Discussion
Amazon cuts Echo price by 50 percent for Prime Day. But I can't work out if this is in the UK or USA, the link shows both currencies
https://www.theverge.com/2017/7/10/15946532/amazon...
https://www.theverge.com/2017/7/10/15946532/amazon...
tenohfive said:
People using Dot's with BT speakers - any issues with it crashing? I stopped using mine with my Anker BT speaker for that reason. Hoping they've fixed it in the meantime.
Yes - it loses network connection every few minutes when paired with a battery operated pure BT speaker.essayer said:
Think I'll replace the Play 1 with an Echo, bored of waiting for Sonos to finish integrating them! The rest of the world seems to have managed it.
I've no desire to expand beyond my Play 1 because of things like this.Shame really as I've been more than happy with the hardware.
Anyway, ordered two echo dots and a fire stick. Some rain-x too on a more PH note.
So with the amazon offers I’m tempted to get a dot or possibly an echo but what do I need?
I currently have the whole house rigged with hue so can see that being easier than using a phone or the remote buttons.
As for music I have an anker soundcore but I’m guessing I’d need to keep turning it on for it to work when I ask Alexa to play music? Which brings me on to the echo is the sound quality of the speaker any good or am I better off with a dot and a mains powered speaker?
I currently have the whole house rigged with hue so can see that being easier than using a phone or the remote buttons.
As for music I have an anker soundcore but I’m guessing I’d need to keep turning it on for it to work when I ask Alexa to play music? Which brings me on to the echo is the sound quality of the speaker any good or am I better off with a dot and a mains powered speaker?
I've got my Dot connected to the Samsung soundbase speaker with Bluetooth, I've got the speaker connected to the TV by optical cable. When I'm not watching TV I can tell Alexa to connect to the speaker and play music. I haven't had any problems with connecting. Before the Samsung I had a Goodmans soundbase, but I had trouble with that constantly beeping when it was on Bluetooth, as if it was still searching for devices.
At the moment I use a chromecast audio connected to my AV receiver to stream music from spotify and the bbc player app.
Do I need a dot to replace the chromecast?
What I would like to add is the ability to hear music in the garden whilst it's also playing in the house. Would adding an Echo allow this functionality??
Do I need a dot to replace the chromecast?
What I would like to add is the ability to hear music in the garden whilst it's also playing in the house. Would adding an Echo allow this functionality??
My TP Link HS100 has turned up (well, the first one anyway.) Surprisingly handy, I'll definitely be getting a few more.
I'm trying to talk myself out of the Fire Stick with Alexa right now though - currently I watch Netflix/Amazon TV etc through an HTPC setup which takes a minute or two to boot up, then needs logging into Windows, then firing up Netflix....has anyone got one and is it painless to just get watching TV quickly? And how much of an issue is it having a Dot in the same room? If it can do the normal Amazon stuff (control my wifi plugs, play music, set timers etc) whilst the TV is on I could justify moving the Dot elsewhere mind - can it do that sort of thing?
I'm trying to talk myself out of the Fire Stick with Alexa right now though - currently I watch Netflix/Amazon TV etc through an HTPC setup which takes a minute or two to boot up, then needs logging into Windows, then firing up Netflix....has anyone got one and is it painless to just get watching TV quickly? And how much of an issue is it having a Dot in the same room? If it can do the normal Amazon stuff (control my wifi plugs, play music, set timers etc) whilst the TV is on I could justify moving the Dot elsewhere mind - can it do that sort of thing?
You can listen to BBC Radio live using an echo or dot (play bbc radio 3 for example) but listening to pre recorded stuff isn't directly possible on them as it is using the BBC Radio app and chromecast.
If you have the cash a Nivida Shield is a far better investment than a firestick for steaming either remote or local content as it is much more powerful. I upgraded my firesticks to Shields and not looked back.
If you have the cash a Nivida Shield is a far better investment than a firestick for steaming either remote or local content as it is much more powerful. I upgraded my firesticks to Shields and not looked back.
tankplanker said:
You can listen to BBC Radio live using an echo or dot (play bbc radio 3 for example) but listening to pre recorded stuff isn't directly possible on them as it is using the BBC Radio app and chromecast.
If you have the cash a Nivida Shield is a far better investment than a firestick for steaming either remote or local content as it is much more powerful. I upgraded my firesticks to Shields and not looked back.
I have a Shield and I love it. If you have the cash a Nivida Shield is a far better investment than a firestick for steaming either remote or local content as it is much more powerful. I upgraded my firesticks to Shields and not looked back.
With Android phones in the house, its built-in Chromecast is massively useful.
I use Plex for music and KODI for movies but mainly watch YouTube.
A few casual "Android for TV" games are on there too for a quite ten minutes here and there...
And they finally changed that awful green background image in the latest update...
Only problem is the Amazon Prime app for it is just a wrapper for their web client, so fast forwarding etc. doesn't have a preview window as it scrolls...
I'll stick the Shield on the wish list for future, but at 6 times the price I'm happy to take a punt on the Fire Stick. As much as anything I want Alexa for instantly firing up Netflix etc, whilst still being able to control lights etc. And it solves a headache of playing music - currently due to the Dot crashing when connected by BT to my Anker Soundcore, we basically don't use it for music. With the Fire Stick able to play music through the TV it's handy.
And the Dot is free for another room.
On that note, can anyone recommend a speaker to use with the Dot for music that's been tested with one and definitely works? Preferably mains powered. And reasonably cheap - I'm no audiophile.
My next job is to have a play with IFTTT to see about setting up a programmable holiday mode. Anyone know if you can pair up Google Calendar, IFTTT and smart plugs to turn off most sockets but set a light to come on based upon a calendar event?
And the Dot is free for another room.
On that note, can anyone recommend a speaker to use with the Dot for music that's been tested with one and definitely works? Preferably mains powered. And reasonably cheap - I'm no audiophile.
My next job is to have a play with IFTTT to see about setting up a programmable holiday mode. Anyone know if you can pair up Google Calendar, IFTTT and smart plugs to turn off most sockets but set a light to come on based upon a calendar event?
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