The Core

Intercom works. I used a throwaway G Voice number to have it send the activation code. Even so, it picked up 2 family members with Alexa devices (listed in my Amazon account for gift shipments) and offered to set them up as contacts. 2 more Dots ordered for a total of 5. That's dirt cheap for a station-to-station intercom system.

Get there firstus with the mostus.  I have this feeling that by the time Apple starts shipping their Siri-can Amazon will already own the Jabbernet.

But the can device might be a sideshow for Apple, they will gain some real life Jabbernet experience which they can put into Apple Car and their self driving car OS.

Worth a read.

I installed an Amazon Echo Dot in a car and it was the best infotainment system I've ever used.
_{http://www.businessinsider.com/using-amazon-echo-dot-in-a-car-2017-7/}

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Here's a scary thought from Debbie:

There are many signs that Alexa is going to flash over to encompass social.  But not just the friends & family version of social ...it's going to be an entity you engage with ---think chatbot on steroids.

Alexa devices can now control your Fire TV
_{http://www.androidpolice.com/2017/08/02/alexa-devices-can-now-control-fire-tv/}

IMO, this adds some height to AMZ's walled garden.  Besides bringing into the fold a substantial swath of their hardware, what really caught my eye was voice search of media. Example commands to search for movies, TV shows, apps, and games:

“Search for [movie / TV show / app] on Fire TV.”
“Find [genre] on Fire TV.”
“Show me titles with [actor].”

I assume it's only searching AMZ offerings (for now), but keep in mind that we already supposedly have voice control of a browser.

Note, too, that they've promised (coming soon) support for viewing smart home camera feeds on the Fire TV and 2nd gen Fire TV Stick. This will make for low-cost, Amz-based security cam systems similar to what's happening with the intercom.

<added> Fire TV control currently US-only.