Released to the public in June of 2015, Amazon Echo is the sleek, new voice-control device that has been catching attention and positive reviews from tech-savvy customers. With a helpful array of functions, the Echo, which can also be addressed as Alexa, easily follows natural speech and carries out tasks such as adjusting the lights in the house and searching a question on Google. The Echo is set up by being plugged in, connected to Wi-Fi, going through a setup in a web browser or on the Amazon Echo app, and it is ready to carry out voice commands.

The Echo can be viewed as a personal assistant, adding simplicity to a hectic daily routine; ask Alexa to read the news headlines or set a timer while dinner cooks in the oven. Equipped with seven acutely sensed microphones, Echo is capable of clearly hearing commands across a large room even with loud music or a tv on. “The Echo is more than a souped-up speaker with Siri-like smarts — it’s the connected home experience you didn’t know you wanted” claims Ry Crist from his review on the Echo on cnet.com.

Amazon takes pride in continuously adding new features and functions to Echo, such as its new function to order Domino’s pizza or call for an Uber cab. Alexa is constantly connected to the internet and listening to the user, so it always receives new information and adapts to the user’s preferences. The Echo is available for purchase on Amazon.com for $179.99