Discussion
ecsrobin said:
Skyedriver said:
As a complete novice in this, is the Echo Plus currently about £110 (inc a Hue bulb) worth the extra over the Echo at £55. Would use it for radio and don't know what else as it's totally new to me
No far better to get an echo and a hue hub kit. The plus doesn’t offer full bulb functionality. Isn’t the hue hub only really useful for linking to hue bulbs?
So I’d say the opposite to you.
El stovey said:
But the plus has its own hub (with very slightly reduced hue functions) and can link to all sorts of other devices.
Isn’t the hue hub only really useful for linking to hue bulbs?
So I’d say the opposite to you.
My brother has the plus and regrets it as he can't use all the functionality of the Hue bulbsIsn’t the hue hub only really useful for linking to hue bulbs?
So I’d say the opposite to you.
I've just sorted out my lounge so I can turn on the many many lamps and other lights on with alexa and I've got a plug so that the christmas tree lights can be remotely controlled too - very exciting...
I think the major advantage of the plus over the standard Echo is the sound quality, not the hub function. I have a standard Echo and several Dots but as I don't really use them for music, I haven't bothered looking at the plus. I must admit though, the latest plus is more aesthetically pleasing. The deal with two x plus and the subwoofer looked a good one for anyone looking for a cheap(ish) streaming audio setup. I have no idea if it sounds good but these days, that seems to be getting less and less important as more and more people favour convenience over audio quality judging by the decrease in hifi equipment sales and the increase in sales of the likes of Sonos.
Edited by Blink982 on Wednesday 21st November 19:18
Quick question guys. I wrote out a load of stuff below and then realised I can sum the question up with a TLDR pretty easily...
TLDR - Is an Echo Input exactly the same as an Echo Dot, minus the speaker? There's no point in getting an Input at £35 when the Dot is currently £25?
BlueOval Senior will shortly be getting a standard Echo, this will probably end up in the kitchen, and he has existing speakers in various other rooms, all of which can take a 3.5mm line in.
I was looking at getting an Echo Input to act a bit like the Google Chromecast Audio so he can do multi-room audio. The "Input" is £35, but currently the dot is only £25 and it also has a 3.5mm out.
Now, obviously I'm aware that when something is plugged into the aux out on the dot, the internal speaker doesn't work, this would render the Dot largely useless as a Smart speaker for general "what's the weather?" queries, as the connected speaker wouldn't be on all the time. But this would seem to be no different to the Input, which has no speaker.
I can see no reason why I shouldn't just get him a Dot, which he can use just like an Echo Input, and then at a later date if he buys into the whole Smart home thing (lights are on the way, Nest is already in, music will definitely clinch the deal) then he can just add extra dots/Inputs,
Ultimately, he could even have another dot in the same room to act as the voice controller and "always on" speaker, whilst the dot that's conencted to a speaker for music would just have it's mic muted, and then it truly acts as an audio dongle like the Chromecast.
Am I missing anything?
TLDR - Is an Echo Input exactly the same as an Echo Dot, minus the speaker? There's no point in getting an Input at £35 when the Dot is currently £25?
BlueOval Senior will shortly be getting a standard Echo, this will probably end up in the kitchen, and he has existing speakers in various other rooms, all of which can take a 3.5mm line in.
I was looking at getting an Echo Input to act a bit like the Google Chromecast Audio so he can do multi-room audio. The "Input" is £35, but currently the dot is only £25 and it also has a 3.5mm out.
Now, obviously I'm aware that when something is plugged into the aux out on the dot, the internal speaker doesn't work, this would render the Dot largely useless as a Smart speaker for general "what's the weather?" queries, as the connected speaker wouldn't be on all the time. But this would seem to be no different to the Input, which has no speaker.
I can see no reason why I shouldn't just get him a Dot, which he can use just like an Echo Input, and then at a later date if he buys into the whole Smart home thing (lights are on the way, Nest is already in, music will definitely clinch the deal) then he can just add extra dots/Inputs,
Ultimately, he could even have another dot in the same room to act as the voice controller and "always on" speaker, whilst the dot that's conencted to a speaker for music would just have it's mic muted, and then it truly acts as an audio dongle like the Chromecast.
Am I missing anything?
Edited by Blue Oval84 on Friday 23 November 10:13
AS a total newbie to this you've lost me completely but I've just ordered an Echo Plus with hue bulb for me and an Echo with socket for Sons Christmas.
I'll be back over the next few months with nonsensical questions, no doubt, so apologies in advance.
First Q I guess is can the socket and the bulb be swopped over and the Plus control the socket and the Echo control the bulb?
I'll be back over the next few months with nonsensical questions, no doubt, so apologies in advance.
First Q I guess is can the socket and the bulb be swopped over and the Plus control the socket and the Echo control the bulb?
Skyedriver said:
First Q I guess is can the socket and the bulb be swopped over and the Plus control the socket and the Echo control the bulb?
They can both control both devices.I'm no Echo expert as my flat runs on Google Home now (lights, heating, audio, TV, and hopefully blinds soon
) but it'll be very similar, you'll setup "rooms" in the app, telling it what devices are in what room. Both Echos will operate on the same "home", and between them they'll understand where they are (based on the "rooms" that you set up)In a nutshell you'll be able to tell either Echo to turn the light on or off, or to control the Smart plug.
As you add more devices, you'll be able to do things like say "turn off the living room light" and either Echo will turn off the correct bulb, rather than turning them all off. It won't matter which Echo you're talking to.
In my place I think I now have about 18 different Hue lights controlled via Google (and some Hue wall switches), all of which can be controlled from any of the 3 Google Home devices dotted around the flat.
Once you start with this stuff you just can't stop lol.
Mi have a stupid question on the amazon echo. Can this play digital radio stations? Do you need to have an app on your phone to be able to do so?
I’m thinking of getting one but would leave it in the house on all day for the dog so I wouldn’t be in. Would the radio still play if I wasn’t in??
Cheers!!
I’m thinking of getting one but would leave it in the house on all day for the dog so I wouldn’t be in. Would the radio still play if I wasn’t in??
Cheers!!
It uses both TuneIn Radio and Radioplayer.
Additionally there are separate Alexa skills for some radio stations.
Eg, one for the BBC ... this allows both BBC Radio Stations to be played and podcasts
Also, Heart, Smooth etc:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=sr_pg_2?rh=n%3A1006...
Additionally there are separate Alexa skills for some radio stations.
Eg, one for the BBC ... this allows both BBC Radio Stations to be played and podcasts
Also, Heart, Smooth etc:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=sr_pg_2?rh=n%3A1006...
ecsrobin said:
Jonnny said:
Ordered a Dot, out of stock until January '19 - popular stuff.
I've already got an Echo, just trying to persuade the wife to let me get more of them, and more bulbs/plugs.
Pop into a local Tesco/Argos/John Lewis they have loads of dots in stock at the same price. I've already got an Echo, just trying to persuade the wife to let me get more of them, and more bulbs/plugs.
Apple Music coming to echos later this month https://www.macrumors.com/2018/11/30/apple-music-e...
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