Our look at the Amazon Echo vs. Tap differences.

When comparing Amazon Echo vs. Tap, both are great voice interactive speakers which boast the “Alexa” technology from Amazon. However, some key differences exist in terms of the specs these two devices have. While both are great speakers for playing music and handing various tasks such as information requests or even home automation, they were made with different intentions. It clearly seems the Echo was made as the “stay at home” interactive speaker, with the Tap more of an “on the go” cousin. Here’s our look at the major differences of the Amazon Tap vs. Echo speakers.

The Amazon Echo was released first by the company and brought along with it Alexa, a voice interaction technology similar to Apple’s Siri. The Echo speaker is always listening and the moment you use the wake word “Alexa,” you can ask it your request. These include items such as asking it to play back music from your library or Amazon Prime’s vast library (if you’re a member), asking for various information including weather, sports schedules or scores, getting jokes, updating your Google calendar or shopping lists, and even controlling lights or other home automation tasks.

Fast forward a year or so, and Amazon released the Tap wireless bluetooth speaker. It’s about two or three inches smaller than the Echo and also features the Alexa voice technology. However, there’s a key difference in that it is not always listening. Tap refers to “tapping” a microphone button on the front of the speaker and then making your request. So for example, you would tap the microphone and ask “What time is it?” or “What’s the weather tomorrow?” or “When do the Chicago Cubs play?”

The Amazon Tap comes with a charging base you place it on to charge it up before you take it on the go. Basically, you don’t need to have it plugged into a socket on the wall, whereas the Echo must always be plugged into a power source. Both items need to be connected to an available wireless network, which can be done through the Alexa app (available at Amazon, Apple’s App Store, and the Google Play Store for Android). Both items also can playback from a device paired via Bluetooth, making them versatile when it comes to enjoying music. However, the biggest difference really is that one stays at home, and the other can go with you wherever you have available WiFi to “tap” into.

The larger Echo usually sells for around $180 but has been on discount during various promotions at Amazon. The Tap usually sells for about $50 less. One of the other noticeable differences is that the Echo includes a microphone you can use if you’re in another room to make voice requests or control playback of music. The Tap’s controls are all built into the speaker, with the music playback control right on top of the device.

Shelby Johnson has created helpful user guides or manuals for each of these impressive tech items which help with the set up and further understanding of how to use the features. You can find these available at the links below:

Amazon Echo User Manual: Help Guide to Unleash the Power of Your Device! (Kindle eBook)

Amazon Echo & Prime User Manual Bundle (Kindle eBook)

Amazon Tap User Manual: Guide to Unleash Your Wireless Speaker Device! (Kindle eBook)

'Amazon Echo vs. Tap Specs & Features Review

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>>Get the Amazon Tap User Manual here!<<

The Amazon Tap is the newest wireless speaker device from Amazon. Consider it the cousin of the very popular Amazon Echo, as it’s nearly half the size but still has the same capabilities. The Tap is highly portable, making it easy to bring around with you on the go so you can listen to music or use other features. Keep in mind you’ll need to have a WiFi network to connect it to in most cases when you’re out and about, but it can also double as just a bluetooth speaker. Use it to play music from your iPod, smartphone, tablet or other Bluetooth-enabled devices!

The Amazon Tap (see more info) is a small but relatively lightweight wireless speaker you can hold in your hand. You can purchase a special “Sling” case for it to protect it from drops, dings and damage. It also has a special spot to hook a carabiner to. You could basically hang the Tap from a tree branch outside near your favorite hammock!

So what all does the Tap do? It allows you to use a variety of voice interactive services and features that include but aren’t limited to:

• Streaming Amazon Prime music.
• Streaming your own music stored at Amazon.
• Setting timers, getting the latest time or weather information.
• Getting sports schedules and scores (for specific sports only).
• Getting Wikipedia information.
• Getting the answers to various calculations or conversions.
• Listening to TuneIn Radio, Pandora, Spotify and other music services
• Using special “Skills” such as interactive games, informational services & more!

Need to know how many cups in a gallon or inches in 3 yards? What about the answer to 1,254 times 573? Just press (tap) the microphone button on the Tap and ask! You’ll get the answer to your question quickly. Want to play a fun game, check some stocks, order dinner or get a ride? Use the Skills that you can enable through the Alexa App.

Of note, the Skills on Amazon Echo or Tap are constantly evolving. There’s everything from the ability to order pizza or an Uber, to playing daily Jeopardy, to getting stock quotes, knock knock jokes and much, much more!

Of course where the Echo and Tap both stand out are as speakers for playing music. Both have great dynamic sound. You can bring the tap with you outdoors to enjoy your music, as long as you have either a Bluetooth device connected to it, or are using available WiFi to connect the Tap to. If you’ve got Amazon Prime, you have access to thousands and thousands of songs, albums, artists, great playlists and more!

>>Get the Amazon Tap User Manual eBook!<<

We consider the Amazon Tap, priced at $129 as of this report, a great addition to the company’s tech gadget lineup. It’s perfect for Amazon Prime power users who want to utilize all of the free music offered through the service. It’s also great for using on the go, as it is compact and portable with great range. Pick up the Sling protective case and a carabiner and you can bring this with you on road trips, tailgating, camping or on many other adventures!

'Amazon Tap Review & Unboxing Video

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The DJI Phantom 3 Standard drone is considered an entry level quadcopter, but based on its sturdy build and great quality video footage, it’s a worthy investment for around $500 for anyone looking to move up from toy drones to more fun flying the skies while recording stunning images! Below you can find more details about this drone, as well as our unboxing video showing exactly what is inside the box.

What’s in the box? Immediately upon opening the DJ Phantom 3 Standard box, the owner will find an envelope complete with Quick Start Guide, Safety guidelines, stickers and other informational paperwork. Underneath some protective cardboard casing, the box contains the actual drone body, which has the camera already attached. This camera is the only one used for the drone and can’t be detached in order to use a different camera. Also inside the box are the charger, battery, drone controller and then a nice drawstring bag which contains a total of eight propellers to use on the drone.

Among the great features this drone includes are the 2.7K HD capability for video footage, GPS, an app you install on your mobile device to help control the drone’s flight and see what its camera is seeing, and the ability to map out a route for the drone to fly. The drone also features a tracking ability to follow the controller wherever they go, if one desires. With that in mind, you could walk a specific path or route while holding the controller and have the drone follow along.

The DJI Phantom 3 Standard was purchased for $500 at the time of this report via Amazon and included a free bonus 32 GB microSD card for recording footage on. Additional accessories can be ordered to complement the device including extra memory cards, batteries, backpacks, a carrying case, propellers, landing gear and more.

Overall, there may be more expensive drones on the market such as the brand new DJI Phantom 4, but we give this particular drone for $500 our stamp of approval for its capabilities which won’t quite break the bank like the higher-end “professional” models will. This is great for everyday use and can capture some great videos and photos as desired.

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With the arrive of Cyber Monday 2015, comes everyone’s favorite online shopping day of the holiday season. Cyber Monday brings with it a variety of sales deals on technology devices and gadgets that consumers may want to consider. Among them are smartphones, tablets, laptops, streaming media devices and other techie items. We’ve broken down the top deals from several locations for the ongoing Cyber sales.

Amazon Cyber Monday Deals

Shop Amazon’s Cyber Monday sale here

• Kindle Paperwhite for $99 (regularly $119)
• Fire 7-inch tablet for $34.99 (regularly $50)
• Amazon Echo for $149 (normally $179)
• Amazon fire TV for $75 (normally $100)
• Amazon Cloud Drive – one year Unlimited storage for $5 (normally $60)
• Motorola Moto 360 Smartwatch for $40 off (originally $250)
• Sony SmartBand 2 for $35 off (normally $130)

Amazon will also offer time-limited or supply-limited Lightning Deals so keep an eye on the deals page for the latest.

Walmart Cyber Monday Deals

Shop Walmart’s Cyber Monday sale here

• Apple iPad Mini 2 for $199 – a savings of $70
• Toshiba 14-inch Satellite laptop w/Windows 10 for $179 ($100 off)
• Microsoft Surface Pro 3 tablet for $599
• 65-inch LG 4K TV for $799
• 48-inch Samsung 4K TV for $598

Walmart also offers free shipping on many orders totaling $50 or more, and also has “ship to store” options for items to be sent to customers’ local stores of choice.

Best Buy Cyber Monday Deals

Shop Best Buy’s Cyber Monday sale here

• iPhone 6 starting at $1 w/activation & 2-yr contract
• iPhone 6 Plus starting at $99 w/activation & 2-yr contract
• iPad Air up to $50 off select models priced $399.99 to $449.99
• iTunes Gift Cards – Buy One, Get One 20% off

Keep in mind that Cyber Monday has actually become “Cyber Week” for many retailers including the ones above, so deals will span more than just Monday. Keep an eye for deals to change as the week carries on and these retailers look to get more competitive in the holiday shopping season!

What are the best Cyber Monday deals you’ve seen so far? Let us know below if you’ve seen any great tech items on sale!

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Amazon’s tech devices go on sale – Fire TV Stick, tablet, Paperwhite, Echo

Amazon has rolled out several of their biggest deals of the holiday shopping season on Thanksgiving Day. As part of their Black Friday sale, they have reduced prices on some of their most popular technology items, including the Fire tablet, Fire TV Stick and the Amazon Echo. All of the items are available for savings of $15 to $30, depending on which tech gadget one is getting. Here’s the latest Black Friday sale details!

The 7-inch Fire tablet has been reduced to a price of $34.99.

The Fire TV Stick with Voice Remote is also $34.99, with the TV stick with regular remote is just $24.99.

Kindle Paperwhite eReader is down to $99.99, a savings of $20.

Also, the Amazon Echo is reduced to $149.99, a savings of $30. This item recently was showcased as part of “Oprah’s Favorite Things” a holiday gift-giving idea list created by Oprah Winfrey each season.

It’s unknown if these deals will only last for Thanksgiving Day or will extend into Friday and Cyber Monday. However, these are all significant savings on some great tech gadgets to give this holiday season! The Fire TV Stick with Voice features Alexa interactive technology allowing for the user to speak into it to find movies, TV shows, sports scores and more.

The Fire tablet at $34.99 is a rock bottom price for a name brand tablet that allows for watching media content, listening to music and surfing the web among other activities. We consider these some of the best Black Friday holiday shopping prices you’re going to find for these particular items, so make sure to act quickly!

View all of Amazon’s Black Friday deals here!

'Fire TV Stick, Tablet & Amazon Echo on Sale!

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Best Buy – Shop for Apple iPhone 6s deals & sales specials!

Customers who are looking for options for where to buy the iPhone 6s or 6s Plus are in luck as several retailers are now offering the latest smartphone by Apple. The 6s and its larger counterpart, the iPhone 6s Plus were released to the public in the United States in late September, and sales have reportedly been strong ever since. Some estimates have as many as 13 million phones or more said to be sold by the Apple company. Here’s some of the latest buying information as well as sales and deals that might be going on.

Right now, you can buy iPhone 6s models at Best Buy. The electronics retail stores are currently offering a trade-in deal where you can “trade up to the 6s or Plus” and get up to $400 in gift cards by trading in a working smartphone. You’ll also need to purchase and activate a new Apple iPhone 6s or 6s Plus along with a 2-year service agreement, Sprint Lease plan, or monthly installment play through Verizon Wireless, AT&T or Sprint. The deal gives customers up to a $200 Best Buy card for trading in a working smartphone and then a free $200 Best Buy gift card for any customer new to Verizon, AT&T or Sprint’s service plans. The deal is said to be “in-store” only right now, but Best Buy also sells the 6s phones online.

The iPhone 6s and 6s Plus are available at Target. The smaller 6s model is currently ranging in price from $199.99 to $399.99 and the 6s Plus is ranging from $199.99 to $699.99. It’s best to keep an eye on any upcoming store promotions as the holidays are approaching. Target could very well offer special gift cards and savings in the coming months as part of Black Friday shopping deals.

While the new smartphone is available in stores or online right now through Apple and Best Buy retail sites, it also gives customers the option to pick up the iPhone 6 or 6 Plus for a lower price. Right now these can be found as low as $99 for the iPhone 6 at Target, and $199 for the 6 Plus. Walmart currently offers the Straight Talk Apple iPhone 6 with 16GB and prepaid service for $649.99 for those who don’t want to be locked into an ongoing monthly payment plan for several years.

Shop all of the latest iPhone 6s or 6s Plus cases and other accessories at Amazon!

You can also find many iPhone accessories at Amazon or also shop Walmart’s selection of accessories for the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus models. Among the top accessories right now are screen protectors and the various styles of cases including holster cases, wallet cases, waterproof cases and more! As we always emphasize, the screen protector and a good case are the first, and most essential accessories to buy for your new smartphone.

The Apple iPhone 6s and 6s Plus were officially released on September 25th, 2015 and feature the latest technology for the smartphone. That includes the new 3D Touch capability, the ability to capture brilliant video in the high 4K resolution, a vivid display, super fast processor and ability to handle all the tasks you need to throughout your day at the touch of your fingers!

Make sure to subscribe to our email updates list on the right sidebar in order to stay informed of any big deals or sales that arrive as the holiday season approaches!

'Where to Buy iPhone 6s & 6s Plus – Latest Sales & Deals

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On Thursday, seven new gadgets were revealed on the Amazon website including their brand new Fire tablet as well as two larger tablets, a new Fire TV Stick and a cool new Fire TV set top box. Of particular interest will be the facts that the tablet called simply “Fire” will sell for less than $50 before tax and/or shipping, and that the new Fire TV device integrates Amazon’s Alexa voice interactivity built into the remote. In addition, Amazon is releasing several larger tablets as well for customers this holiday season.

The new Fire TV set top box will sell for $99 and is available for pre-order now. It’s set to arrive to the first wave of customers on Oct. 5th. The new device features the ability to streak in 4K video, the highest resolution currently available for hi-definition televisions. Additionally, the voice remote includes Alexa technology which is featured in Amazon’s Echo voice interactive device. Alexa will allow speaking to the voice remote to request what you want to watch, or to bring up information such as sports scores, weather reports or other features as they are updated. Amazon is also releasing a new Fire TV Stick for $39, set for an Oct. 22 release date. An Alexa voice remote version sells for $49.99. Those who want more of a gaming experience can pick up a Fire TV set top box “gaming edition” for $139.99, which includes a controller to go with it.

The new Fire tablet was revealed via media sources several weeks ago and is now available for pre-order on the Amazon website. It will feature a 7-inch display and 1.3 GHz quad-core processor as well as rear and front-facing cameras. The device includes 8GB of on board internal storage and the ability to add a microSD card for up to 128GB more storage. The tablet includes an updated user interface with Fire OS 5 operating system and will allow for up to 7 hours of use for a variety of functions before needing a charge.

Amazon doesn’t stop there with the tablets, as they also brought out a new Fire kids edition for $99, a Fire HD8 for $149.99 and a FireHD10 for $229.99. The latter two of these devices feature 8 and 10-inch displays respectively. All of the new tablets are available for pre-order and ships on Sept. 30 as of this report.

Technology enthusiasts are you excited for any of the new Amazon devices announced today? Will you be pre-ordering? Let us know your thoughts below!

'Amazon unveils $49 Fire tablet, Fire TV device with voice remote

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When will the iPhone 7 arrive and what will the new smartphone feature?

Many Apple enthusiasts are still wondering “When is the iPhone 7 coming out” just days after the new iPhone 6s and 6s Plus smartphones were revealed to the world. Apple unveiled both of the new devices, which of course signals that next in line will be the 7. Both the 6s and 6s Plus phones are available in late September, with pre-orders beginning on the 12th. They can be purchased via Apple.com, Apple Store, your local Apple retailer or through your specific mobile provider including AT&T and Verizon.

As for the iPhone 7, there are a number of rumors swirling about what it will have for features and when the actual mobile device will be released. Early rumor has it that the iPhone 7 is expected in 2016 or 2017. Among potential features could be a “wraparound screen” which would be a 4.9-inch full HD sapphire screen. There’s been some individuals who made up a mock video of the device as seen below, but many are pointing out that the design could be similar to what Samsung’s Galaxy S used.

One of the features or aspects of a new smartphone that have people most excited would be a potential wireless dock. This has been seen already with Samsung or Google smartphones, but not yet with Apple’s products. Some designers also have a mock video of that as seen below which would have a metal frame iPhone which was 2.5D sapphire glass and a QHD retina display.

No matter what the new iPhone includes, we know the announcement of an iPhone 7 will set the tech world on fire, as Apple fans are always excited for a new version of the technology in their hands. As mentioned above, we anticipate the phone to most likely get announced next year around the same time as the latest phones, or in 2017 some time.

As for the newest Apple devices, you can read about the new iPhone 6s, Apple TV and iPad Pro here! There’s definitely plenty to be excited about if you’re an Apple fan, based on some of the new design concepts and features in these devices.

If you’re a technology enthusiast, we’d love to hear from you below. Tell us what features you most want to see in the new Apple iPhone. If you’re an Android fan, what features or design concepts would get you to switch over to Apple and the iPhone 7?

'When is iPhone 7 coming out? Release date & feature rumors

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New Apple iPhones will be available for pre-order on Sept. 12th.

At today’s Apple event held in California, the company announced several new exciting tech devices. Among them are the latest versions of their smartphone, as the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus were revealed. In addition, Apple announced a new Apple TV with touch remote and Siri integration, as well as a new iPad Pro with an Apple Stylus pencil. These latest gadgets will be arriving just in time for the holiday season too.

The phones will look very similar on the surface to the iPhone 6 phones, but will have better technology within as well as new features and upgrades. Among them are a faster and more capable processor, increased 12 megapixel rear camera, 5MP front-facing camera for FaceTime HD, and the ability to capture 4K video resolution at 30fps. Other standout features include the 3D Touch, 2nd-generation Touch ID and Retina Flash, all of which were not present on the previous iterations of the phone.

The 6s prices will start at $199 on contract for the lowest storage size. Price points will remain the same on contract with the 6s Plus costing $299 for the 16GB, $399 for the 32GB and $499 for a 64GB smartphone. Unlocked versions on Apple’s website start at $649 for the 6s and $749 for the 6s Plus. The phones are available for pre-order as of Sept. 12th.

In addition to these new phones, Apple also unveiled its newest version of the Apple TV. It will include a brand new touchscreen remote that can also control your television’s volume and allows for voice command and Siri integration. Apps will now be available on the device, similar to how Amazon Fire TV has “apps” rather than channels. The new device will be available in 32GB for $149 or 64GB for $199 starting in October.

The other big revelation is Apple’s new iPad Pro tablet. The new iPad Pro will be a tablet with a large 12.9-inch diagonal display, giving much more screen real estate than the traditional 8 or 10-inch tablets out there. It will run the new A9X processor and features 5.6 million pixels for an ultra-high screen resolution. In addition to that, Apple has designed its own stylus called the Apple Pencil. It is similar to the Microsoft Surface Pro stylus in that it can only be used with certain applications. For those that want to kick things up a notch there is also a $169 case that doubles as a “smart keyboard.” This new iPad will start shipping in November with price tags of $799 for a 32GB version and $1079 for the 128GB version. Just in time for a nice Christmas gift!

See more info on all products at Apple.com website.

'Apple reveals iPhone 6s & 6s Plus, new Apple TV & iPad Pro

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The new Sphero BB-8 toy is a miniature, controllable replica of the droid that will appear in “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” Price tag: $150 at Amazon.com.

The new BB-8 Sphero toy, an app-controlled droid (see here) from the new “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” film, will officially arrive to the masses as of midnight Eastern Time on Friday, Sept. 4th. It seems like this cute and functional little robotic ball could be the hit of the upcoming holiday season too, despite carrying the price tag of some tech gadgets which can do a lot more.

This new toy, which mimics BB-8, a brand new droid that hangs out with the main character Rey in the new J.J. Abrams film, will be part of the unveiling of toys from the movie. They’ll be available for fanatics to purchase on Force Friday, a special retail event being held on Friday, September 4th.

Sphero’s new BB-8 droid toy in all its glory! Available for purchase here.

Update 9/4: BB-8 quickly sold out online at the Amazon and Disney Stores.

Among the features listed for this cool little gizmo are the fact you can navigate it around on your floor using a touchscreen app. You can also speak into it and get voice feedback, sense when it’s happy or sad, let it patrol a route around your area you set up, and even send your own holographic messages. Not bad for a price tag of $150, right?

So where can you find the new BB-8 toy made by Sphero? It’s been reported that Best Buy, Barnes & Noble, Disney Store and Amazon will be among those selling the item. Several retailers will be holding special midnight store events where customers will line up to be among those to have the first chance to buy them.

While they may sell out quickly in stores near you, don’t fret. Expect to see them selling online through third parties, or the Sphero website as well. We’ll update you here at Tech Media Source as soon as we see any new ones available, so stay tuned!

What do you think, will you be picking up one of these new droids at midnight for Force Friday? Will this be the hottest toy of the upcoming holiday season?

Check out the new Sphero BB-8 toy at Amazon.com

'BB-8 Sphero Toy: App-Controlled Droid from Star Wars

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