Review on Smart speaker Yandex Station Mini without clock with Alice, blue sapphire, 10W by Adam Borken-Hagen ᠌

Name: Smart speaker Yandex Station Mini without clock with Alice, blue sapphire, 10W
Item: Smart speaker Yandex Station Mini without clock with Alice, blue sapphire, 10W
Rating: 5

June 05, 2023

The perfect purchase for me, exactly what I was looking for!

I specifically took in such an elegant, not pop color "red garnet". Technically, Stations Mini 2 of different colors do not differ from each other (unlike Light Stations). But this particular color is as elegant as red wine! This influenced my choice. The question "with or without a clock - I didn’t even ask myself: the difference in cost is not so significant, and the functionality of the clock is much nicer than its absence. Some users complain about the low volume of the audio output. I can’t check yet: there’s nothing .

In general - a very worthy device! And not just for children (as some reviewers position the Station Light), and not at the price of an electric scooter, like the big Station 2. Better than the previous Station Mini.  Station Mini 2 (better with a clock!) is a fresh generation, for those who want a more serious device, but not so much as to give their entire salary for it.

Pros

Wonderful station with voice assistant Alice. The version with a clock is better: it more clearly shows what state the device is in. Alice perfectly hears from Station Mini 2 with its four microphones even a quiet voice nearby. The volume of the Station, being set to 99 (the number 100 is simply not shown on the display), allows the neighbors in the panel house to listen to it! ))). Display. In new versions of the Station software, Alice can turn it off at the request of the user. And to reduce (or not to reduce - it depends on the settings) - automatically according to the illumination (I saw it myself!). Sound quality: Own sound - on top. Better than the Mini of the previous version. More intense and deeper. And the Station of this version can adapt itself to the environment. There will be one sound picture against the wall and another in the middle of the room. Pleasant sensations and leaves the body fabric: pleasant, slightly velvety to the touch. There is only one physical button: On / Off. microphones. The other three are sensory. The sensor liked the versatility. If Alice does not understand in her voice that you want to listen to the previous chapter of the audiobook again, then you can scroll with a simple movement of your fingers from [+] to [-]. If you are too lazy to speak, or at a particular moment it is unacceptable, you control from the top panel of Station Mini 2. Equipment. Only what you need: Station, Power adapter, quick start guide, luxury box matching the color of the device with pockets for instructions and supporting documentation inside. A nice bonus: a set of stickers on the theme of Station Mini 2, Music and Alice included. The adapter cord is quite long, thick and has clips to prevent twisting. Support: ates come in a timely manner and often bring new functionality, as Alice mentions from time to time in the "Also now I can." prompts. ates are installed late at night. I noticed about 3 hours Hong Kong time. After rebooting (if necessary), the Station will continue playing from the point at which it rebooted.

Cons

The first and most noticeable for me, as an IT admin, is the lack of the ability to configure / restart / turn off the Station through the Web interface, like a router (or through an application on any PC, as is done on MikroTik). Not only on smartphone/tablet. Second: indeed, it would be time to build the "House with Alice" application under Windows as well. And then I had to initially take a smartphone from my mother in order to bring her into the infrastructure! Well, or a voice dialogue with Alice. The third (for me, for the same, first, insignificant reason, because almost all the devices that I have work this way) is the power source: Station Mini 2 requires more power, which is why the adapter for it is its own, stronger, but with its own round plug. The people who tried the first Mini with its Type-C don't like it. The inhabitants explain simply: well, how will the adapter burn out, where can I get it ?