Today we are unboxing and setting up the Amazon Echo. It's an exciting new product from Amazon that is a bluetooth speaker, as well as an intelligent assistant, and home automation hub. Let us know what you think, and what other things you'd like to see from us in the comments. Also please subscribe to our Youtube channel.
About a year and a half maybe two years ago, I came across a kick starter campaign for a voice activated alarm clock/home assistant named Ivee Sleek. It promised Siri like assistant functionality with Google Now like voice activation features. It also promised to connect to connected home appliances and systems like the Philips Hue lights, SmartThings and the Staples connect hubs. It was a pretty big deal for me at the time. I had both Philips Hue and WeMo systems, I was and still am looking for the best connected home solution. It was a pretty tall order. The company behind the Ivee Sleek promised me and all kick starter backers the world. Remember the saying "under promise, over deliver?" this team did the exact opposite. They over promised big time, and sadly, also under delivered big time.