See what Alexa can do
As a newbie to all this Ai voice command malarkey, having previously played Youtube videos (at lowest quality settings to save bandwidth, for others), near enough all day long.
I came across this devise available for what price it even is now.
I won't say what that price is as we are not supposed to talk about that in case these prices go up and later folks think they have missed out.
Of cause in this case they would have missed out. SUCH VFM at present is phenomenal.
As other negative reviews go on about sound quality/volume. The answer is match it up to a Bluetooth set of speakers, a stand alone set or even a soundbar device.
OR do what I did and match it up to Bluetooth HEADPHONES.
(BTW That STRANGELY Amazon does not elude to us that it is even 'possible', not on this or any other ECHO devices marketing, no idea why!!. There ARE other such devices with other Ai voice command systems out there you know, rival ones.
I'd say it'd be a good idea to promote the notion that Bluetooth headphones can be used, if only with the Echo & Echo dot devices.
Great sound then with Bluetooth even on £20/$25 headphones, with the added benefit of going about your business in your abode with mobility and without DISTURBING others so much as what speakers would. (Though hardly a high volume with an Echo Flex, but with open windows in the warmer times could be).
Disturbing other occupants, if any, and even others not abiding in your abode.
I have fixed up in addition to the Amazon Music (free version), almost good enough on its own, no great probs with it, and have another account with Spotify & Deezer.
I flit from one to the other, asking Alexa to play eg. Best Coast on Spotify, the advert comes on, though funny enough I find I soon decide as you are able to, to ask Alexa to play ie. Wolf Alice on Deezer.
And on it goes, Yes thinking about it an ADVERT pops up and Alexa gets a talking to and another Music provider is chosen. It being Choice/option in our lives isn't it, if you use your loaf.
Of cause where are these Music providers heads at??.
Think about it logically folks, and Music providers. IF we had the money to purchase goods advertised and did not like hearing these adverts we would likely BUY the advert free option.
But we cannot afford these ad free package's, ergo we are therefore UNLIKELY to purchase the goods advertised.
Logical isn't it.
So the advertisers to me are virtually WASTING their money, as hardly any goods are purchased, just repeated time & time again that folks soon get fed up of and they MAY EVEN BECOME ADVERSE to the product.
Hence Advertisers are in some cases PAYING to alienate potential customers. Maybe gaining a few but losing a load as well. YES, product recognition, but one not so likely to be purchased, so what good is that cost & effort.
Who wants to hear the music of Billy Eyelash on Spotify after hearing her incoherent 20 sec babble she has recorded as an advert for Spotify?. Not me, can't stand the negative reinforcement of her. (Where was her head at in being used as a constant & repetative annoyance used against Free Spotify users?).
Just poor thinking in these advertisers Senior management's thinking. Sucked into the notion of advertising in these particular mediums.
FAR too expensive £9.99 a Month for these Music Subscriptions anyway, mostly all that price aren't they, NOT price fixed amongst them all then?, is it?, is it really??. Yes Amazon music ad free packages can be CHEAPER, the rest of the music providing outfits look 'price fixed' to me. Collusion involved?.
In these days of massive Electricity bills it is mainly the well healed that can afford the ad free packages, wait until the UK April 2022 Energy price cap rise. Be sitting down for that official announcement.
(EDIT: and wasn't it!!!, up to 54% extra in Gas prices & maybe even the Electricity from these mainly Euro based parent company energy supplier chancers in the UK.
10% UK Inflation by end of 2022 with 20+% inflation in 2023.
The UK will not last 24 months after April 2022 IF that price rise/cap raising is enacted.
Financial institutions in the UK will crash, DRAGGING down the Euro block AND the USA with it.
This is an Important matter. It will sadly effect us all.
The 2007-2008 Global Financial Crash came from the domino effect of but a few large companies falling.
When an entire 'Nation' crashes as the UK would do with a 54% energy price increase, we CANNOT withstand that, not possible. From that point onwards April 2022 the UK is finished, totally finished.
Dragging down other Nations, you see.
It will effect all Private Enterprise throughout the World, AMAZON itself will be effected.
Effected in the UK just by the People of the UK having far LESS in their pockets to purchase goods from them. The more we pay on raw energy the less to spend on other companies goods & services.
The UK would crash, financially & otherwise as said within 24 months of April 2022, IT WILL EFFECT the entire World in a knock on effect, badly, you see). It will happen.
Hence ALL Private Enterprise in the World & Govt's of the World actively need to quash the UK Govt's harmful 54% Energy price increase set for April 2022. As it will ultimately harm them, harm us all.
If it is not quashed, great hardship & suffering will come of it.
Not just an obscure Echo Flex review then.
This will effect everybody on the Planet, you see, and badly effect Private Enterprise.
The 2023-2024 World Financial Crash stemming from in part the crash of the UK.
An Important message here then, foretold before the event, I guarantee it will effect us all. End of EDIT).
OK then, from that practical (not political) matter that needs fixing, back to this matter of the Echo Flex, the actual device itself, is ideal, you just plug it in the wall socket or extension lead.
It then converts 230/240 volts (In the UK!). to a lower voltage and powers it.
The wattage draw is minimal, (great for the ecology), so so small compared to larger more expensive devices, that it could be paired to a battery pack base device!!!, HOW ABOUT THAT ONE!!!.
The larger Echo's & Echo Dot's can be fitted up to a battery base, they are available, makes it a big package though for mobility, none that I have found will fit the Echo Flex though, except £100/$125 bulky ones.
But a battery base that accepts a 3 pin plug, a compact one could be manufactured or found from an existing supplier, similar shape to the Echo Flex.
Then plug it in and cart it about all over the place, with a wattage draw that the battery would EASILY last all day, 16 hours at a time if you want. What a great bit of kit that'd be. Inexpensive but so practical.
Ironically if you think about it, it would need to convert the lesser voltage of the compact battery pack from the low voltage of what it is, 12 volts, 18 volts or 24 volts or so up to 230/240 volts, (the UK version of the Echo Flex!).
THEN as it already does internally it converts that down to a much lower voltage.
The best THING would be for the Echo Flex to have a little switch that changes the voltage setting from mains to battery pack.
WHAT a brilliant piece if kit that would be!!, the sheer mobility of the device, its longevity, then it truly would be an Echo Flex as in Flexible.
Some guy on Youtube shows how it can be fitted with soldering, though he has expertise in these matters. Maybe not viable for those with no experience, though a boffin could be found and slipped a few, £$€, they may do it mainly for the fun of it.
Totally invalidating any warranty, but again a choice/option available to us. What Humanity has always been about, the modification of tools.
Yes the Echo Flex with this inbuilt function would cost more to originally make if fitted by design, and add weight & bulk to the device fitting a voltage changing/regulating device unit.
Then folks would be not so inclined to purchase more expensive Echo devices, as unless they wanted better speakers, this addition to the Echo Flex would even make it better than what it already for sure is.
To me though with the Echo Flex's easy set up using a mobile phone, that yes Alexa type Ai voice control is available and music could be played/cast into Bluetooth headphones using a phone.
BUT some phones have NON REMOVABLE batteries and that battery would soon be depleted, time & time again.
So a new phone costing over £40/$50, some are £80/$100 or more would be needed in no time, ergo impracticable. New batteries slab packs soon needed even if removable.
THIS Echo Flex device to me is all about VFM. Best stick to that all the way along and things will be fine.
This Echo Flex IS practicable. An idea tool for musical enjoyment.
OK then I know I have gone on, touching a very important matter, that folks may not think will effect them, but it will. In any massage of mine I like to see you all get your moneys worth.
BUY this Echo Flex device and for sure you 'will' be getting your money's worth from Amazon.
Amazon have garnished a lot of good will from this device for that price.
FAR less of a asking price than what the unit costs to make, of cause it is, even being produced in China. So a massive WELL DONE to Amazon. BIG Goodwill has come of that decision, a 'fish to catch a mackerel' maybe, but well appreciated, from me for sure.
You have got your act together with this device, I wish the actual range of the Bluetooth could be extended BUT that is the case for almost every Bluetooth device.
From router to echo flex for me is NO PROBLEM, but from device to Bluetooth headphones is.
Going into another room can be difficult, hence battery pack device would be ideal.
Other than that, that as said would effect most other devices, Bluetooth and its piddly 10 meters limit, newer Bluetooth 5.2 versions may fare better, having a much lower wattage draw, maybe the range has been tweaked up a bit.
Just seen detailed articles about it, around nearly twice the range OUTSIDE with certain chip sets can be obtained with Bluetooth 5.2. Indoors likely to be less than twice. Maybe around 1.5 times or so.
So a 10 metre range can maybe be upped to 15 meters then depending upon structure in the way of the direct signal. Big difference though, an extra 5 metres, making all the difference for some folk.
Though this device is not Bluetooth 5.2 and maybe will never be, not many devices around that are. They cannot be software updated, it is all to do with the chip in it itself.
OK then OTHER reviews give details about this device, I have covered other aspects to it and other matters that may well have been of interest to some.
Of cause if an article or a message of someones is not doing much for you, best to pack up reading it almost from the start.
Why put yourself through reading the entirety of something, as some book/movie reviewers do and then say at the end I didn't like reading/watching all that & then go about the place & social media moaning on about it.
Cannot understand that, that would not make sense to me, BUYING this Echo Flex device though DOES make sense. Total sense it is a bit of FUN. Great fun. With Bluetooth headphones it is great.
Use your sense folks and buy one at that giveaway price. They are what they are, and to me they are fab. Totally fab, truly worth 5 stars.
Well done indeed Amazon.
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Keep your family in sync
Use Announcements to send voice messages to every room with a supported Echo device, or use Drop In as a two-way intercom between rooms. You can also make hands-free calls to almost anyone.
Technical details
Echo Flex
|
Size |
72 x 67 x 66 mm |
|
Weight |
166 g |
|
Wi-Fi connectivity |
Dual-band Wi-Fi supports 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4 and 5 GHz) networks. Does not support connecting to ad-hoc (or peer-to-peer) Wi-Fi networks. WiFi 6 (802.11ax) is not currently supported. |
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Bluetooth connectivity |
Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP) support for audio streaming from your mobile device to Echo Flex or from Echo Flex to your Bluetooth speaker. Audio/Video Remote Control Profile (AVRCP) for voice control of connected mobile devices. Hands-free voice control is not supported for Mac OS X devices. Bluetooth speakers requiring PIN codes are not supported. |
|
USB connectivity |
USB-A port to support partner accessories (sold separately) or phone charging (7.5 W). |
|
Audio |
Built-in speaker for voice feedback when not connected to external speakers. 3.5 mm stereo audio output for use with external speakers (audio cable not included). |
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System requirements |
Echo Flex comes ready to connect to your Wi-Fi. The Alexa app is compatible with Fire OS, Android and iOS devices, and also accessible via your web browser. A list of supported operating systems can be found here. Certain skills and services are subject to change, may not be available in all areas and may require separate subscriptions or other fees. |
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Setup technology |
Amazon Wi-Fi simple setup enables customers to connect smart devices to their Wi-Fi network in a few easy steps. Wi-Fi simple setup is another way Alexa is always getting smarter. Frustration-Free Setup. |
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Warranty and service |
Amazon Echo Flex is sold with a limited warranty of one year provided by the manufacturer. If you are a consumer, the limited warranty is in addition to your consumer rights, and does not jeopardise these rights in any way. This means you may still have additional rights at law even after the limited warranty has expired (further information on your consumer rights). Use of Amazon Echo Flex is subject to these terms. |
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Accessibility features |
The Alexa app and Alexa-enabled products include several features for customers with accessibility needs related to vision, hearing, mobility and speech. Learn more about Alexa accessibility. |
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Included in the box |
Echo Flex and Quick Start Guide. |
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Generation |
Echo Flex 1st generation (2019 release) |
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Privacy Features |
Wake word technology, streaming indicators, Microphone Off button, the ability to view and delete your voice recordings and more. Visit the Alexa Privacy Hub to explore how Alexa and Echo devices are designed to protect your privacy. |
A high quality device with endless potential, offering low cost Alexa convenience
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 18 November 2019
The echo flex is a fantastic addition to the Echo line of products. It gives you a cheap way to make Amazon's Alexa service available all over your home whilst also adding the flexibility to attach modules to customise its usefulness to your personal requirements (e.g. you could add a nighlight) - the possibilities for this device are endless and you could make this device your main echo if you wanted or just have it as an extra echo in the hallway.It was an absolute breeze to setup, it literally took me 1 minute and I didnt even have to refer to the quick start guide. All I did was plug it into a plug socket and after a few seconds a light on the device turned orange and the device spoke to confirm it was ready to be setup via the Alexa app. I went to the Alexa app and clicked add device, selecting the Echo option, then Echo flex, i had to enter my wifi password and once done a few seconds later the light on the echo flex turned blue to confirm it was ready to use. I did a test command 'Alexa, what is the capital of Brazil' and it effortlessly picked up my voice and responded appropriately. Just so you know this device works on both 2.4ghz and 5ghz wifi networks unlike most 3rd party smart devices which will only work on 2.4ghz.The reason why I bought this device is because I always want access to alexa when im walking through my hallway and I remember something, like I need to turn off an electric heater, a fan in a bedroom or a light etc, this normally happens on my way out whilst walking through the hallway and I'm like damn I have alexa in the bedroom and in the lounge, I dont want to go back there just to tell Alexa to turn something off, I also dont want to pay loads of money to have an echo or echo dot in the hallway, especially as that would mean having unsightly trailing wires from my plug sockets, I can also imagine that not everyone has a place in their hallway that they can rest their devices on top of too. So the Echo flex fills this particular case perfectly, as I have spare sockets in my hallway, being able to just plug this in adds so much more convenience to life being able to talk to Alexa on the way out.As far as I am concerned this is a device purely for increased convenience at low cost, as you can flood your home with Alexa devices without burning a major hole in your wallet.PerformanceAlexa is very responsive and seems to pick up the Alexa call very quickly and accurately despite any background noise, the audio from the device is loud, crisp and clear.PrivacyThere is a button on the flex so you can turn off the microphone that listens to you and it will indicate the off state by glowing red. There is another button on it for pairing but I have not needed to use that.QualityThe build quality of the plug is reassuringly solid, I expect this will last for quite some time and if it doesnt I know I will be treated well by Amazon's customer service team.SoundThe sound quality is perfect for everything except playing modern music, the audio is loud and clear, but this is a small plug in device with a teeny weeny speaker inside with no capability for bass, so the sound is lacking significantly in fullness - it can sound like a laptop speaker although I would actually say it's probably not THAT bad. I listen to traditional Chinese music, and will regularly have it playing in the background as ambient noise as I find it very relaxing and peaceful, the echo flex can handle this type of music perfectly without sounding cheap, I have it constantly playing in my hallway now :-) If you are the type of person that wants the echo flex to also be able to play any kind of music with decent audio quality well it seems Amazon also has a solution for you too as the echo flex has a 3.5mm audio Jack on the side, so you could actually plug this into your own sound system if you were to use it in your lounge or bedroom which would improve the sound quality significantly. Unfortunately a cable is not provided to enable this so you'll have to get one yourself. Amazon go a step further allowing you to play sound from the flex to a bluetooth speaker, although I am yet to test it I can imagine this would be straight forward to setup, there is also an option in the app to connect to a 'Stereo pair / subwoofer' - so I guess this device has been made to please everyone!ModularityThe Echo flex has a usb port on the bottom which means you can plug in addons to give it even more usefulness - some of the existing addons are motion sensors and nightlight both of which can prove useful, but I can imagine at some point they may introduce even more useful addons such as security camera modules, door bell modules, baby monitor modules, temperature sensors, clocks and possibly even a speaker module to provide fuller sound direct from the devices, the possibilities are limitless. This is a brilliant idea from Amazon and I hope third party manufacturers exploit this opportunity to the fullest extent!If you are not really bothered about addons you may be interested to know that you can use the usb port to charge your devices, I connected my Samsung S9 Plus and it charged to full after about 2 hours without any issues - please note that the usb port does not support fast charging though.Overall, the device defitniely fills a gap that is not quite hit by the other echo devices, and for me it has proved to be a very useful addition to my family of smart devices. I can imagine Amazon's main smart home competitor will copy this idea pretty soon as it is a really good idea and concept which has been implemented in an almost faultless way.At £24.99 I feel that this device is definitely value for money and money well spent, I cant wait for amazon prime day or black friday as they will be even cheaper so I'm going to fill every nook and cranny of my home with these :-)Warning to the guys out there: I am talking to Alexa a lot these days and have found my wife is becoming very jealous lol - this is the only real downside I have come across so far! :-)
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 18 November 2019
Images in this review
