Amazon Echo FAQ

Chardee MacDennis · 29-10-2016 12:53AM

mrcheez wrote: »

Just randomly started working, or what settings did you change?

I rebooted yesterday, that's the only change.

mrcheez · 29-10-2016 05:59PM

So I finally had a chance to unpack the 2 Echo Dots today and play around with them. Here are things I like/don't like...

LIKE

- The sound out of the Echo Dot speaker is surprisingly good considering what I was expecting (a tinny sound like a radio alarm clock). It's actually perfectly good for playing some background Jazz or quiet music while you snooze, and superb for speech (news/weather/audiobooks). In fact I think I'll probably end up using it in this capacity 70% of the time and only switch on the bluetooth speakers when I want to play music loud (or to take music with me.. see next point).

- Being able to take the music with me into a different room via bluetooth speaker. This I think is the killer benefit over the Echo. No need to spend a lot to get a great sounding bluetooth speaker on par with the Echo, my Anker speaker delivers excellent stereo sound that fills a room and was half price of the mono Echo speaker.
(I'm currently listening to some Acid Jazz upstairs while typing this, despite the Dot being downstairs)

- Controlling Spotify without having to say "on Spotify". I just say, "Alexa, play The Rat by The Walkmen" and she says "Playing The Rat by the Walkmen on Spotify" so she knew to look in Spotify and damn fast too (see I'm already calling it "she" instead of "it"!)

- Plays the UK radio stations I like straight away

- Can pick up my voice easily even with a Bluetooth speaker blasting away (I couldn't even hear my own voice, but Alexa was able to understand me)

- The form. The size is just perfect for putting in a bookshelf and hiding away, but still have ambient music in the room.

- Have had pretty much 95% of what I've said understood so that's good.

- Can resume Spotify playlist by just saying "Alexa, play Spotify"

DISLIKE

- Can't play Spotify on the two Dots at the same time, though I think that's a Spotify limitation rather than the Dot

- When the volume is 10 (or you can even say "Set it to 11"!) the voice recognition doesn't work unless you shout, so I tend to keep the volume around 7 which is fine for background music.

- Having two dots in the room at the same time doesn't work too great. One just doesn't really try to respond once the other one picks up the command, even though I was 1m away from the Dot I was talking to, and 4m away from the other Dot. The other dot still got triggered. The solution is to give the two different Dots separate trigger names, like "Echo" and "Alexa". (I'm going to be bringing one Dot upstairs so it won't really be a problem later though).

- Issues with Irish Radio, but will look at suggested solutions here later...

Some fun facts for those of you concerned about the energy usage of an always-on device, I ran it through the energy monitor and it's amazingly energy efficient...

- Standby is 1W
- When speaking this goes up to 4W
- When playing Spotify it remains a steady 1.6W

So leaving this on all year playing music non-stop will probably set you back a whopping huge 2-3 euro.

Going to see if I can connect it up to Fire TV / Kodi this eve.... overall very happy. A must-have gadget.

Stoner · 29-10-2016 07:10PM

Thank you !

Thanks for the update.

I noted when I went into the app I searched for devices it picked up my FireTV

Since then it's picked up a fire stick that I don't own , must be a present I have someone that they never bothered signing me out if.

But it grabbed it automatically

mrcheez · 29-10-2016 07:23PM

mrcheez wrote: »

- Being able to take the music with me into a different room via bluetooth speaker.

Just on this.. another excellent thing I've just discovered is that it automatically connects to the bluetooth speaker once you turn it on.

So I had music playing in the bedroom on the built-in speaker which sounds fine and then I flicked on the bluetooth speaker beside me in the office and it immediately starts playing in here instead.

Turn off the speaker and it resumes back in the bedroom. This actually makes it almost like a Sonos system except that you just need to switch on the bluetooth speaker when you enter a room.

Fan-boody-tastic!

(I was under the impression you had to say "Alexa, Connect" etc)

RoYoBo · 29-10-2016 07:53PM

Does anyone know if the Dot will play music from one's own library if uploaded to Amazon Music (the one that costs £20 + something a year) in Ireland? My OH has a huge amount of music currently on itunes, so I'm not sure if Spotify premium will actually be worth it for him.

I can access the free Amazon Music account (limit 250 songs) on my PC, but I don't know whether we would be able to remotely access it via Alexa.

Thelomen Toblackai · 29-10-2016 08:10PM

Stoner wrote: »

Thank you !

Thanks for the update.

I noted when I went into the app I searched for devices it picked up my FireTV

Since then it's picked up a fire stick that I dibt own , must be a present I have someone that they never bothered signing me out if.

But it grabbed it automatically

It picks it up but the fire tv in the UK doesn't support alexa. It's only available in the US version 5.5 of fire tv.

Thelomen Toblackai · 29-10-2016 08:12PM

mrcheez wrote: »

LIKE

- Controlling Spotify without having to say "on Spotify". I just say, "Alexa, play The Rat by The Walkmen" and she says "Playing The Rat by the Walkmen on Spotify" so she knew to look in Spotify and damn fast too (see I'm already calling it "she" instead of "it"!)

How does it play from spotify without specifying spotify ? For me it always checks Amazon library and says it can't find the content unless you specifically tell it to search spotify

garbeth · 29-10-2016 08:17PM

What blue tooth speakers are people using with the dot

ajd1969 · 29-10-2016 08:24PM

Thelomen Toblackai wrote: »

mrcheez wrote: »

LIKE

- Controlling Spotify without having to say "on Spotify". I just say, "Alexa, play The Rat by The Walkmen" and she says "Playing The Rat by the Walkmen on Spotify" so she knew to look in Spotify and damn fast too (see I'm already calling it "she" instead of "it"!)

How does it play from spotify without specifying spotify ? For me it always checks Amazon library and says it can't find the content unless you specifically tell it to search spotify

You can specify your chosen default music player in the Alexa App - and it then plays from that source without having to specify.

Thelomen Toblackai · 29-10-2016 08:26PM

ajd1969 wrote: »

You can specify your chosen default music player in the Alexa App - and it then plays from that source without having to specify.

I have spotify selected as the default music player. Amazon music is picked up as default for radio stations. But it still needs spotify to be specified or it searches the library.

Edit: Works when I have English UK selected but not US.

ajd1969 · 29-10-2016 08:31PM

Update for Evohome users -Evohome customer service have come back to me to confirm that they are working to integrate the Hot Water zone into the existing Evohome Echo skill to facilitate "Alexa, turn on / off the hot water' command. Of course once that's available you will be able to link that to Yonomi if you really want to - so that you can say 'Alexa, turn on / off the immersion' instead in honour of your parents' generation !!

bush · 29-10-2016 10:39PM

Going to send mine back its just too limited. Ill see how google home turns out and maybe get that instead. How does it work sending back stuff when you used parcel wizard etc?

mrcheez · 29-10-2016 10:39PM

Thelomen Toblackai wrote: »

I have spotify selected as the default music player. Amazon music is picked up as default for radio stations. But it still needs spotify to be specified or it searches the library.

Edit: Works when I have English UK selected but not US.

Yeah I found it suffered a lot when I used English US.. no problems when using English UK though

UPDATE ON Kodi CONTROL FROM ALEXA

It was quite a bit of work following many steps here:

http://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=258165&pid=2272675#pid2272675

and

http://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=258165&pid=2388508#pid2388508

(there's a bloody long 200 character key you need to type in using the Fire TV remote as well... painful)

and I got it all setup, only to find that it only works (partially) with locally-stored video files, rather than streaming Add Ons like Exodus.

In Exodus I can now Pause / Resume / Stop movies via the Echo Dot, and that's it, which is kinda cool I guess if I need to pause it, but it's unfortunately not possible to request a movie using your voice.

I tested out some local video files stored on my network and said "Alexa tell Kodi to start Avatar" and Avatar began to play.. then I asked it the same question later on and it said it didn't understand. So not really great there.

So in summary, still a bit of work left to control Kodi from Alexa, although if you want to be able to pause movies using your voice instead of reaching for the remote it's worth it.

Stoner · 29-10-2016 10:42PM

bush wrote:

Going to send mine back its just too limited. Ill see how google home turns out and maybe get that instead. How does it work sending back stuff when you used parcel wizard etc?

Sell it on advert's

Stoner · 29-10-2016 10:44PM

mrcheez wrote:

(there's a bloody long 200 character key you need to type in using the Fire TV remote as well... painful)

Do you have the Cetus Play app. Might make that easier , use it as a remote on your phone

mrcheez · 29-10-2016 10:45PM

Stoner wrote: »

Do you have the Cetus Play app. Might make that easier , use it as a remote on your phone

Could be worth it for the next person to try alright... make those repo urls easier to enter too

Stoner · 29-10-2016 10:47PM

mrcheez wrote:

but it's unfortunately not possible to request a movie using your voice.

That would be deadly. I can't see it ever working though, though in fire TV they've eased up on voice search only working on Amazon prime.

Also

I wouldn't be surprised if that new background update on fire TV will kick kodi off the devices soon.

Till then though it's great . But my minix7 neo is still up to date

mrcheez · 29-10-2016 10:58PM

mrcheez wrote: »

it's unfortunately not possible to request a movie using your voice.

Stoner wrote: »

That would be deadly. I can't see it ever working though, though in fire TV they've eased up on voice search only working on Amazon prime.

It is possible to request a movie using your voice (most of the time anyway) as long as it's on your local movies collection (local network etc).. just that it doesn't work with streaming movies (apart from Pause / Resume commands)

Hope Kodi isn't kicked off Fire TV... it's the best thing about it!

Stoner · 29-10-2016 11:13PM

mrcheez wrote:

Hope Kodi isn't kicked off Fire TV... it's the best thing about it!

Yes true, once Amazon start kicking apps off fire tv, it will become a Netflix box for me .
I haven't used my nas drive for movies in years.

But that's interesting that echo can select them.

vanti · 30-10-2016 01:40PM

for anyone interested - i posted this in bargains alert - Philips Hue Wireless lightstrip plus reduced on amazon:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Philips-Personal-Wireless-Lightstrip-Lighstrip/dp/B0148NMVQA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1477834266&sr=8-1&keywords=light+strip+plus

reduced to 52.99 (from 69.99). not a bad price for this I think. Also the 100cm extension is reduced to 14.99 (same link)

Gadgetman496 · 30-10-2016 01:59PM

vanti wrote: »

for anyone interested - i posted this in bargains alert - Philips Hue Wireless lightstrip plus reduced on amazon:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Philips-Per...ght+strip+plus

reduced to 52.99 (from 69.99). not a bad price for this I think. Also the 100cm extension is reduced to 14.99 (same link)

Link broken

paulbok · 30-10-2016 05:25PM

Gadgetman496 wrote: »

Link broken

Works for me on the phone but for the last few days, any links on boards is trying to do a redirect to skim services or some name like that.
Checking my laptop later for malware

donegal. · 30-10-2016 05:33PM

Gadgetman496 wrote: »

Link broken[/QUOTE

new link

BobbyT28 · 30-10-2016 08:20PM

donegal. wrote: »

Gadgetman496 wrote: »

Link broken[/QUOTE

new link

Had £39 gift voucher so just order one.

Cheers

mik_da_man · 30-10-2016 09:26PM

yoshimitsu wrote: »

https://techcrunch.com/2016/10/25/amazon-echo-logitech-harmony-skill/
Just read this article so havent had time to go home and test it on my set-up (which includes an Echo, Harmony and Hue hub/lights).
This could be a workaround to IFTTT not working in Ireland yet for such things as activating Hue scenes (rather than just on/off/dim) and other activities controlled by the Harmony ecosystem (plenty of stuff including XBOX, Android TV box, my Roomba vacuum cleaner, non-Hue LED light strips... basically anything operated with an infrared-sensor).

Did anyone try this?
Is it just a case of switching the echo back to a US account and job done?
Mine was US originally so should be able to switch back...I think...

Irish Gunner · 31-10-2016 12:49PM

Was looking at getting an internet radio and was pointed in the direction of this device and seems to do the job I am looking for. I can get this from John Lewis in the UK with a discount as family work there. Would there be any adjustments to be made as I would like to use this for TuneIn Radio and Spotify? Also like to be able to link android phone to it using Bluetooth.
Also can it only be paired with a Firestick for Kodi or can it be paired with an android box? Read through some of the posts but not sure ?
Its a choice between this and the Google home and that is not out yet so may hint to Miss Gunner to get this as an Xmas gift so what's the good the bad and the ugly about this device? Will be doing the usual Google research but looking for users opinions
cheers

mrcheez · 31-10-2016 01:08PM

Irish Gunner wrote: »

Would there be any adjustments to be made as I would like to use this for TuneIn Radio and Spotify?

Spotify and TuneIn work fine natively after you set up Wifi and the Spotify account (although best TuneIn service was achieved when I set the Dot's address to Belfast ... Irish radio stations can't really be connected using your voice though (for now))

Perhaps someone will create a skill for Irish radio stations?

Nice advantage is not having to specify "on Spotify" or "on TuneIn" for *most* queries... e.g. "Alexa play Jazz FM", plays the radio station "Alexa play Coltrane" plays Spotify.

Irish Gunner wrote: »

Also like to be able to link android phone to it using Bluetooth.

You can connect to it like you would a Bluetooth speaker.

Irish Gunner wrote: »

Also can it only be paired with a Firestick for Kodi or can it be paired with an android box? Read through some of the posts but not sure ?

Pairing with Firestick is quite difficult at the moment and a bit hit and miss even after that (sometimes works), so for now don't factor this in to your decision yet.

Irish Gunner wrote: »

Its a choice between this and the Google home and that is not out yet so may hint to Miss Gunner to get this as an Xmas gift so what's the good the bad and the ugly about this device? Will be doing the usual Google research but looking for users opinions
cheers

If you want a music/weather/news player that you can control using your voice it's excellent, plus you can connect to any speakers in your house and take the music around with you. I have one Echo Dot connected to a 36W stereo speaker system via 3.5mm and the other in a bedroom that optionally connects to Bluetooth speakers in my office and bathroom.
Plus you can control smart devices in your home (I haven't used this part personally yet).

For general queries it can be a bit hit and miss. Like I asked who "was Rory Gallagher's drummer in 1972", and it said it didn't understand, but then I asked "when did Rory Gallagher die" and it answers fine. So Google might be better if you want it for this purpose and a fuller "Jarvis" experience, though I'm not sure about how well it connects to external speakers.

So, if you want a music/weather/news device and smart home controller for half the price of Google Home, go for the Dot. For everything else Google Home might be better.

mrcheez · 31-10-2016 01:20PM

mrcheez wrote: »

Ask it "when does daylight savings time end in Ireland?"

I know it's the 30th, but didn't know that till I looked it up. Would be handy to have asked Alexa

Also ask it, "how do you pronounce assume?" ... if it says "ashoom" then it must be set to the UK language

btw I tried these queries out... it told me correctly when Daylight Savings Time ends/begins and for the second query it pronounced "assume" correctly.

When I said "spell ashoom" it tried to spell "Mushroom".

So Alexa speaks English better than the English themselves :pac:

Irish Gunner · 31-10-2016 01:23PM

Cheers for the reply very incisive
Now to look at either to get the Amazon Dot or Echo. It seems the Echo has better stand alone speakers to listen to music which would be my main option. I can link it to speakers but would like a stand alone music player

mrcheez · 31-10-2016 01:31PM

Irish Gunner wrote: »

Cheers for the reply very incisive
Now to look at either to get the Amazon Dot or Echo. It seems the Echo has better stand alone speakers to listen to music which would be my main option. I can link it to speakers but would like a stand alone music player

Yep it's a better all in one option, though you are limited to mono speakers. You could always get an Echo Dot and separate stereo speaker connected via 3.5mm and plug both into a single plug socket with an adaptor, in essence giving you the same experience as the Echo but with stereo music & more flexibility to extend music playing potential later on if you want (e.g. bring the music out into the garden during summer BBQ via Bluetooth speaker etc).

Amazon Echo FAQ

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