Amazon Echo - £100 (£50 off) via PW/PM

bk

The Amazon Echo goes on sale on amazon.co.uk on the 28th of September for £150. But if you pre-order it over the next two days with an Amazon Prime account, you can get if for just £100 + ~€4 for ParcelWizard/Motel

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01GAGVIE4

Strictly speaking they won't ship to Ireland, so you will need to use ParcelWizard, ParcelMotel, etc. Also you will need a prime account for money the money off. You can create a new Amazon account and get 30 days of free prime, just remember to cancel the subscription before the 30 days are up.

For those who don't know, Amazon Echo is a combined speaker / AI / Home automation device.

It looks like a Bluetooth speaker that sits on your table. It can play music from Spotify, Amazon Prime Music, etc. But what makes it special is that you can talk to it's AI Alexa from across the room and command it to do things. For instance:

- Alexa Play Mozart
- Alexa What is the weather like
- Alexa set timer for 10 minutes
- Alexa wake me at 7am
- Alexa what is on my calendar
- Alexa add a todo
- Alexa read an audio book

It can also integrate with Home Automation equipment, for instance you can turn on and off lights with it (Philips Hue, etc.), turn on and off heating (Netatmo, Hive, Tado), control TV (Logitech Harmony to come).

Pretty cool device.

BTW Some of the services it supports might not work in Ireland, since it is supposed to be only for the UK. For instance order a taxi with Uber or food with Just Eat, even though these services exist in Ireland, no guarantee that they will work here as Echo isn't officially supported in Ireland.

BTW I fully expect this thread to become massive as people get this device and figure out what it can and can't do in Ireland. I'll try and update this first post with relevant info as I get it.

I've already ordered mine, as I'll get a lot of utility out of it, what with already being a spotify subscriber and having lots of home automation equipment (Philips Hue lights throughout, Logitech Harmony Remote, Wifi Thermostat, etc.) it will be a nice addition to my setup.

the groutch

By the thread title I though Amazon were launching their own newspaper.

gordongekko

Can't be delivered to Ireland. So you'll need to use pm etc.

dodzy

gordongekko wrote: »

Can't be delivered to Ireland. So you'll need to use pm etc.

....which was made very clear in the OP

Birneybau

gordongekko wrote: »

Can't be delivered to Ireland. So you'll need to use pm etc.

As was said.

bk

gordongekko wrote: »

Can't be delivered to Ireland. So you'll need to use pm etc.

I mention that in my post above, but near the end, I've now moved that info to closer to the top.

degsie

Worth a punt. Can cancel pre-order if research shows it's not much good here.

Oat23

An always online speaker with 7 microphones capable of picking up everything said even when multiple people are talking at once? And I have to pay THEM to put it in my home?

I'll pass on this one.

bk

Oat23 wrote: »

An always online speaker with 7 microphones capable of picking up everything said even when multiple people are talking at once? And I have to pay THEM to put it in my home?

I'll pass on this one.

It only records what you are saying and analyses it when you say the word Alexa, similar to how Siri works on the iPhone and Ok Google on Android.

Of course no guarantees that the NSA aren't listening in all the time. But then it would be easier and more useful for them to do that via the microphone, GPS enabled communication device that you carry around in your pocket all day, every day!

Advancements in technology and privacy will always be at logger heads and we need to really put the pressure on our politicians to ensure that our privacy is enshrined and protected by law.

degsie

Oat23 wrote: »

An always online speaker with 7 microphones capable of picking up everything said even when multiple people are talking at once? And I have to pay THEM to put it in my home?

I'll pass on this one.

This...



is an optional extra!

mrcheez

bk wrote: »

It only records what you are saying and analyses it when you say the word Alexa, similar to how Siri works on the iPhone and Ok Google on Android.

Of course no guarantees that the NSA aren't listening in all the time. But then it would be easier and more useful for them to do that via the microphone, GPS enabled communication device that you carry around in your pocket all day, every day!

Advancements in technology and privacy will always be at logger heads and we need to really put the pressure on our politicians to ensure that our privacy is enshrined and protected by law.

Ooh want this.. though if you are really worried about turning it off when having a private conversation just get a remote control plug socket to switch off without expending energy reaching for the plug socket

I wonder if this can partner with a Roomba and clean the room on command?

Probably in a future update.

MaceFace

I have two Alexa's at home for the last 6 months, and would highly recommend this for £100. However, there are many reports of people who get very little use out of it with comments such as "an expensive egg timer" being often used.

What do I use mine for?
Spotify.

While it has the ability to do lots more things, I am often infuriated by it due to it's poor ability to understand me. While I got my Alexa's in the US, I don't think it should be finding it as difficult as it does to understand basic commands.
I can control my Hue's and that works fine, but I rarely find myself having to do so as they turn on and off automatically.
It doesn't integrate nicely with NEST, so I need to use IFTTT which means using a convoluted phrase to control.
I'd like to use it as an alarm, but the only media it will play is some basic alarms.
It works with TuneIn Radio, but never seems to find the stations I want to listen to.
It has loads of "skills" which are just added features but their mostly novelty (you're mama jokes etc)

I'm hoping that this UK release will improve the experience in understanding what I say and doing what I ask. Regardless though, it's an excellent bluetooth speaker and independent Spotify client.

There are others on boards who have these devices and they may see this thread and provide a different experience than mine.

For those that are concerned with being listened in upon, I guess you don't have smart phones, TVs or computers. If not, then this device is probably not for you.

mrcheez

I was browsing the HUKD about this and saw they mentioned the Amazon Echo Dot for £49.99 (release date Oct 20th).

It's essentially the same stand-alone device, but without a large speaker, and you just connect it to a HiFi system using the line-out/bluetooth.

My main uses for this will be to play music on command, and connecting to HUE lights, plus give me latest weather etc before I go out cycling.. but mainly for music, so the speaker is important to me, and using my own powerful speaker would be preferential.

So I reckon I'll go for the Echo Dot
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Amazon-Echo-Dot-Generation-Black/dp/B01DFKBL68/

bk

mrcheez wrote: »

I was browsing the HUKD about this and saw they mentioned the Amazon Echo Dot for £49.99 (release date Oct 20th).

It's essentially the same stand-alone device, but without a large speaker, and you just connect it to a HiFi system using the line-out/bluetooth.

That is certainly an option.

Personally I'm gonig to be putting it in the same room where I already have a powerful AV and 5.1 system with Google Cast Audio hooked up to it for Spotify.

However I think I may use Spotify on this a lot more. I'm looking forward to being able to just say: "Alexa play top 50 playlist" versus my current setup where I have to use a remote to switch on the AV, switch it to the correct input and then use my iphone to cast spotify to it all! Far too complicated and not at all acceptable or usable for non techy significant others.

The Echo seems like it will be much easier in day to day use.

I also have Philips Hue lights which I quite enjoy switching on and off with Hey Siri, I'm hoping this will make doing that even easier and more accessible to the whole family.

I also have a sophisticated Logitech Harmony Remote setup, while Echo doesn't officially support Harmony yet (it does unoffically via IFTTT, but buggy), seemingly it is currently in beta testing.

I think I'm going to have to replace my current basic wifi thermostat with a Netatmo model that supports Apple Homekit and Echo.

Basq

Very tempted to pick up the Dot... no need for speaker, as have 5 x Sonos Play 1's already (yes, I do have a problem!).

But on that, the lack of Sonos integration is the only thing that's stopping me from purchasing!

EDIT: Ah, looks like that's due to change next year: http://gizmodo.com/amazon-echo-will-be-able-to-control-your-sonos-speakers-1785935865

syklops

Can anyone comment on its extensibility? Instead of using it with spotify, can I point it at my music collection and say "Alexia play November Rain"?

If I want to get the time of the next luas from a particular station, obviously they dont have that particular feature, but if I can find a way of scraping that information from the internet, can I put that information somewhere so I can say Alexia custom-item1, and 'she' will say 12.35?

Or am I overthinking its capabilities?

Evil Sausage

Basq wrote: »

Very tempted to pick up the Dot... no need for speaker, as have 5 x Sonos Play 1's already (yes, I do have a problem!).

But on that, the lack of Sonos integration is the only thing that's stopping me from purchasing!

Lack of Sonos integration YET...

http://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2016/8/30/12709452/sonos-amazon-alexa-announced

Public Beta starting next year

Have 2 Play:3's a Sub and 2 Play:1s around the house myself and being able to control them from an Echo Dot is tempting....

donegal.

MaceFace wrote: »

It doesn't integrate nicely with NEST, so I need to use IFTTT which means using a convoluted phrase to control.

NEST's website say it has alexa control

mrcheez

Basq wrote: »

But on that, the lack of Sonos integration is the only thing that's stopping me from purchasing!

The Echo Dot has a line-out that could connect to the Sonos HiFi as mentioned in:
http://www.howtogeek.com/262664/what-you-can-and-cant-do-with-multiple-amazon-echos/

Although note that using the 3.5mm cable disables the built-in speaker, though you can get around this by connecting to the HiFi system using a bluetooth receiver... *OR* get a mini-bluetooth £15 speaker to act as replacement for the built-in Echo Dot speaker (making it equivalent to the main Echo)

davo2001

Basq wrote: »

Very tempted to pick up the Dot... no need for speaker, as have 5 x Sonos Play 1's already (yes, I do have a problem!).

But on that, the lack of Sonos integration is the only thing that's stopping me from purchasing!

Yeah, if it had SONOS integration i'd buy it in a heart beat until then, I think I'll hold off. I'm running out of plugs and extension leads in the house!

Basq

davo2001 wrote: »

Yeah, if it had SONOS integration i'd buy it in a heart beat until then, I think I'll hold off.

See my edit or EvilSausage's message above, it is planned for early next year.

mrcheez

syklops wrote: »

Can anyone comment on its extensibility? Instead of using it with spotify, can I point it at my music collection and say "Alexia play November Rain"?

Hmm at the moment it seems it can only perform queries on music uploaded to Amazon Music.

You can connect it to a local bluetooth-enabled PC, but I think the queries are limited to "Alexa Play", "Alexa Stop", etc ... not "Play Red Hot Chilli Peppers"

Might need to read more about this or see if they are adding this functionality before I bite. Would be cool to access my local music storage.

MaceFace

donegal. wrote: »

NEST's website say it has alexa control

Yes, but it is through skills which is a type of add-on. The Alexa app won't find my nest which is fine because there is a better third party skill but both require an unnatural instruction.

MaceFace

mrcheez wrote: »

Hmm at the moment it seems it can only perform queries on music uploaded to Amazon Music.

You can connect it to a local bluetooth-enabled PC, but I think the queries are limited to "Alexa Play", "Alexa Stop", etc ... not "Play Red Hot Chilli Peppers"

Might need to read more about this or see if they are adding this functionality before I bite. Would be cool to access my local music storage.

Yeah, I believe it is limited to Spotify, iHeartRadio, tune in radio and Amazon music.

mrcheez

mrcheez wrote: »

I wonder if this can partner with a Roomba and clean the room on command?

Probably in a future update.

Hmm maybe I should have googled before posting... the future is here!

https://bitbucket.org/rohitkumbhar/alexa-roomba/wiki/Home

davo2001

Basq wrote: »

See my edit or EvilSausage's message above, it is planned for early next year.

Awwww yeahhhhhh, the wife is going to kill me! :cool: :cool:

syklops

MaceFace wrote: »

Yeah, I believe it is limited to Spotify, iHeartRadio, tune in radio and Amazon music.

To answer my own question it is customiseable using IFTTT, which stands for If This Then That. There are 357 IFTTT apis including YouTube, Facebook, Deezer etc. Its plausible that you could create a custom recipe using YouTube and have it play a song from your playlist.

Herself is going to murder me come Payday as well.

mrcheez

Alright decision made.. I'm getting two of the Echo Dots for total £100.

One for upstairs in the bedroom to read me audiobooks and act as alarm clock/weather/news etc (plus I can get a small bluetooth speaker for £15 if needed to improve sound)
Also it connects to my new FireTV stick in the bedroom... bonus

One for downstairs to connect to HiFi system... I guess I'll get a Spotify account or something.

I'd say they'll have an upgrade eventually to enable music sharing between the two Echo Dots.

syklops

mrcheez wrote: »

Alright decision made.. I'm getting two of the Echo Dots for total £100.

One for upstairs in the bedroom to read me audiobooks and act as alarm clock/weather/news etc (plus I can get a small bluetooth speaker for £15 if needed to improve sound)
Also it connects to my new FireTV stick in the bedroom... bonus

One for downstairs to connect to HiFi system... I guess I'll get a Spotify account or something.

I'd say they'll have an upgrade eventually to enable music sharing between the two Echo Dots.

Would you not get the Voice remote for interacting with Alexa from your bedroom and a bluetooth or wifi speaker?

mrcheez

syklops wrote: »

Would you not get the Voice remote for interacting with Alexa from your bedroom and a bluetooth or wifi speaker?

Hmm didn't know about that, but I think I'd need the voice feedback from Alexa to confirm that it understood what I was asking (I don't think the voice remote does that?). Also no worries about batteries if using Echo Dot device.

Quite cool how it can integrate with Kodi on the FireTV stick (with a bit of fiddling)

MaceFace

mrcheez wrote: »

Hmm didn't know about that, but I think I'd need the voice feedback from Alexa to confirm that it understood what I was asking (I don't think the voice remote does that?). Also no worries about batteries if using Echo Dot device.

Quite cool how it can integrate with Kodi on the FireTV stick (with a bit of fiddling)

One thing that this video shows is how precise you need to be with your speech. I am hoping they fix that as I never have problems with google, but I am forever being told "Sorry, I didn't catch that, please try again". I use Kodi throughout the house but I know if I asked to play a movie, it would probably tell me a "Yo Mama" joke. That's assuming it didn't tell me it "didn't catch that".

Regardless, a steal at £100. Just don't expect Jarvis.

syklops

mrcheez wrote: »

Hmm didn't know about that, but I think I'd need the voice feedback from Alexa to confirm that it understood what I was asking (I don't think the voice remote does that?). Also no worries about batteries if using Echo Dot device.

Thats what the bluetooth speaker is for. It outputs Alexas voice, so you can hear feedback, or if your eyes are sore she can read your book to you.

Although, this app might make the remote redundant. The article says its a walkie talkie for Alexa, it doesn't specifically say a 2-way walkie talkie but I'd assume its two way.

syklops

MaceFace wrote: »

Just don't expect Jarvis.

I would give anything if I could change the trigger word from Alexa to Jarvis. And for Alexa's voice to be changed to that of Paul Bettany's

WittyNameForMe

Couldn't wait to order one of these today. I have been toying with the idea of ordering one from America for a long time but held off hoping they would be released here soon. Have to admit I was very disappointed today when I found out they where releasing in UK and Germany only. No Ireland... why??? This is a Christmas present so wont really get to play around with it so I'm eager to hear peoples reviews. May be a stupid question but when Amazon does eventually release an 'Irish' version (for want of a better word) with for example all the usual functions such as Justeat and Uber ordering and local traffic reports will the UK version I bought today function the same as the newly released 'Irish' version.

degsie

WittyNameForMe wrote: »

Couldn't wait to order one of these today. I have been toying with the idea of ordering one from America for a long time but held off hoping they would be released here soon. Have to admit I was very disappointed today when I found out they where releasing in UK and Germany only. No Ireland... why??? This is a Christmas present so wont really get to play around with it so I'm eager to hear peoples reviews. May be a stupid question but when Amazon does eventually release an 'Irish' version (for want of a better word) with for example all the usual functions such as Justeat and Uber ordering and local traffic reports will the UK version I bought today function the same as the newly released 'Irish' version.

Unfortunately Amazon only view Ireland as a handy place to 'process' their tax through. They really don't see us as a viable market and probably never will.

beanian

I have my echo dot working with sonos currently. It takes a bit of work to setup but its a one time exercise.
You'd want to be fairly tech savvy too
https://github.com/rgraciano/echo-sonos

syklops

degsie wrote: »

Unfortunately Amazon only view Ireland as a handy place to 'process' their tax through. They really don't see us as a viable market and probably never will.

You should put 'tax' in quotes as well. They're probably only paying a fraction of a percent as well.

jobless

so i pre ordered, delighted this is available here now.... as regards prime membership...if i cancel the renewal immediately will this cause an issue? (ie will i be charged 150)

Cabaal

WittyNameForMe wrote: »

Couldn't wait to order one of these today. I have been toying with the idea of ordering one from America for a long time but held off hoping they would be released here soon. Have to admit I was very disappointed today when I found out they where releasing in UK and Germany only. No Ireland... why??? This is a Christmas present so wont really get to play around with it so I'm eager to hear peoples reviews. May be a stupid question but when Amazon does eventually release an 'Irish' version (for want of a better word) with for example all the usual functions such as Justeat and Uber ordering and local traffic reports will the UK version I bought today function the same as the newly released 'Irish' version.

To get alot if benefits from it you need to be a prime customer, prime isn't available in Ireland and in many ways id blame an post for that and the European unions fractured copyright laws.

Oafley Jones

beanian wrote: »

I have my echo dot working with sonos currently. It takes a bit of work to setup but its a one time exercise.
You'd want to be fairly tech savvy too
https://github.com/rgraciano/echo-sonos

It'll officially support Sonos fairly soon.

MiskyBoyy

jobless wrote:

so i pre ordered, delighted this is available here now.... as regards prime membership...if i cancel the renewal immediately will this cause an issue? (ie will i be charged 150)

You can cancel away/turn off auto-renewal. You'll still officially have prime for the whole month until your 1 month trial runs out.

mrcheez

syklops wrote: »

Thats what the bluetooth speaker is for. It outputs Alexas voice, so you can hear feedback, or if your eyes are sore she can read your book to you.

Although, this app might make the remote redundant. The article says its a walkie talkie for Alexa, it doesn't specifically say a 2-way walkie talkie but I'd assume its two way.

Nah I think main problem with remote or app is having to pick up something (that also depends on batteries) and does away with the unique neat solution Echo offers which is to just start using your voice.

So say I am watching Kodi and phone rings, I don't need to rustle around finding the remote in order to talk into it to say "Alexa Pause Kodi", I just say those words as I'm getting up to get to phone. If my hands are full while I'm getting dressed I can just shout to play some music.. etc etc

Anyway I've had a thought about this more and reckon the way to go is a full-size Echo in the bedroom (saves having to purchase separate speaker which uses up electricity in standby) and Echo Dot downstairs connected to the HiFi. Incidentally standby on these things is pretty decent, only about 3 w and then 6-8 w when actually playing music.

So £150 all in, which is like buying an Echo and getting the Dot for free I guess

BobbyT28

Just bit the bullet. Have Prime and £50 amazon voucher so got it for £49 not bad.

Howard the Duck

I also am a bullet biter. When i used parcel motel it gave me two options one of the addresses it wouldn't deliver to but i chose the other one and it went through okay. Now i just have to buy all the home wifi equipment to go with it like the light bulbs etc. Soon my house will be a house of the future! muahahahahahaha

yoshimitsu

Not exactly sure what I'll use it for but I'm so heavily "integrated" into the Amazon ecosystem (or Echo-system!) that i'm sure I'll find it useful.
BTW, when I read the original Amazon press release about the launch in Europe I thought I saw Ireland among the launch countries for 2016. It may be that they bundle Ireland in with the UK or maybe we will get out own device at some point this year.
Anyway, I cant wait... I've ordered it through PW.
Cheers OP for flagging the £50 promo

sweetie

Could you tether the dot from your phone and use in the car, is it usb powered I wonder?

deejer

Oafley Jones wrote: »

It'll officially support Sonos fairly soon.

That has made up my mind!

degsie

sweetie wrote: »

Could you tether the dot from your phone and use in the car, is it usb powered I wonder?

According to a youtube review it is powered via a micro usb port.

mrcheez

I'm still in two minds about getting:

- Amazon Echo with ok speaker

- Amazon Echo Dot and spending the other £50 getting a good speaker


Apart from using up two plugs which isn't really a problem, any other thoughts?

uck51js9zml2yt

Why do I need an echo dot?
I see if we buy 6 we get the 6th one free... group buy!!

Cabaal

mrcheez wrote: »

I'm still in two minds about getting:

- Amazon Echo with ok speaker

- Amazon Echo Dot and spending the other £50 getting a good speaker


Apart from using up two plugs which isn't really a problem, any other thoughts?

I'm sort of in the same position,
Would like to know what the speaker is really like on the echo,