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Amazon Alexa and Echo FAQ

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    #2252
    TitianGerm
    Registered Users Posts: 27,847 ✭✭✭✭TitianGerm


    20/20 wrote: »
    What is it. ?

    It allows your echo devices listen out for someone breaking into your home (breaking glass etc) when your not there.


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    #2253
    20/20
    Registered Users Posts: 705 ✭✭✭20/20


    TitianGerm wrote: »
    It allows your echo devices listen out for someone breaking into your home (breaking glass etc) when your not there.

    May not be great idea. If I get another plate full of dinner thrown at the wall when I come in from the pub.


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    #2254
    TitianGerm
    Registered Users Posts: 27,847 ✭✭✭✭TitianGerm


    20/20 wrote: »
    May not be great idea. If I get another plate full of dinner thrown at the wall when I come in from the pub.

    I think you can set it to come on/off using location services on your phone or activate it by voice.


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    #2255
    Shefwedfan
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,958 ✭✭✭✭Shefwedfan


    TitianGerm wrote: »
    I think you can set it to come on/off using location services on your phone or activate it by voice.


    You activate it when leaving the house from what I can see online......


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    #2256
    grazer
    Registered Users Posts: 195 ✭✭grazer


    Apologies if asking obvious stuff or stuff already answered, but this thread is very long so haven't read through it all.

    I'm looking at the Echo Dot on Amazon as the solution for kids to be able to listen to music in their rooms, without their phones / full internet access. But I've never used one, or used Alexa.

    A (good) few questions:

    1. We pay for Apple Music streaming and have iTunes. Can we access iTunes with Dot, and stream from Apple Music? We don't have Spotify premium - did I see in a previous post that free spotify won't work on Dot?

    2. Is Amazon linked in to the dot, do we have to pay a subscription or something? I don't want to if at all possible. I'd hope to just access the Apple music we already pay for.

    3. Is set up (Ireland) tricky? Any tips?

    4. Can three dots be used at the same time in the house, to play/stream different music?

    5. In terms of kids / teenagers, anything we should be wary of? We have managed to more or less keep the rule of no internet devices in bedrooms, and I'm hoping the dot would let them play music, but I presume they can ask Alexa to do a lot more than just play music? Anything we need to keep an eye/ear on? I haven't a clue of the level of sophistication of Alexa!

    6. Is there something by Google that would do the job I want here? I saw mention of Google somewhere on this thread.

    Thanks


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    #2257
    Shefwedfan
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,958 ✭✭✭✭Shefwedfan


    grazer wrote: »
    Apologies if asking obvious stuff or stuff already answered, but this thread is very long so haven't read through it all.

    I'm looking at the Echo Dot on Amazon as the solution for kids to be able to listen to music in their rooms, without their phones / full internet access. But I've never used one, or used Alexa.

    A (good) few questions:

    1. We pay for Apple Music streaming and have iTunes. Can we access iTunes with Dot, and stream from Apple Music? We don't have Spotify premium - did I see in a previous post that free spotify won't work on Dot?

    2. Is Amazon linked in to the dot, do we have to pay a subscription or something? I don't want to if at all possible. I'd hope to just access the Apple music we already pay for.

    3. Is set up (Ireland) tricky? Any tips?

    4. Can three dots be used at the same time in the house, to play/stream different music?

    5. In terms of kids / teenagers, anything we should be wary of? We have managed to more or less keep the rule of no internet devices in bedrooms, and I'm hoping the dot would let them play music, but I presume they can ask Alexa to do a lot more than just play music? Anything we need to keep an eye/ear on? I haven't a clue of the level of sophistication of Alexa!

    6. Is there something by Google that would do the job I want here? I saw mention of Google somewhere on this thread.

    Thanks

    1. Yes you can link, personally I use Spotify as iTunes I felt was poor
    2. No need for amazon prime
    3. No
    4. Yes, set up group
    5. No idea but what exactly could you do with it?
    6. Yes google have a version....no idea what’s it’s like


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    #2258
    ThunbergsAreGo
    Registered Users Posts: 10,399 ✭✭✭✭ThunbergsAreGo


    Shefwedfan wrote: »
    1. Yes you can link, personally I use Spotify as iTunes I felt was poor
    2. No need for amazon prime
    3. No
    4. Yes, set up group
    5. No idea but what exactly could you do with it?
    6. Yes google have a version....no idea what’s it’s like

    Actually 4 is a no I think, as they asked about different music. This is dependant on having different profiles and subscription to the underlying music app


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    #2259
    grazer
    Registered Users Posts: 195 ✭✭grazer


    ThunbergsAreGo wrote: »
    Actually 4 is a no I think, as they asked about different music. This is dependant on having different profiles and subscription to the underlying music app

    Yes this is the tricky bit. I think we have Apple Music for family as I know three or four of us can play different music from our phones at home at the same time. Must check exactly what we have.
    But Dots won’t work for a gift for the kids unless they can stream / play different music on each dot at same time. (Not from their phones.)


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    #2260
    grogi
    Registered Users Posts: 8,615 ✭✭✭grogi


    Ad.4 - they can with basic subscription to Deezer. Not with basic plans for Amazon Music nor Spotify.


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    #2261
    grazer
    Registered Users Posts: 195 ✭✭grazer


    grogi wrote: »
    Ad.4 - they can with basic subscription to Deezer. Not with basic plans for Amazon Music nor Spotify.

    Any idea if they can with family sub to Apple Music? Reluctant to sign up to anything else - the bleed of paid subs in our house is already painful enough!


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    #2262
    D12C
    Registered Users Posts: 58 ✭✭D12C


    Hi all, apologies if this has been covered before, but looking at door sensors at the moment. Is it possible to create a routine to turn on a smart bulb for a specific amount of time once motion is detected. I know within Hive, you can set a duration for a task e.g. If the door opens, activate a specific smart bulb for 10 mins.

    Ideally I’d like to be able to do this also between certain hours. Would I be better off just getting a hive sensor and also hive bulbs and doing it this way instead of Alexa? Just to note, I don’t have smart bulbs in this area yet either.

    Any info greatly appreciated. Thanks


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    #2263
    368100
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,067 ✭✭✭368100


    D12C wrote: »
    Hi all, apologies if this has been covered before, but looking at door sensors at the moment. Is it possible to create a routine to turn on a smart bulb for a specific amount of time once motion is detected. I know within Hive, you can set a duration for a task e.g. If the door opens, activate a specific smart bulb for 10 mins.

    Ideally I’d like to be able to do this also between certain hours. Would I be better off just getting a hive sensor and also hive bulbs and doing it this way instead of Alexa? Just to note, I don’t have smart bulbs in this area yet either.

    Any info greatly appreciated. Thanks

    I dont see why not. I have a routine in the morning to turn on lights and play calendar after I dismiss the alarm, then wait 6 mins (while I shower) and then play weather, news and commute info while I dress......works perfectly


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    #2264
    THE ALM
    Registered Users Posts: 1,599 ✭✭✭THE ALM


    D12C wrote: »
    Hi all, apologies if this has been covered before, but looking at door sensors at the moment. Is it possible to create a routine to turn on a smart bulb for a specific amount of time once motion is detected. I know within Hive, you can set a duration for a task e.g. If the door opens, activate a specific smart bulb for 10 mins.

    Ideally I’d like to be able to do this also between certain hours. Would I be better off just getting a hive sensor and also hive bulbs and doing it this way instead of Alexa? Just to note, I don’t have smart bulbs in this area yet either.

    Any info greatly appreciated. Thanks

    Yes, can be done. I have hive bulbs, sensors and door contacts and you can set routines like this easily. If you have the Hive heating already you can even tie the routines into this as well e.g. turn heating off when window open.


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    #2265
    Eire Go Brach
    Registered Users Posts: 1,369 ✭✭✭Eire Go Brach


    Looking at getting some Xioami Sensors and bulbs. I have the Echo Studio with zigbee. Does this mean I don't need the Xioami hub?

    Thanks


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    #2266
    Muahahaha
    Registered Users Posts: 19,615 ✭✭✭✭Muahahaha


    Got the Dot and a few Tekin smart sockets which I set up with lights easily. But want to set up another with an electric blanket, problem is the blanket has a on/off and temperature control unit half way along the wire between blanket and socket. So it just turns it on but cant select temperature. Im guessing there is no solution for this? Is there such thing as a smart electric blanket than can be controlled by Alexa?


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    #2267
    Shefwedfan
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,958 ✭✭✭✭Shefwedfan


    Muahahaha wrote: »
    Got the Dot and a few Tekin smart sockets which I set up with lights easily. But want to set up another with an electric blanket, problem is the blanket has a on/off and temperature control unit half way along the wire between blanket and socket. So it just turns it on but cant select temperature. Im guessing there is no solution for this? Is there such thing as a smart electric blanket than can be controlled by Alexa?




    Yes


    It called the wife/husband :P


    So just says "Alexa announce Turn on the f**king blanket" :P:P:P:P:P


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    #2268
    Shefwedfan
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,958 ✭✭✭✭Shefwedfan


    Ok so I want to go to next steps....

    So have Alexa, controls a number of smart plugs/hoover etc

    Now I would like to set it up so if I leave the house and it senses nobody is in house anymore ir automatically turns off all the plugs etc. So I am just wondering what is the best way to do this?

    Can I mix and match or best just to go with one brand?

    I haven't one with smart bulbs (yet) but I think that will be next steps....most of the rooms have lamps so I just use the smart plugs


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    #2269
    grazer
    Registered Users Posts: 195 ✭✭grazer


    Echo dot with clock out of stock in Amazon, curry’s, Argos. Anyone have any info or tips where we might get three before 23rd? The dot is available, but we want to get it with clock.


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    #2270
    368100
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,067 ✭✭✭368100


    grazer wrote: »
    Echo dot with clock out of stock in Amazon, curry’s, Argos. Anyone have any info or tips where we might get three before 23rd? The dot is available, but we want to get it with clock.

    In stock in north... Argos in bangor...bit of a drive alright but seems only place has them. Says limited stick too


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    #2271
    grazer
    Registered Users Posts: 195 ✭✭grazer


    368100 wrote: »
    In stock in north... Argos in bangor...bit of a drive alright but seems only place has them. Says limited stick too

    Thanks. We could have delivery to an address in the north. Unfortunately same as dublin stores, when you go to order for delivery or collection, it shows out of stock.


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    #2272
    limnam
    Registered Users Posts: 9,152 ✭✭✭limnam


    I've created a speaker group with a dot and an echo.


    But the group never shows up inside say spottify as a device


    how do you target the created group when playing things like spotify ?


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    #2273
    368100
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,067 ✭✭✭368100


    Alexa, play spotify/name of song on "speaker group name"


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    #2274
    Grumpypants
    Registered Users Posts: 7,768 ✭✭✭Grumpypants


    Shefwedfan wrote: »
    Ok so I want to go to next steps....

    So have Alexa, controls a number of smart plugs/hoover etc

    Now I would like to set it up so if I leave the house and it senses nobody is in house anymore ir automatically turns off all the plugs etc. So I am just wondering what is the best way to do this?

    Can I mix and match or best just to go with one brand?

    I haven't one with smart bulbs (yet) but I think that will be next steps....most of the rooms have lamps so I just use the smart plugs

    I've a few routines like Alexa, goodnight/goodbye that turns off the plugs. Goodbye shuts everything off. Goodnight times it so i can get upstairs before they shut off.

    I found the bulbs only really work in lamps. I bought a few smart bulbs for the main big light in the room but consistently the missus just turns off the switch as she leaves and kills it. Then you have to turn it back on, wait for it reconnect then tell alexa to dim it.

    I found having a lamp in each corner with a Hue bulb allows the ability to dim and change colour.


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    #2275
    limnam
    Registered Users Posts: 9,152 ✭✭✭limnam


    368100 wrote: »
    Alexa, play spotify/name of song on "speaker group name"


    Should the group not show up in spotify as a device that can be used?


    I generally control spotify via the app


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    #2276
    d31b0y
    Registered Users Posts: 2,028 ✭✭✭d31b0y


    My everywhere group is available on Spotify. I don't remember doing anything special to get it there.
    Maybe you just need to do it once for it to show up. Or maybe the everywhere group is special. I don't have any others setup.


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    #2277
    Shefwedfan
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,958 ✭✭✭✭Shefwedfan


    limnam wrote: »
    Should the group not show up in spotify as a device that can be used?


    I generally control spotify via the app




    Mine does.....actually never noticed it before


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    #2278
    limnam
    Registered Users Posts: 9,152 ✭✭✭limnam


    Shefwedfan wrote: »
    Mine does.....actually never noticed it before


    Odd


    I take it then you didn't do anythng special to get it there?


    I wonder if the fact they're mixed echo's and dots does it matter..


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    #2279
    gerrybbadd
    Registered Users Posts: 10,301 ✭✭✭✭gerrybbadd


    limnam wrote: »
    I've created a speaker group with a dot and an echo.


    But the group never shows up inside say spottify as a device


    how do you target the created group when playing things like spotify ?

    I only figured this out yesterday.

    If you go into the Amazon app on your phone, set up the speaker group as the preferred speaker, rather than any one of the individual speakers themselves.


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    #2280
    wally79
    Registered Users Posts: 2,933 ✭✭✭wally79


    limnam wrote: »
    Odd


    I take it then you didn't do anythng special to get it there?


    I wonder if the fact they're mixed echo's and dots does it matter..

    I created a group called downstairs. One echo and one dot. Showed up automatically in Spotify

    When playing a song there should be a message saying other devices available


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    #2281
    Raoul
    Registered Users Posts: 7,698 ✭✭✭Raoul


    Eire Go Brach wrote: »
    Looking at getting some Xioami Sensors and bulbs. I have the Echo Studio with zigbee. Does this mean I don't need the Xioami hub?

    Thanks

    Similar question here. Hoping someone can answer. Looking to get some sensors but presume they don't work without the gateway hub.


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