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For a few years we had five 3rd gen Amazon Echo Dots around the house. They didn't sound too bad, perfectly acceptable for the size and price. Earlier this year I picked up a 4th gen Echo Dot to replace one that was getting a little flaky. The 4th gen Echo Dot's sound was noticeably poorer---it lacked depth and bass relative to the 3rd gen. Thinking it may have bene defective, Amazon support swapped it out--and the replacement 4th gen sounded just as underwhelming. I sent it back and picked up a refurb 3rd gen.
Fast forward to today, when Best Buy had that $75 deal we picked up five Homepod Minis and sold all the Echo Dots--we primarily have Apple devices otherwise, I wanted to just have one company surveilling our home. Overall I think Homepod Minis sound better then the 3rd gen Echo Dots--which themselves were superior to the 4th gen Echo Dots. The Homepod Minis may have slightly more bass than the 3rd gen Echo Dots--though not by much--but the sound is richer and more pleasing in general. They also sound quite nice when run together as a stereo pair.
Are they worth the premium over the Amazon devices? Hard to say. On sound alone, for the price--maybe not, if you can get the Amazon devices for cheap like they are now. But for us, factoring in ecosystem integration, performance (commands we often use are executed a little quicker than Alexa), dropping to one smart home surveiller, we are happy with the purchase.
I know others do, but I just don't "return" a year+ old product. Seems odd, I've heard people return their 18 month old product successfully etc, I've never tried.
I'm curious if AppleCare warranty means product gets 2 extra from Costco Citi card. 4 year combined warranty sound nice.
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Target price matched it with my second try. The first rep asked all sort of questions and then denied. We do not match the promotion price and all. I quipped anything on a lower price is a promotion at the end of day. Naah! not possible said the rep. The next rep did not ask much, just the product and the merchant name to match, and that is it. Did place the order, and refund was processed there itself while chatting only.
Target chat worked perfectly. They only asked to confirm the item name, model, and order number, after I placed the order for in-store pick up. Then, refunded the difference right away.
everywhere isnt what I'm trying to do but living room and kitchen is what i tried. hmm ok ill try again. thanks.
I presume you have created Kitchen and Living Room "Rooms" in the Home app, with each Room containing their respective devices. Go into Room Settings for each Room and add them to a new zone. You can then tell Siri to turn off the name of that zone and it will turn off both Rooms. E.g., add the Kitchen and Living Room to a zone called Downstairs. Tell Siri to turn off Downstairs, turn on Downstairs, etc.
I presume you have created Kitchen and Living Room "Rooms" in the Home app, with each Room containing their respective devices. Go into Room Settings for each Room and add them to a new zone. You can then tell Siri to turn off the name of that zone and it will turn off both Rooms. E.g., add the Kitchen and Living Room to a zone called Downstairs. Tell Siri to turn off Downstairs, turn on Downstairs, etc.
You can nest zones within zones also. For example, my shed, back entrance, front and side porches are all in "outside" zone but the shed/rear entrance also in "back yard" zone and front/side porches in "front yard" zone. That way I can tell Siri to turn in/off individual lights outside, control front or backyard lights or control all outside lights. Did the same with all my rooms and placed them in zones by floor (basement, main floor, 2nd floor). Also took all my smart plugs being used for Christmas tree, wife's Christmas village and the outdoor light strings and put all of those into "Christmas light" zone… so one verbal command or toggle in HomeKit app and all the Christmas lights come in and off, as well as being set to turn in at sunset and off at 11pm. It's very versatile system once you get the hang of its nuances.
You can nest zones within zones also. For example, my shed, back entrance, front and side porches are all in "outside" zone but the shed/rear entrance also in "back yard" zone and front/side porches in "front yard" zone. That way I can tell Siri to turn in/off individual lights outside, control front or backyard lights or control all outside lights. Did the same with all my rooms and placed them in zones by floor (basement, main floor, 2nd floor). Also took all my smart plugs being used for Christmas tree, wife's Christmas village and the outdoor light strings and put all of those into "Christmas light" zone… so one verbal command or toggle in HomeKit app and all the Christmas lights come in and off, as well as being set to turn in at sunset and off at 11pm. It's very versatile system once you get the hang of its nuances.
Quick question on the Christmas config you mentioned. You can't add accessories to a zone, can you? Only rooms. So you made up a dummy room for all Christmas stuff? If so, why the need for a zone then? Seems like I'm having a disconnect and I would appreciate elaboration because it would be very helpful as it is something I thought of before but couldn't figure it out. Thank you!
Quick question on the Christmas config you mentioned. You can't add accessories to a zone, can you? Only rooms. So you made up a dummy room for all Christmas stuff? If so, why the need for a zone then? Seems like I'm having a disconnect and I would appreciate elaboration because it would be very helpful as it is something I thought of before but couldn't figure it out. Thank you!
Ah yes, I misspoke.. I assigned the Christmas lights to the rooms they were each physically in, and then I grouped them all together as "Christmas lights" which allows you to toggle them all on and off as if it was one light (and you can still control them separately if you press and hold on the grouped light, as it will show individual lights if needed). I did it this way as these are setup temporarily for the holidays as opposed to my permanent lights which are added to nested zones by entire "rooms" as you mentioned. This way my front porch and side porch are each their own "rooms" in my home. Works great!
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Fast forward to today, when Best Buy had that $75 deal we picked up five Homepod Minis and sold all the Echo Dots--we primarily have Apple devices otherwise, I wanted to just have one company surveilling our home. Overall I think Homepod Minis sound better then the 3rd gen Echo Dots--which themselves were superior to the 4th gen Echo Dots. The Homepod Minis may have slightly more bass than the 3rd gen Echo Dots--though not by much--but the sound is richer and more pleasing in general. They also sound quite nice when run together as a stereo pair.
Are they worth the premium over the Amazon devices? Hard to say. On sound alone, for the price--maybe not, if you can get the Amazon devices for cheap like they are now. But for us, factoring in ecosystem integration, performance (commands we often use are executed a little quicker than Alexa), dropping to one smart home surveiller, we are happy with the purchase.
I'm curious if AppleCare warranty means product gets 2 extra from Costco Citi card. 4 year combined warranty sound nice.
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Quick question on the Christmas config you mentioned. You can't add accessories to a zone, can you? Only rooms. So you made up a dummy room for all Christmas stuff? If so, why the need for a zone then? Seems like I'm having a disconnect and I would appreciate elaboration because it would be very helpful as it is something I thought of before but couldn't figure it out. Thank you!