BUDGET BUYS
●TIPS & TRICKS
●Fed up of yelling? Alexa’s voice can work like an intercom with connected Echo devices.
●Alexa Voice Shopping lets you order from Amazon; add a ‘voice code’ to keep the kids off.
●Dot at your bedside? Saying “Alexa, turn on whisper mode” will stop it waking up sleepyheads.
1 Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen)
from £55 /go.stuff.tv/Dot5
The latest Dot offers improved sound quality over the 4th Gen model. Not surprisingly given its size, it still doesn’t have the heft of a full-scale Echo, but this Dot is more than good enough for bedside table or kitchen listening –and light years away from the lame sound of the early versions. Be sure to consider the £65 ‘with Clock’ variant, which offers a better and much more useful LED display than the previous model.