Simply saying “Alexa,” makes the hockey puck-sized Echo Dot ready for action, and it can manage everything from playing music, to answering questions about the weather, to telling a joke, and even hailing an Uber or ordering Dominos hands-free.

“The new far-field microphone system is lifted right out of the larger Echo, and makes the Dot surprisingly good at picking up commands. One of my friends actually set me a 4 a.m. alarm by whispering at Alexa through my window.”

A key difference between the previous-generation Dot, and other Amazon Alexa products, is that the second-generation offers compatibility with an existing sound system, so you can quickly turn your massive system into a smart speaker with a simple aux cord.

The linking and disconnection process from Spotify is easy and straightforward. Friends can quickly link their devices with just a few words, and a new far-field microphone system is a big improvement over the last generation.

It’s lifted right out of the larger Echo, and makes the Dot surprisingly good at picking up commands. One of my friends actually managed to set me an alarm — for 4 a.m. — by whispering at Alexa through my window.

Luckily, you can just yell at the snooze button.

A roommate of mine recently picked one up too, and as we spent an afternoon playing around with them, we both agreed the device was missing one key detail: You can’t sync audio across multiple Dots. This means I couldn’t connect the two in my own household to both play in sync from my Spotify account.

Now, don’t get me wrong, as the device is incredible value for $5o. But without the sync functionality across multiple devices, the Dot loses the opportunity to be a smart home surround system and instead becomes more of a smart alarm clock.

That being said, the library of voice commands is continually growing, and the already impressive capabilities of the Echo Dot will likely continue to improve.

The post Amazon’s Second-Gen Echo Dot is a $50 Revelation appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

Hopper

The modern gentleman must be well traveled, and Hopper can get you there. This app not only shows you the best days to fly, it will watch prices like a hawk, predict when they will rise or fall, and direct you elsewhere if someone else has a better price. It’s like having your best friend as your travel agent, without any of the guilt of wanting to travel solo. With its recent $16 million in funding, Hopper is here to stay.

iTunes App Store    Google Play Store

SmartNews

You probably already have your news app of choice, but hear me out. SmartNews raised $38 million in its latest Series D round of funding, and not without reason. This news aggregation app offers similar features as other apps, but with an authentic twist. If your work internet is like mine and it doesn’t hold up like Ryan Lochte’s robbery recollection, this app has a feature called “Smartview” where you use a minimal amount of bandwidth to view the text-only version of any article. A great UI combined with no-hassle viewing has won my readership.

iTunes App Store    Google Play Store

Canopy

The modern gentleman is already using Amazon for (almost) all of his internet buying needs, however, sifting through all of the junk can take time that the modern man just doesn’t have. Canopy is a no frills curator for Amazon. Have a spare minute and feel like doing some home/life improvement? Everything on Canopy is hand-picked, reliable, and well designed, while the app itself is clean and simple compared to competitors who try and throw as much junk in your face as possible. For the modern Amazonian, this is a must have.

iTunes App Store    Google Play Store

The post Three Apps for the Modern Man appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

I’ve struggled with this for the past 2 months while trying to make original vlog posts for Car-tel Communications. Any smartphone can take video, and newer models can even support 4K, but universal access to video means creating something that attracts more than 10 views on Youtube requires creativity and a unique style.

What you need is $60, an amazon account, and a safe place for your mailman (or woman) to store your precious cargo. The most important piece of equipment is your tripod, because shaky video is terrible video. Amazon recently started to produce their own line of products under the AmazonBasics tagline, and their tripod is top-notch. For under $25 dollars, this 60” tripod is a steal.

Unfortunately, phones do not screw in to tripod mounts like traditional cameras, so you will need to get an adjustable phone adapter. I picked this one because it was recommended for the AmazonBasics tripod. If you made it this far and are thinking, “this only takes horizontal video, and I want vertical video,” we politely ask you to leave now and pick up a different hobby like bird-watching or knitting.

Next, and probably the most important component to creating your own style, is clip on phone lenses. They used to be gimmicks, but now companies like Samsung are jumping into the mobile lens arena because consumers are buying in droves. I like the MPOW 3-in-1 Lens Kit because it comes with a wide angle, macro, and fisheye lens as well as a microfiber cloth and two clips.

Now that you have spectacular video, you need great audio to match. Without purchasing a boom mic, XLR cables, and a recorder, great audio in the field is hard to come by. However, if you are vlogging or interviewing, a good lapel mic connected to the right android app can get the job done. I went with the Royal Voice Lapel Mic connected to the WavePad android app. Bring a friend, borrow their phone, connect the mic and throw it in your pocket. If you adjust the level inside the app your audio should come through crystal clear.

Now that you have the gear, it’s time to practice. With a great idea and the right lighting, you should become a YouTube sensation in no time. And while you are lounging in your golden vlogging throne, don’t forget F24 helped you get there!

TL;DR

For optimal mobile video, consider a $60 investment in:

1. This 60” Tripod
2. Tripod Phone Adapter
3. MPOW 3-in-1 Lens Kit
4. Royal Voice Lapel Mic and WavePad android app

The post Great Video for Under $60 appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.