Term of the Moment
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Definition: Echo Dot
A compact version of Amazon's Echo virtual assistant, commonly called an "Alexa" device. For louder sound, the Dot can connect to an external speaker. Launched in 2016, the Dot changed its shape dramatically from a puck to a sphere in 2020, which Amazon dubbed an "orb." See Amazon Echo.
Echo Dots
The first Dots were shaped like a hockey puck (top), and color models debuted in 2018 that included a year of entertainment and education. Along with the new sphere shape in 2020 for the 4th generation Dot, animal models were also introduced (bottom). As of mid-2022, the original puck-shaped Dot was still available on Amazon. (Images courtesy of Amazon.com and Staples.)