powered Echo Dot. While the e-commerce giant said the device was its 2018 holidays best seller across all products, it also reminded investors on yesterday’s earnings call that […]

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Echo vs. Echo Dot: What’s the difference?

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The smart home concept is increasingly becoming the norm. Over the past few years, we’ve seen an increase in voice recognition assistants and connected devices to make our busy lives more seamless. With a few speaking commands, we don’t have to lift a finger to play music, stream content, turn off the lights, or pick up the phone to call family members. With these advanced products, we can take the stress out of daily life tasks and have time for things we really enjoy.

With this technology boom though, it can be hard to transition your home from “basic” to “smart-home” status. First, there’s the whole convenience factor, considering some gadgets can be too complicated to use or require advanced Wi-Fi to operate. Plus, smart living doesn’t always come cheap, because you’ll most likely be dropping major bucks to access hands-free control, voice recognition, and other advanced features. Seriously though, who has the budget to replicate the high-tech pad in Disney’s Smart Home movie?  Read more…

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Deals for Nov. 13: Save on Cuisinart, KitchenAid, Instant Pot, Hoover and Dyson vacuums, Echo Dot, and more

Looking for a great deal? Well we got ’em.
We’ve rounded up the best sales on kitchen gear, floor care products, and more that will surely keep your home in order. There are also great deals on Amazon devices and Udemy online courses.
For starters, s…

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Get the Fire TV Stick bundled with an Echo Dot on sale for just $39.98 on Amazon

There’s nothing like a good excuse to stay on the couch and binge-watch a full season (or two) of a new show. If you’re searching for said excuse, look no further: You can now get a Fire TV Stick and 2nd generation Echo Dot together for just $39.98 o…

View More Get the Fire TV Stick bundled with an Echo Dot on sale for just $39.98 on Amazon

Best deals for Nov. 1: Save on iPad, MacBooks, Dell monitors, Dyson and Roomba vacuums, Echo Dot, and more

To anyone in the online shopping business (oh hey, that’s us), Nov. 1 is the unofficial start of the Black Friday/Cyber Monday/holiday sales season. This is when retailers really start to kick things up a notch in terms of deals, offering deeper disc…

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Amazon Echo Dot (2018) review: Alexa’s gateway drug is more potent than ever

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Amazon Echo Dot (2018)
$49.99
The Good

Good sound • Can pair with another Echo Dot for stereo • Elegant design • Still affordable

The Bad

Sound lacks bass • Power cord is now proprietary

The Bottom Line

Amazon’s 2018 refresh of the Echo Dot turns its entry-level Alexa product from a merely passable audio experience into something much more pleasing to the ear.

Mashable Score4.25
Cool Factor3.0
Learning Curve5.0
Performance4.0
Bang for the Buck5.0

The Echo Dot may be the most important piece of hardware Amazon has ever made.

You heard me. Not the Kindle. Not the original Echo. Certainly not the Fire Phone. While the first Amazon Echo unlocked the possibilities that go hand-in-hand with voice, it was the Dot, with its simple design and more affordable price, that made that experience ubiquitous by putting it in every room. Read more…

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Best deals for Oct. 8: Save on CBD oil, Black+Decker coffeemakers, Echo Dot, Halloween costumes, Philips Norelco, and more

How about this for some #mondaymotivation: we’ve rounded up the best deals on the products you want from Amazon, Walmart, and Target. There are also some great deals on online classes from Udemy.
First up, you can save 15% on CBD oil and all products…

View More Best deals for Oct. 8: Save on CBD oil, Black+Decker coffeemakers, Echo Dot, Halloween costumes, Philips Norelco, and more