In November, I wrote that the Echo Dot will be this year’s hottest Christmas gift, and it turns out I was right. If you are one of the five million who bought the Echo Dot or Echo and have gotten so used to having Alexa, a virtual assistant, in your house or office to play music, find answers or turn lights on or off, you’ll be ecstatic to know Amazon has just announced Amazon Tap.
Amazon Tap is a portable Bluetooth speaker that weighs just over a pound. You can take it to the beach, park or party by throwing it in your backpack or clipping it to your bag. When it’s connected to Wi-Fi, you can access Alexa by tapping the microphone button and asking her to play music; she streams Amazon Music, Spotify, Pandora, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, and iTunes. With Amazon Tap, you can get the latest news, weather, search for information to settle a bet, order a pizza or an Uber, or whatever else you use Alexa for. You can also stream the music using your phone or other mobile device’s hotspot.
The Amazon Tap has dual stereo speakers with Dolby processing for crisp vocals and extended bass response and provides 360° omni-directional audio. A single battery charge provides up to nine hours of continuous playback, and when the battery is low Alexa will say, “Just so you know, the battery is currently low.” All you have to do is use the Charging Cradle that comes with it. There’s also an optional Amazon Tap Sling that protects against bumps and drops. Available in six colors—ranging from classic to vibrant.
Alexa’s like our butler except she doesn’t get paid or get in the way.
By the way, now the “Tap” can be put into always listening mode. Shortens battery life by about one hour, from 9 hours to 8 hours but I would like it that way. I think I may get one soon and take it with me for travel.