The Amazon Tap Is A Portable Echo

The Echo Tap was recently introduced as the answer to some buyers requests. One of the main complaints about the popular Echo was that it had to remain plugged in during use. Okay, you could move it from room to room or even buy additional devices if you didn’t like the moving process of unplugging and plugging up your primary Echo.

This works especially if you need it else where. Well, the Echo Tap is portable and not only that it runs on a battery with a charging cradle.  The other difference is that the Tap does not stay on waiting for you to provide commands. You will have to tap the microphone icon to make voice commands to it.  The most important feature of the Tap is that you are able now to pick it up and go. You can place it in your backpack or large purse. It’s small enough to travel with you for your convenience.

Depending on who you ask, some are not excited about the Tap, but they should be. I am and have one on order.  I just couldn’t resist. The Tap has basically made the Echo portable and given it a better speaker system if you really like listening to music. Plus, you can also order a cute and user friendly Amazon Tap sleeve (comes in six fantastic colors) that will help protect and make your new Tap easier to transport from here to there.

Amazon Echo Tap Features

• Price: $129.99
• Alexa Voice Control
• One microphone, have to tap in order to provide voice commands
• Has  3.5 mm audio input
• Works With Mobile Hotspots/ Bluetooth & Wi-Fi
• Dolby & Stereo Sound
• Battery Powered with Charging Cradle
• Provides up to 9 hours of playback
• Always getting smarter and adding new features and skills
• Small and easy to travel with, enjoy music and Alexa wherever there is Wi-Fi
• Wi-Fi Music Streaming:  Prime, Spotify, Pandora, TuneIn, iHeartRadio
• Dimensions:  6.2 x 2.6 x 2.6  Weight: 16.6 ounces
• Optional Amazon Echo Tap Sleeves (Six colors):  White, Black, Blue, Green, Magenta & Tangerine

What’s In The Box?

Amazon Tap, Charging Cradle, microUSB cable and adapter, and quick start guide

Amazon Tap Feature Details

What makes the Amazon Tap unique from the Echo and Dot? The main differences is that the speaker is of better quality. It is portable, runs off a charging cable and cradle (battery lasts up to 9 hours and 3 weeks on standby). In order to talk to Alexa you will have to hold down the microphone icon to do so. That is the only way you will be able to speak with Alexa directly.

This model is not always on like the Echo and Dot which helps preserve battery life. The new buttons on top of the Amazon Tap allows control of your music without having to use Alexa.The tap comes with six optional Amazon Tap sleeves which allow you to transport the Tap easily inside a book bag, purse or small suitcase. Additionally, the sleeve has a loop on it that you can use to hook to your carrying bag or it makes it easier to handle than having to hold the device in your hand.

The Amazon Tap appears to be a fun device.  Although, it is not always on like it’s big brother the Echo it still does the same thing. The only problem would be finding a Wi-Fi or Hotspot connection in order to use it when you’re not at home. Keep in mind each time you want to provide a voice command you will have to walk up to it and press the microphone icon in order to access Alexa.You can’t yell at it like you can with the Echo.

It seems as though the best features of the Tap is the speaker, the ability to connect other Bluetooth devices to it and the fact that it is portable.  The Echo not having the capability of being portable was one of the major complaints from buyers of that model. Amazon answered their requests with the Amazon Tap.

Get your Amazon Tap today!  The release date was March 31, 2016.

Since writing this post, I purchased the Amazon Tap. I thought I would use it often, but haven’t really found a reason to do so. It’s fun hearing the daily facts from Alexa, the weather and an abbreviated news report. The news is not local, but national.

What I have found that I like about the Amazon Tap are the:

Speakers: are loud and clear; they can get a bit muffled if the sound is too high or you have the tap sitting on the floor. It sounds better if it is positioned like on the kitchen counter top or on a bookcase, etc.
Easy setup: you just need to download the Alexa app on a smartphone or tablet
Portability: if you don’t have a sleeve, the Tap is easy to carry around. The plus is that you don’t have to keep it plugged up like you will with the Echo and Dot.
Cost: I thought the cost of the device was reasonable, $129.99.
Battery Life: is pretty good. It has remained on full since I charged it upon receiving it (at least that is what Alexa reports).

What I do not like about the Tap

Pressing the Tap:  each time you talk to Alexa, you have to press the microphone button to do so. After a few minutes of this, it began to drive me crazy. So, now when I need to ask a question or get information, I make sure I do it all at once. Because if you don’t, you will have to continue going over to the Tap where ever you chose to position it or carry it everywhere you go.
No remote: The Tap is not always on like the Echo or Dot. This makes it not conducive to having  remote access.
Network Details Captured: my network password information is captured and stored in the Amazon Cloud in order for Alexa to work with my Wi-Fi Internet provider.

Best Amazon review about the new Amazon Tap, very thorough. Read more here.

Other PROs and CONs of the Amazon Tap reported by buyers: 

PROs

• Understands verbal commands accurately
• Audio is surprisingly good for such a small device
• No other portable Bluetooth speaker device offers voice control and Wi-Fi streaming
• The Tap has instant access to the Prime library of music (Must have Prime membership)
• Can use as Bluetooth speaker for your smartphone or other device. You can also use voice control and Wi-Fi streaming if the Tap is connected to Wi-Fi or a mobile hot spot while in your car
• Connect Tap to any Wi-Fi connection whether at home or on the run
• The included charging base works well, set Tap into the base to charge
• Intelligent mobile battery powered speaker
• GREAT introduction to the world of Amazon Echo
• Voice assistant is accurate and responsive
• Really like the LED lights
• The sling is a great addition to the Tap; protects it against accidental tumbles and is well padded on the top and bottom; has a little hole/loop at the top so it can be hung or clipped onto another item
• Can sync the Tap with Bluetooth devices to use it as an external speaker
• Input jack for hardwired connection with a stereo 1/8″ cable
• The charging base works by two small pins that touch two circles on the base of the Tap

CONs

• No Voice Activation
• Amazon Tap Sling cover is not a good accessory: You can’t use the base to charge the Tap without having to remove the Sling is on; because of the snug fit, attaching and removing the Sling is difficult
•  Tap does not support 802.11n at 5ghz like the Echo and Dot. It will only work in the 2.4ghz band;  only stated in the help section of the Alexa app, nowhere else
• The Tap’s speaker has low to mid range frequency that is not good; at low volumes, the speaker very little bass; when raising volume 40-50%, the speaker “intelligently” lowers the bass and increases the treble, by design.
• When re-charging, have to plug charger directly into the Tap;  the Sling’s rubber bottom blocks contact with the charging base ring contacts.
• Audio in port does not seem as useful as the audio out port on the Echo and Dot
• When the Tap is updated, have to do setup again
• The “forward” control on top of the Tap works fine for streamed music, but doesn’t work as all well for audio books; loses its place in the book
• Would be great if while in the charging cradle, the Tap would go into a listening mode like the Echo and Dot instead of having to push a button to talk to device
• Buyer complained of having to send secure router password to the Amazon cloud;  customer service verified this, that if customers only want to use the device in their home, there was no way to do that without providing Amazon with their router’s password to store in Amazon cloud
• Bass depends on volume. At six or below, bass is reasonably good. Above that you lose the bass; probably a speaker-saving mechanism

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