As if the Amazon Dash Buttons weren't cool enough or
the fact that you could just tell your Echo to buy things for you, Amazon now
has a Dash Wand that lets you tell things you want or scan them before adding
them to your cart.
The Dash Wand is a tiny handheld device with a
microphone and a barcode scanner. When you want to purchase any of the
household items, say, shampoo, you can just say "shampoo" or a
particular brand name into the Dash Wand or use the barcode scanner on it to
scan the barcode on the back of your shampoo bottle. Amazon will use that
information to add the item to your cart. This lets you conveniently add items
that you may be running out of in your house as soon as you notice them instead
of waiting for when you may be near your phone or computer and risk forgetting
about it entirely. Also, because the Dash Wand has Alexa, you can use it as a
mini Amazon Echo as well.
The Dash Wand runs on two AAA batteries and connects
using Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, which can be configured through the iPhone or
Android app. It is magnetic so easily sticks to your fridge and also has a loop
so you can hang it in your kitchen. The body is made to withstand messy hands
in the kitchen, although it's not exactly water-resistant.
Amazon says the Dash Wand is essentially free, since
for the price of US$ 20 that you pay for the Dash Wand, you also get US$ 20 store
credit. You also get a free 90-day trial of AmazonFresh service. Dash Wand is
only available in the US for now.
