Amazon Echo

[poing]

Morningside said:

We've been given an Echo Show 5. Cannot really see the point of it yet. Yes, It shows the weather or plays the news and but that seems to be about it.

Seems to have too much bass compared to Google. Best command is "Alexa, display off" as night mode is too bright for a bedside clock.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LY2f_M6wkYo

This guy is worth checking out, easy to watch and pretty honest about the smart tech, although he admits he's an addict for all new gadgets.

[jodypress]

I've noticed recently that my bluetooth speaker connected to an echo dot is a lot quite than it used to be when playing music.
Before I could adjust volume on the dot and on the speaker. Now only speaker. Have they updated the software?

[HRL]

There a working TV Guide for Alexa?

Found a couple but neither could even tell me what was currently on BBC1 when asked.

TVGuideUK didn’t work, nor did TVQuick.

[33q]

Smiler. said:

Anyone having problems with BBC Sounds on the Echo Show?

It was working last week, but now all I get is the reply back & the BBC jingle, then nothing.

I have found that you now need to be very specific about what you want to listen to.

I like to listen to Sounds of the Sixties. Previously you could just say sounds of the sixties. Now you have to say sounds of the sixties, Tony Blackburn.

[Blink982]

Morningside said:

We've been given an Echo Show 5. Cannot really see the point of it yet. Yes, It shows the weather or plays the news and but that seems to be about it.

Seems to have too much bass compared to Google. Best command is "Alexa, display off" as night mode is too bright for a bedside clock.

Completely agree. I have a full sized Echo and a few Dots in various rooms and bought a Show 8 on Black Friday but cannot see the point in it. If I want to view YouTube etc, I’ll grab my phone or tablet which you can move around with. The show just sits there on a bedside table at too awkward a height and angle to actually view. It’s too late to return it but I don’t get the point in a static display device when you carry one (phone) around with you. The whole point in the Echo devices is to interact with your voice whilst you’re doing something else or at least that’s what I use them for.

[21TonyK]

Anyone got an Echo working with an Sony Android TV properly?

I can just about get it to turn on and off (sometimes!)

[Jonnny]

Blink982 said:

Morningside said:

We've been given an Echo Show 5. Cannot really see the point of it yet. Yes, It shows the weather or plays the news and but that seems to be about it.

Seems to have too much bass compared to Google. Best command is "Alexa, display off" as night mode is too bright for a bedside clock.

Completely agree. I have a full sized Echo and a few Dots in various rooms and bought a Show 8 on Black Friday but cannot see the point in it. If I want to view YouTube etc, I’ll grab my phone or tablet which you can move around with. The show just sits there on a bedside table at too awkward a height and angle to actually view. It’s too late to return it but I don’t get the point in a static display device when you carry one (phone) around with you. The whole point in the Echo devices is to interact with your voice whilst you’re doing something else or at least that’s what I use them for.

Tbh, I have the Show 5 in the kitchen to show a timer when cooking.. That's pretty much it. Other than that I don't see much use for it. Getting a Ring doorbell soon, maybe that'll have more use as it should show up on there.

[triple5]

21TonyK said:

Anyone got an Echo working with an Sony Android TV properly?

I can just about get it to turn on and off (sometimes!)

“Alexa turn on tv” is intermittent, “Alexa turn off tv” always works. I also have a routine set up called “goodnight” which turns off the tv, lights and heating, this also works every time.

[awg454]

I use the show 5 for viewing the Ring cameras it loads quicker than my phone ever does,I think at £49.95 it’s a pretty good buy

[21TonyK]

triple5 said:

21TonyK said:

Anyone got an Echo working with an Sony Android TV properly?

I can just about get it to turn on and off (sometimes!)

“Alexa turn on tv” is intermittent, “Alexa turn off tv” always works. I also have a routine set up called “goodnight” which turns off the tv, lights and heating, this also works every time.

Same here, lounge on/off but no changing channels or volume control?

[triple5]

21TonyK said:

Same here, lounge on/off but no changing channels or volume control?

Watching via the inbuilt tuner, “Alexa change channel” works but you just get a random channel. “Alexa increase volume” increases by the smallest increment, can’t seem to find a command for a specific channel or volume setting.

[21TonyK]

triple5 said:

21TonyK said:

Same here, lounge on/off but no changing channels or volume control?

Watching via the inbuilt tuner, “Alexa change channel” works but you just get a random channel. “Alexa increase volume” increases by the smallest increment, can’t seem to find a command for a specific channel or volume setting.

Yep, im just using the built in freeview. I'll have a play around. Have you updated any software on the TV?

[triple5]

21TonyK said:

Yep, im just using the built in freeview. I'll have a play around. Have you updated any software on the TV?

Not recently, had the tv for a couple of years now and I think it has had a couple of updates.

[anonymous-user]

Have the amazon smart plugs been discontinued? Whenever I have to reset my WiFi or have a power cut etc, it’s always a couple of them that don’t seem to reconnect.

The only amazon smart plug now seems to be the usb one with the speaker.

[Digger]

Can anyone find the recent Alexa thread? I have tried searching with no luck so far. . .

[Baron Greenback]

Probably best place.

[Morningside]

Jonnny said:

Blink982 said:

Morningside said:

We've been given an Echo Show 5. Cannot really see the point of it yet. Yes, It shows the weather or plays the news and but that seems to be about it.

Seems to have too much bass compared to Google. Best command is "Alexa, display off" as night mode is too bright for a bedside clock.

Completely agree. I have a full sized Echo and a few Dots in various rooms and bought a Show 8 on Black Friday but cannot see the point in it. If I want to view YouTube etc, I’ll grab my phone or tablet which you can move around with. The show just sits there on a bedside table at too awkward a height and angle to actually view. It’s too late to return it but I don’t get the point in a static display device when you carry one (phone) around with you. The whole point in the Echo devices is to interact with your voice whilst you’re doing something else or at least that’s what I use them for.

Tbh, I have the Show 5 in the kitchen to show a timer when cooking.. That's pretty much it. Other than that I don't see much use for it. Getting a Ring doorbell soon, maybe that'll have more use as it should show up on there.

As an update we now have two cameras connected to it so saying "Alexa show driveway" is handy. Although it's creepy to go out, come in and then see yourself open the door and come in on the screen due to the lag.

[masterzarlak]

Has anyone ordered the Echo Auto yet? I have one coming tomorrow and will stick it in the car to see if it is any good.

[james_TW]

masterzarlak said:

Has anyone ordered the Echo Auto yet? I have one coming tomorrow and will stick it in the car to see if it is any good.

I saw that and I just can't work out what the point of it is - I have my car, android auto, my phone can do Alexa voice recognition already - what would this in between device do?

[Deep Thought]

james_TW said:

masterzarlak said:

Has anyone ordered the Echo Auto yet? I have one coming tomorrow and will stick it in the car to see if it is any good.

I saw that and I just can't work out what the point of it is - I have my car, android auto, my phone can do Alexa voice recognition already - what would this in between device do?

Its for cars that dont have that connectivity between the phone and the head unit.

My 2006 330i has no connectivity worth talking about.

Having said that, the speakers are st anyway.