Amazon Tap Review of the speaker that controls your health home with Alexa smart health innovation

Before its release, we were able to exclusively Review the Amazon Tap, little sister of the Amazon Echo. And beware, you will see that this one has nothing to envy its elder. After its huge success at CES 2017, you will soon learn all about Alexa artificial intelligence and put music in your daily life!

Since the rapid development of smart health connected objects, each company has doubled its ingenuity to present its own personal assistant. So, after Apple's Siri and Microsoft's Cortana, Amazon has taken over with its Artificial Intelligence, delicately named Alexa.
The internet commerce giant did not do things by halves since it designed a whole range of equipment of the Alexa smart assistant : Amazon Echo, Amazon Dot and finally Amazon Tap.

Mark : Amazon
Model : Tap
Category : smart health connected speaker + personal assistant
Price : € 129.99
Compatibility : Android, iOS
Sign in : Bluetooth + Wifi
Available : Available
Tested with : Samsung Galaxy S6

Amazon Tap Unboxing

From an outside point of view, the packaging of Amazon’s small smart health connected speaker is fairly simple: all in black, with the brand name highlighted. So far, nothing unusual or very original … The brand has opted for sobriety.

On the other hand, when you open the package (it unfolds like a box), you discover an interior of a fairly deep turquoise blue. Good news for the product because it really puts him value. Besides, if the Amazon designers wanted to play on surprise, it was successful.

From a more practical point of view, the user will find in the box : the speaker itself, a charging base, a USB-micro USB charging cable, a socket for charging the speaker smart health connected to the mains and of course, a user manual.

Amazon Tap design and ergonomics

When we take the speaker in hand, she is quite heavy. This is generally a good indicator of the superior quality of materials used to make it. The proof with the very velvety touch fabric that covers the speaker.

The Amazon Tap also features the brand logo at the bottom,the discreet control buttons on the top and back, an alert and communication system by light points on the top and two inputs (one for a jack cable and the other for a micro USB).

The device is recharged on a base, by single magnetic contact. All the user has to do is place the Amazon Tap on its charging base. The Amazon Tap speaker has 8 hours of autonomy in wireless mode.

The Amazon Tap is a nomad speaker, her reduced size makes it a good traveling companion and its resistant materials can reassure the user who is a little chilly to take it out of his health home.

Application of the Amazon Tap “Amazon Alexa”

For the time being, the application that allows you to use the Amazon Tap (Amazon Alexa, Amazon's Artificial Intelligence) is not available in France. If you still want to treat yourself to Amazon Tap, you will need to go through a root or download the application in APK format.

The application is compatible with Android and iOS devices. Many actions can be done directly on the speaker, or through the speaker“Amazon Alexa” application. Listen to the radio, music or podcasts, recognize songs, make shopping lists (at Amazon of course) or even know the weather…

In general, theapplication is simple and sober. A main menu presents all the actions that can be done, as well as technical support in the event of a problem. She is rather ergonomic, but is only used once because the commands are easily done by voice.

Using the Amazon Tap speaker

The advantage of designing a smart health connected speaker that incorporates Artificial Intelligence is ability to take on multiple roles : that of a health home assistant, a smart speaker or an extension of your smartphone.

Getting started with Amazon Tap and connecting it to your smartphone or tablet couldn't be easier. You need to activate your phone's Bluetooth, press the button on the back for 5 seconds and pair the two devices from your smartphone.

Amazon Tap sound quality

With two stereo speakers and a 360 degree multi-directional sound, you could say that Amazon’s smart health connected speaker has good sound quality for a speaker that has so many additional features.

We were surprised at the power that sound could achieve Amazon Tap, making it quite sufficient for a modest apartment.

Amazon Tap in health home automation mode

The only real difference between the Alexa range: Amazon Echo and Amazon Dot is that theuser is required to activate the speaker microphone to be able to control Alexa.

So, if you have smart health connected objects in your house (such as Philips Hue smart health connected bulbs, for example), you can now control them from your Amazon Tap.

It’s really interesting to be able to control and do actions simply by voice command, moreover, Alexa responds well to natural language. During the entire Review, we did not encounter any problems in understanding requests, unlike Siri for example.

Thus, the user can manage their shopping list, smart health connected objects in their health home, alarm clocks and alarms, directly on Amazon Tap. Ta series of modules are available to customize everything.

Amazon Tap in Music Player mode

The smart health connected speaker can easily be compared to some rather powerful portable speaker models. Indeed, Amazon has devoted to its intelligent speaker-assistant a much of its interface to music.

The app associated with Amazon Tap is compatible with online services such as Spotify and Amazon Music, you can also listen to the radio or podcasts coming directly from the Internet.

Music requests are made either by voice command or from the smartphone. Alexa understands well the requests of type: “Open the radio FIP” or “Alexa, play me a little reggae” and Alexa requests additional information when she needs it.

Obviously, our Review was done entirely in English. But we had no difficulty ordering Alexa. So, that makesAmazon Tap a speaker very practical to control.

Against competition

Musically speaking, Amazon's smart health connected speaker can't compete in sound quality with very similar portable speakers in terms of ergonomics and use.

The enclosure JBL Charge 2+ can compete with our Amazon Tap in terms of sound quality and practicality of the product, but not in terms of price: count 129 euros for the model of the JBL brand. Same observation for a more suitable enclosure at health home: the Bose model, the SoundLink Color: 139 euros.

It’s with its side health home automation that it could appeal to consumers. Because if it may seem small compared to its big sister, it is still able to control the smart health connected objects of your house.

In addition, its price is quite attractive knowing that the technology available to Alexa is well accomplished and very practical. Finally, Amazon Tap is good value for money.

(embed) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKGqKTEGCoE (/ embed)

Conclusion

Good points

• Double Music PLayer and Smart Assistant
• Neat sound quality (stereo + 360)
• Alexa, Amazon's Artificial Intelligence

Negative points

• A little sad design
• Must activate the microphone on each request
• Not enough compatible apps yet

Design and ergonomics

Application

Features

Use and handling

Value for money

Design and ergonomics A practical object for the outdoors, but classic as a whole.
Application A good helper to discover all possibilities but not essential.
Features Dual function, a portable speaker or for the health home.
Use and handling Voice control is very practical and responds well to natural language.
Value for money Good resistance and a good invoice for a reasonable price.

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