Portable Alexa controls now just a Tap away (pictures)
The Amazon Tap puts the power of the Echo into a battery powered, portable device.
Ready to Tap
The $130 Amazon Tap gives you the full power of Alexa in a portable device. Alexa (Amazon's personal assistant) can play music, track your calendar or control your smart home. Its price converts roughly to £90 in the UK and AU$170 in Australia.
Listening
Press the button on the front of it and the Tap's lights turn on to let you know it's listening.
Multi-talented
A single charge supposedly lasts 9 hours of playback time and three weeks of standby.
Still a Bluetooth speaker
The Amazon Tap functions as a Bluetooth speaker you can take on the go, like the JBL Charge 2+ on the left and the Bose SoundLink Color on the right.
Amongst the competition
The Tap sounded great, though not quite up to the level of its top competition.
The buttons on the back
Press the Bluetooth button on the bottom to sync the Tap to your phone.
The separate carrying case
You can purchase a separate carrying case for $20 (roughly £15 and AU$25) to take it on the go.
Echo vs. Tap
The Tap is certainly smaller and more portable than the first device to make use of Alexa, the $180 (roughly £125 or AU$255) Amazon Echo on the left.
Dot vs. Tap
Along with the Tap, Amazon just released the $90 (roughly £65 or AU$120) Amazon Echo Dot -- which is basically the full-sized Echo with the speakers cut off and a line out port on the back.
Portable power
The Amazon Tap rounds out the trio of Echo devices nicely, and is worth a look if you want a portable Bluetooth speaker that can multi-task.