Discussion
pmanson said:
Mine is linked up to Spotify and Sonos. Seems to work well
I'm due a catch up with Podie soon so will have to quiz him how to actually link all this up! If I plonk a Dot on the kitchen side, hardwire it into my existing stereo with an aux cable - presumably I link my phone via wifi and on my phone I have spotify etc to link to the dot via wifi?Silly question, I have the echo which I use for music but increasingly I want find it useful for alarms, I'm thinking of getting a couple of dots for the bedrooms.
Am I right in thinking if I tell the dot in my bedroom to set an alarm only that will go off and not the others in the kids bedrooms?
Am I right in thinking if I tell the dot in my bedroom to set an alarm only that will go off and not the others in the kids bedrooms?
Yeah they seem to run independently. I was a bit annoyed because I wanted the music to be playing in both the bedroom and lounge at the same time but then I remembered about things like the alarm and realised that might be a pain for other people in the house, not that it's an issue for me but is for all you family types.
Can you imagine the fun the kids would have the other way around?
Can you imagine the fun the kids would have the other way around?
I bought a second one last night.
It really is a frivolous toy, but I found it useful last night when needing to set a timer for cooking dinner. Rather than keep setting the oven timer for the next time I needed to do something, a simple "Alexa, set timer for 10 minutes" - job done.
Also works fairly well with the Harmony - although I would prefer to be able to tell it "Alexa, turn the tv on" rather than "Alexa, tell Harmony to turn the TV on".
ETA : Looks like I might be able to achieve that by using Yonomi....
It really is a frivolous toy, but I found it useful last night when needing to set a timer for cooking dinner. Rather than keep setting the oven timer for the next time I needed to do something, a simple "Alexa, set timer for 10 minutes" - job done.
Also works fairly well with the Harmony - although I would prefer to be able to tell it "Alexa, turn the tv on" rather than "Alexa, tell Harmony to turn the TV on".
ETA : Looks like I might be able to achieve that by using Yonomi....
Edited by davek_964 on Tuesday 28th March 07:58
davek_964 said:
ETA : Looks like I might be able to achieve that by using Yonomi....
Yup, I use Yonomi for that, works better than using Alexa direct to Harmony. It is also easier to tie in actions to the Harmony trigger such as lighting that is controlled via a different system to Yonomi than to get Harmony to do everything.Now my configuration has settled down I use:
Harmony to control both the downstairs and upstairs TV/AMP/Nvidia Shield
Combination of Tasker/Autovoice/Yatse to have voice control of Kodi/Netflix running on the Shields. Being able to say Echo, tell autovoice to play next episode of Billions is very cool
Smartthings to control lighting (mix of Philips Hue and Wemo plugs, around 40 devices now), a handful of Wemo Plugs driving other devices, and my motion/temperature sensors
Nest for Smoke Alarms and Thermostat
Amazon Music - switched from Google Play Music as it just works on Alexa, I could have plugged in Play Music but it would need me to setup a service on one of my servers and I couldn't be bothered
Pure's Jongo speakers and adapters are connected via bluetooth to my Dots, I can use the Jongos to stream the same Dot's music to all other Jongos at the same time so I have near whole house audio
Openhab to do all the automated timing stuff from my Google Calendar
Yonomi to provide easy voice controls for everything listed above
Alexa as the Voice input/timers/weather/etc.
I should really switch out the Yonomi Skill for the Openhab Skill but I haven't had chance, Yonomi took about ten minutes to get working how I wanted, Openhab would be a day I think. Openhab is running on a dedicated (virtual) server so should be more reliable and have far greater level of control than I can manage with Yonomi.
Long term I want to be able to control the curtains and blinds, have separate heating zones, hack the kettle/coffee machines to turn on/off via z-wave or WiFi - they are momentary switch activated so not suitable to use a Wemo plug.
tankplanker said:
Combination of Tasker/Autovoice/Yatse to have voice control of Kodi/Netflix running on the Shields. Being able to say Echo, tell autovoice to play next episode of Billions is very cool
How do you do this?I use tasker on my phone but does this mean you are running it on the Shields?
I use Netflix through my Amazon Fire TV - and because it's within that, I can't even tell Alexa to start Netflix let alone watch a specific program. I'd love to be able to have more control.
tenohfive said:
Anyone using the TP Link plug socket controls purely with Alexa rather than through some wider lighting/hub style setup?
Yes, I have the sub for the 'Home Cinema' plugged into it (as the new Amp didn't seem to switch it off). I've named the TP plug 'Sub'. I've got it all linked into Yonomi as part of a series of commands. However I can control the sub directly via Alexa. Eg. Alexa Turn On/Off Subdavek_964 said:
How do you do this?
I use tasker on my phone but does this mean you are running it on the Shields?
I use Netflix through my Amazon Fire TV - and because it's within that, I can't even tell Alexa to start Netflix let alone watch a specific program. I'd love to be able to have more control.
I followed this guide: https://hotstickybun.com/tutorials/control-kodi-by... to get voice control for Kodi working on my phone. I use tasker on my phone but does this mean you are running it on the Shields?
I use Netflix through my Amazon Fire TV - and because it's within that, I can't even tell Alexa to start Netflix let alone watch a specific program. I'd love to be able to have more control.
I then used this guide for Netflix: http://forum.joaoapps.com/index.php?resources/watc... to get voice control for Netflix on my phone, if you wanted to run everything from your phone instead you could use autoinput with tasker to trigger the chromecast button on your mobile: http://forum.joaoapps.com/index.php?resources/cast...
I then used this guide: https://forum.xda-developers.com/u/tasker-tips-tri... to move the working profiles to the Shields.
I then had to tweak the profiles a little on the Shields to get everything working. I found it much easier to do all of the heavy development on my phone using the touch screen rather than on the Shields using a remote.
In theory you could remove the dependency on Yatse as Tasker could call Kodi's intents directly, but that is a job for another day for me... Using tasker and autovoice directly on the Shield you could also trigger Youtube and Google Play Music voice integration as well. Youtube voice integration is on my to do list, but I'll likely trigger it via my phone using autoinput as I prefer managing the playlist/searching on my phone and casting to the screen.
While tasker, autovoice and yatse do not show up directly on the Shield as installable you can use the web version of the google play store from your PC to remote install them. You must make sure autovoice and yatse are fully licensed before you start otherwise it won't work. You will likely have to sideload them all to a Fire stick though; I haven't tried this inside Amazon's walled garden so you may hit other problems.
tankplanker said:
followed this guide: https://hotstickybun.com/tutorials/control-kodi-by... to get voice control for Kodi working on my phone.
I then used this guide for Netflix: http://forum.joaoapps.com/index.php?resources/watc... to get voice control for Netflix on my phone, if you wanted to run everything from your phone instead you could use autoinput with tasker to trigger the chromecast button on your mobile: http://forum.joaoapps.com/index.php?resources/cast...
I then used this guide: https://forum.xda-developers.com/u/tasker-tips-tri... to move the working profiles to the Shields.
I then had to tweak the profiles a little on the Shields to get everything working. I found it much easier to do all of the heavy development on my phone using the touch screen rather than on the Shields using a remote.
In theory you could remove the dependency on Yatse as Tasker could call Kodi's intents directly, but that is a job for another day for me... Using tasker and autovoice directly on the Shield you could also trigger Youtube and Google Play Music voice integration as well. Youtube voice integration is on my to do list, but I'll likely trigger it via my phone using autoinput as I prefer managing the playlist/searching on my phone and casting to the screen.
While tasker, autovoice and yatse do not show up directly on the Shield as installable you can use the web version of the google play store from your PC to remote install them. You must make sure autovoice and yatse are fully licensed before you start otherwise it won't work. You will likely have to sideload them all to a Fire stick though; I haven't tried this inside Amazon's walled garden so you may hit other problems.
Thanks - I'll have a read!I then used this guide for Netflix: http://forum.joaoapps.com/index.php?resources/watc... to get voice control for Netflix on my phone, if you wanted to run everything from your phone instead you could use autoinput with tasker to trigger the chromecast button on your mobile: http://forum.joaoapps.com/index.php?resources/cast...
I then used this guide: https://forum.xda-developers.com/u/tasker-tips-tri... to move the working profiles to the Shields.
I then had to tweak the profiles a little on the Shields to get everything working. I found it much easier to do all of the heavy development on my phone using the touch screen rather than on the Shields using a remote.
In theory you could remove the dependency on Yatse as Tasker could call Kodi's intents directly, but that is a job for another day for me... Using tasker and autovoice directly on the Shield you could also trigger Youtube and Google Play Music voice integration as well. Youtube voice integration is on my to do list, but I'll likely trigger it via my phone using autoinput as I prefer managing the playlist/searching on my phone and casting to the screen.
While tasker, autovoice and yatse do not show up directly on the Shield as installable you can use the web version of the google play store from your PC to remote install them. You must make sure autovoice and yatse are fully licensed before you start otherwise it won't work. You will likely have to sideload them all to a Fire stick though; I haven't tried this inside Amazon's walled garden so you may hit other problems.
Yesterday I connected the Dot to my amp via bluetooth, signed up for the free trial of Amazon Music Unlimited and added an activity to the Harmony for listening to Amazon music (basically just so it means the TV gets switched off).
Pretty impressed, although it does need some improvements. In the Amazon music app on my tablet I can browse and search by artist / album - but in the Alexa app on the tablet you only seem to be able to browse playlists / stations. So you seem to have to find the music you want to listen to using the Music app, then tell Alexa to play it and hope it understands (which means it's probably easier just to link my tablet to the amp via bluetooth....).
Yonomi worked pretty well and definitely simplifies some of the commands.
It did seem to misunderstand a few things last night so it's definitely not perfect. Tried to use the National Rail skill to plan a journey but it repeatedly misunderstood the station name - and when it then asks me if it's got the right station it also repeatedly misunderstood "No". Which seemed a bit odd.
Since I was playing around with it, I also tried a TV guide skill which half worked. It would tell me what was on, but didn't seem to be aware of BST so was an hour out.
I still need to tweak some of the settings I think - it won't allow me to say "Turn on TV" because it says I have several options for "TV" - although I can only find one - so I have to clarify with "Watch TV". But sure these things can be sorted out, and overall I'm quite liking it as a fairly inexpensive toy.
Pretty impressed, although it does need some improvements. In the Amazon music app on my tablet I can browse and search by artist / album - but in the Alexa app on the tablet you only seem to be able to browse playlists / stations. So you seem to have to find the music you want to listen to using the Music app, then tell Alexa to play it and hope it understands (which means it's probably easier just to link my tablet to the amp via bluetooth....).
Yonomi worked pretty well and definitely simplifies some of the commands.
It did seem to misunderstand a few things last night so it's definitely not perfect. Tried to use the National Rail skill to plan a journey but it repeatedly misunderstood the station name - and when it then asks me if it's got the right station it also repeatedly misunderstood "No". Which seemed a bit odd.
Since I was playing around with it, I also tried a TV guide skill which half worked. It would tell me what was on, but didn't seem to be aware of BST so was an hour out.
I still need to tweak some of the settings I think - it won't allow me to say "Turn on TV" because it says I have several options for "TV" - although I can only find one - so I have to clarify with "Watch TV". But sure these things can be sorted out, and overall I'm quite liking it as a fairly inexpensive toy.
davek_964 said:
Since I was playing around with it, I also tried a TV guide skill which half worked. It would tell me what was on, but didn't seem to be aware of BST so was an hour out.
I still need to tweak some of the settings I think - it won't allow me to say "Turn on TV" because it says I have several options for "TV" - although I can only find one - so I have to clarify with "Watch TV". But sure these things can be sorted out, and overall I'm quite liking it as a fairly inexpensive toy.
Do you have the timezone set correctly for your Dot? I still need to tweak some of the settings I think - it won't allow me to say "Turn on TV" because it says I have several options for "TV" - although I can only find one - so I have to clarify with "Watch TV". But sure these things can be sorted out, and overall I'm quite liking it as a fairly inexpensive toy.
One of the reasons I trigger my TV via Yonomi rather than Harmony is that I could set the voice trigger for the task to whatever I liked in Yonomi. That way I have very different names for the different TVs and the different activities tied to each TV so there is no overlap with the voice trigger.
tankplanker said:
o you have the timezone set correctly for your Dot?
One of the reasons I trigger my TV via Yonomi rather than Harmony is that I could set the voice trigger for the task to whatever I liked in Yonomi. That way I have very different names for the different TVs and the different activities tied to each TV so there is no overlap with the voice trigger.
I think so - the Dot does give me the correct time.One of the reasons I trigger my TV via Yonomi rather than Harmony is that I could set the voice trigger for the task to whatever I liked in Yonomi. That way I have very different names for the different TVs and the different activities tied to each TV so there is no overlap with the voice trigger.
I was using Yonomi and didn't think I had anything overlapping that I could see but I'll tweak over the coming days.
Somebody coded a guitar tutor, because your hands are busy holding the guitar to replay and rewind YouTube videos https://medium.freecodecamp.com/who-can-teach-you-...
I'm still really impressed with mine. Combined with Amazon music it's great although I am conscious that means I'm not using my DAC when I listen that way. But it doesn't sound bad at all (Bluetooth to my amp).
Very handy for setting timers when cooking. Good for the weather and good for morning alarms.
Shopping list is OK, but does seem to need the internet to sync when you open it in the shop. Previously I kept a list using the Keep app which stays synced. But being able to say 'Alexa, add whisky to the shopping list' is cool.
The one area I think it's weak is the ability to answer general questions - I.e the sort of thing a Google search would find instantly. I wonder if the Google device which is due in the UK shortly would be better in that area? But it is more expensive than the Dot (more like echo price I think). However, the Dot doesn't do bad - I asked for the main ingredients in a dish I was planning to cook at the weekend and it told me.
Certainly don't regret buying mine.
Very handy for setting timers when cooking. Good for the weather and good for morning alarms.
Shopping list is OK, but does seem to need the internet to sync when you open it in the shop. Previously I kept a list using the Keep app which stays synced. But being able to say 'Alexa, add whisky to the shopping list' is cool.
The one area I think it's weak is the ability to answer general questions - I.e the sort of thing a Google search would find instantly. I wonder if the Google device which is due in the UK shortly would be better in that area? But it is more expensive than the Dot (more like echo price I think). However, the Dot doesn't do bad - I asked for the main ingredients in a dish I was planning to cook at the weekend and it told me.
Certainly don't regret buying mine.
From what I've seen of the Google Home device it is indeed better at answering general knowledge questions. However it currently falls down on home automation as that is a bit unreliable for some people. I'm expecting Google will fix this in the coming months, so Google Home may be better that Alexa by the end of the year.
However as Google put an advert into Google Home's news brief: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2017/03/16/google_ho... without asking and (at first) didn't seem to be that bothered that people complained I am not sure I trust Google to keep the Home ad free.
However as Google put an advert into Google Home's news brief: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2017/03/16/google_ho... without asking and (at first) didn't seem to be that bothered that people complained I am not sure I trust Google to keep the Home ad free.
davek_964 said:
The one area I think it's weak is the ability to answer general questions - I.e the sort of thing a Google search would find instantly.
You can add a Google skill - so you say Alexa ask Google........It is a massive faff though and why Amazon did not include it is unfathomable
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