You can now add Alexa to your car with the new Echo Auto (and it’s currently in the Amazon Summer Sale for just £39.99)
Hands-free news and entertainment has never been easier on-the-go thanks to the arrival of the first Amazon Echo device designed for use in the car.
The Echo Auto launched back in June but if you’ve yet to trial it yourself, now might be the best time to invest as the device has gone into the Amazon End of Summer Sale, reduced from £49.99 down to £39.99.
The Echo Auto allows drivers to play music, check the news and make calls without taking their hands off the wheel or eyes off the road.
Add Alexa to your car with the new Echo Auto available on Amazon now for £39.99
Just like the rest of the Amazon Echo smart speaker range, the Echo Auto allows you to connect to Alexa. The device works through your phone’s Alexa app and plays through your car’s speakers via Bluetooth or an auxiliary input jack.
With the Echo Auto, you can play your music from Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify, Deezer and more. Or perhaps you prefer to listen to Audible whilst driving? With the Echo Auto you can play that too, as well as tune into radio stations with just your voice.
The super slim black box gets internet connectivity by connecting to a user’s smartphone and the Alexa app, and using its existing data plan.
While Amazon shoppers agree that it’s easy to set up, one niggle is the data usage. If you’re on an unlimited data plan, this won’t be a problem, but it’s worth bearing in mind if you have a fixed plan.
That being said, at under £40 Echo Auto it’s an affordable way to get all of Alexa’s functionality whilst on the move. With options like hands-free calling and Bluetooth audio, it brings savvy updates to old cars.
‘I have an older sports car with no Bluetooth connection to the radio tuner /CD and thought I would give this a go. Honestly is great.. I connect to car via jack socket and its like having a full blown echo in the car.
With Amazon’s Echo Auto you can your voice to play music, check the news, make hands-free calls, set reminders and even check sports scores
‘Music plays seamlessly through the car speakers and I can even switch on the lights and heating in the house from this device prior to getting home.’
With the Echo Auto you can ask Alexa to stream tunes, listen to audiobooks on Audible, ask for the latest news, weather, and sports scores and even place calls from your phone’s contact list. All hands free so you can keep your eyes on the road.
The device is also designed with eight microphones and far-field technology which means the Echo Auto can hear you over music, air conditioning and road noise.
One delighted shopper wrote: ‘I love this new addition to the Amazon Echo range. It’s small enough that it doesn’t stand out too much and simply plugs in to any USB slot. The set up was really simple and pairs up to your smartphone following the instructions that come with it.’
They went on to write: ‘No more fiddling about with CDs just ask for whatever music you want to play as long as your phone is connected to a suitable source such as Amazon Music or Spotify. Highly recommended!.’
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