Amazon Echo

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Discussion

judas

5,963 posts

258 months

Friday 12th May 2017
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tankplanker said:
So adverts are meant to be coming: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2017/05/11/ads_amazon...

if they do, mine are in the bin if I can't turn them off.
Was on my wish list, now removed. Bill Hicks was right frown

kingston12

5,473 posts

156 months

Friday 12th May 2017
quotequote all
tankplanker said:
So adverts are meant to be coming: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2017/05/11/ads_amazon...

if they do, mine are in the bin if I can't turn them off.
Indeed. Hopefully they will follow the Kindle model and offer ad-supported units at a discount to the original price.

I can't understand why anyone would buy it with ads - totally undermines the device imo.

Mikeyjae

906 posts

105 months

Friday 12th May 2017
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kingston12 said:
Indeed. Hopefully they will follow the Kindle model and offer ad-supported units at a discount to the original price.

I can't understand why anyone would buy it with ads - totally undermines the device imo.
I would hope with already paying for Amazon Prime and Music unlimited then if true, the adds would be disabled.

I can see a lot of people turning it off or not buying it if they do put adds on with or without Prime membership.It happens with phone apps, free version has adds, paid for don't but £150/£120 device with adds takes the piss a bit.

Tycho

11,554 posts

272 months

Saturday 13th May 2017
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That article seems to indicate that the ads are something people can incorporate into their skills. So if someone does this then just don't use their skills and developers will soon get the message.

Richyboy

3,739 posts

216 months

Saturday 13th May 2017
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How do you enable the voice calling?

ajprice

27,315 posts

195 months

Saturday 13th May 2017
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Richyboy said:
How do you enable the voice calling?
Step 1 is wait for software version 2.0.2429 (mine hasn't got this yet) https://www.howtogeek.com/306818/how-to-call-and-m...

Puggit

48,354 posts

247 months

Tuesday 30th May 2017
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Received an Echo for my birthday yesterday...

1) Fun so far, but how much use will it be...
2) I have a Sonos house, so sitting tight for that integration irked
3) Why hasn't anyone made Echo enabled light switches yet? I don't want enabled bulbs!

nyt

1,803 posts

149 months

Tuesday 30th May 2017
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MrOrange said:
We had the same issue. The solution was to use "Radioplayer" instead.
Yes, tried radio player but it didn't help on the 'bad' Echo.
It does solve the problem on its replacement though.

I think that radio player sounds better too.

tankplanker

2,479 posts

278 months

Tuesday 30th May 2017
quotequote all
Puggit said:
Received an Echo for my birthday yesterday...

1) Fun so far, but how much use will it be...
2) I have a Sonos house, so sitting tight for that integration irked
3) Why hasn't anyone made Echo enabled light switches yet? I don't want enabled bulbs!
If you get a smartthings hub any light switch can be made into one that is controllable with Echo: http://aeotec.com/z-wave-light-dimmer-switch

Wiring in the UK is a little more varied than the US, so plug and play light switches are a little harder to do than the US.

Puggit

48,354 posts

247 months

Tuesday 30th May 2017
quotequote all
tankplanker said:
f you get a smartthings hub any light switch can be made into one that is controllable with Echo: http://aeotec.com/z-wave-light-dimmer-switch

Wiring in the UK is a little more varied than the US, so plug and play light switches are a little harder to do than the US.
Ouch, expensive! And interestingly $59.95 in USA and £64.99 here (when in stock).

tankplanker

2,479 posts

278 months

Tuesday 30th May 2017
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Puggit said:
Ouch, expensive! And interestingly $59.95 in USA and £64.99 here (when in stock).
I'm not sure if the US version is exactly the same, the extra certification needed in the EU (and different voltage support) would explain some of the price difference. This version has only just launched so I'd expect it to come down in price in a month or two. It is the first one I've seen that will work with any of the common wiring types in the UK. There are cheaper versions but you have to know how your wiring is before you start.


Sheepshanks

32,522 posts

118 months

Tuesday 30th May 2017
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Puggit said:
Ouch, expensive! And interestingly $59.95 in USA and £64.99 here (when in stock).
US prices are always quoted without sales tax, so add VAT and using current exchange rate, there's not much in it.

Puggit

48,354 posts

247 months

Tuesday 30th May 2017
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Ikea are entering the fray with Alexa/Google controlled devices: http://newsroom.inter.ikea.com/News/control-ikea-h...

Hopefully that will bring prices down to realistic levels.

ajprice

27,315 posts

195 months

Sunday 4th June 2017
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I just asked Alexa to "set a timer for 15 minutes", it must not have quite understood what I said and asked straight away "Timer for how long?", I repeated "15 minutes" and it was done. Never had that before and I use the timer quite often for cooking smile .

Stupeo

1,343 posts

192 months

Sunday 4th June 2017
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I want a battery pack for my Echo, so I can it in the garage/garden.

Any recommendations?

I quite fancy one of those that has a USB for charging up my phone too. It must be white.

nyt

1,803 posts

149 months

Sunday 4th June 2017
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Stupeo said:
I want a battery pack for my Echo, so I can it in the garage/garden.

Any recommendations?

I quite fancy one of those that has a USB for charging up my phone too. It must be white.
Easy: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lumsing-10000mAh-Portable...

I run an echo dot of a similar one. Last for hours. Not sure about a full Echo though. I'd guess that it'd be fine.

Stupeo

1,343 posts

192 months

Sunday 4th June 2017
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nyt said:
Easy: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lumsing-10000mAh-Portable...

I run an echo dot of a similar one. Last for hours. Not sure about a full Echo though. I'd guess that it'd be fine.
Thanks, but I don't think that would work for the full echo.

I've found one called the EchoBoot which looks okay.

GetCarter

29,358 posts

278 months

Sunday 4th June 2017
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Getting sick of Alexa ads on TV... waking up mine and trying to answer the question.

Baron Greenback

6,961 posts

149 months

Sunday 4th June 2017
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GetCarter said:
Getting sick of Alexa ads on TV... waking up mine and trying to answer the question.
1st thing I did was change name then purchasing via voice!

ajprice

27,315 posts

195 months

Sunday 4th June 2017
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GetCarter said:
Getting sick of Alexa ads on TV... waking up mine and trying to answer the question.
Mine lights up but doesn't do anything or try to answer.