Verdict
The Amazon Echo Auto ( 2nd Gen ) ’s high - quality microphone makes Alexa easygoing to use in the car for those who particularly need to use this voice supporter out from nursing home . Reliance on a unattackable net connection and limited ability to empathise navigation prompts make this a rather niche intersection . Most people will probably find it easy to bestride their phone and expend its integrate voice supporter instead .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
The originalAmazon Echo Autowas the company ’s attempt to get Alexa out of the dwelling house into the machine . A mixed bag of features and inconsistencies , it was a niche mathematical product .
Now the Amazon Echo Auto ( 2ndGen ) is here . Smaller than its predecessor , it suffers from many of the same issues .
Design and installation
The original Amazon Echo Auto was quite a chunky all - in - one box that was relatively hard to find a position for . With the Amazon Echo Auto ( 2ndGen ) , the unit has been redesigned and now consists of two parting : a small box with a 3.5 millimetre line - out , and a microphone unit with a mute and military action button on it .
A magnetic , spliff - on mount is provided for the mike unit , so you could easy remove the Echo Auto and put it out when it ’s not require .
As with the previous model , the new Amazon Echo Auto ( 2ndGen ) is powered via USB . This can be from an integrated port in your railcar or using the 12V car adaptor that ’s in the box seat .
Once powered on , the Amazon Echo Auto ( 2ndGen ) must be link to your phone via Bluetooth . If your sound ’s connected to your car via Bluetooth , then this is all you need to do ; optionally , you’re able to apply the 3.5 millimeter output from the Amazon Echo Auto ( 2ndGen ) if your car has an aux remark and no Bluetooth .
Features and performance
Rather than a smart speaker in its own right hand , the Amazon Echo Auto ( 2ndGen ) is really just a Bluetooth microphone with integrated Alexa controls . When you speak the wake - up phrase , the microphone pings the postulation to your phone , and the audio response is route from your phone to your railroad car ’s stereo .
The advantage of the system is that the microphone is very good , clear nibble up my voice when I was driving . I never needed to tally the action at law release on the machine to get Alexa to start working .
disadvantage come thick and tight . A big exit is that you must have your car set to utilize your phone for audio if you want to hear the response . If I was take heed to the wireless , then Alexa ’s answer get along out of my phone , cause them hard to hear .
It ’s a very assorted bag as to how well Alexa works , too . I had to judge a few variations to get Spotify to play the We Have agency of Making you Talk podcast , as Alexa restrain trying to play random birdsong from Amazon Music instead .
Then , there ’s the issue of Alexa ’s limited ability to pilot . “ Alexa , repel to Ongar , ” I said , only for Alexa to say it did n’t know what I was talking about . I switch the parole “ get ” for “ navigate ” , and that was better ; only Alexa did n’t think I meant the Ithiel Town but picked a random street address in London . “ Alexa , navigate to Ongar , Essex ” was better , but then Alexa said that I had to open up my telephone set and tap the notification to start the function app . Not great when driving .
With Android phones , Alexa can open up apps more easily , so this is n’t so much of an issue . Alexa ’s limited reception and comparatively small choice of local businesses remain a problem .
at last , if I use my phone for navigation , I find it easier to put it in a riding horse . I can then habituate Siri by just say , “ Hey Siri ” , or I can press and hold my automobile ’s microphone push button to turn Siri on , and then make my request .
Alexa needs a secure cyberspace association to be useful . I could n’t even pause the current music with my vocalism when my phone was out of service .
I also found that the connection to the Echo Auto was n’t always that unchanging . On starting my car , the Amazon Echo Auto ( 2ndGen ) would link up most of the prison term , but not always . Sometimes Alexa would just cut off mid - reply , particularly after I first pop out the car . And , then , I had a few meter when the system just disconnect , and I had to restart the Alexa app .
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Should you buy it?
This is the simple , cheapest way to add the vocalisation supporter .
Either the integrated amusement system or Car shimmer / Android Auto are good option for most .
Final Thoughts
Cheap as it is , the Amazon Echo Auto ( 2ndGen ) is a very niche intersection . If you have CarPlay or Android Auto built in , this product is n’t much use . I also set up it easier to just mount my earpiece in a holder and use the integrated articulation helper .
If you ’ve got an older gondola without Bluetooth , then the 3.5 mm sound shit may come in use . And those who are heroic for Alexa in the car will find this system of rules utile . For the absolute majority , this is a rather niche Cartesian product .
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FAQs
It connects via your smartphone , so your smartphone needs to have a mobile signaling to work .
