Amazon Echo FAQ

stuartlawler · 15-07-2016 11:57pm

I'm using mine a lot for the radio, alarms and am exploring the games. I love the quick weather summary and the voice recognition is the best I've ever seen!

Mayo jonny · 17-07-2016 2:04pm

So no one has had to set up a VPN then, just the prime account? Thats brilliant, ordering today if that's the case

LiamG · 18-07-2016 9:32am

Agreed- very good and only getting better as they add new features. Kids love it.
Integrated with Wemo smartplugs and turns on/off lamps etc on command.

Mayo jonny · 18-07-2016 12:55pm

LiamG wrote: »

Agreed- very good and only getting better as they add new features. Kids love it.
Integrated with Wemo smartplugs and turns on/off lamps etc on command.

So you just have the prime account in the US, no VPN needed?

LiamG · 18-07-2016 1:32pm

dont even have a prime account; got my friend in the us to buy and ship over
you need an apk to launch the app but it syncs once that is downloaded

Mayo jonny · 18-07-2016 1:45pm

So you just plugged in and go?

LiamG · 18-07-2016 1:52pm

pretty much
small bit of work linking my account but 10 minutes for me at most

little more work linking to wemo plugs - but you would expect that - I used IFTTT

Dr. Dre · 19-07-2016 11:47am

Just on the off chance you don't know, Alexa has direct integration with Wemo plugs, IFTTT isn't needed.

LiamG · 20-07-2016 9:15am

yea - found that out after setting it up via IFTTT.
What else do you use it for Dr?

Dr. Dre · 21-07-2016 11:26am

Mainly Radio, Podcasts when going to sleep, and home automation ( I have like 12 lightwaverf devices through smartthings, 2 lifx colour bulbs that I can control colour and brightness through, and a few IR devices controlled via a logitech harmony hub (TV, fan etc))
I use the shopping list also I suppose
and as a timer when cooking
oh, and spotify

nickhx · 02-08-2016 10:36am

Dr. Dre wrote: »

Mainly Radio, Podcasts when going to sleep, and home automation ( I have like 12 lightwaverf devices through smartthings, 2 lifx colour bulbs that I can control colour and brightness through, and a few IR devices controlled via a logitech harmony hub (TV, fan etc))
I use the shopping list also I suppose
and as a timer when cooking
oh, and spotify

Have you managed to get local weather working yet? ie. "Alexa what is the weather like today?" would tell you the weather for say, Dublin, without you actually saying in Dublin Ireland

LiamG · 02-08-2016 11:39am

Personally I looked into that and it seems like a lot of hassle - I am happy to say "in dublin ireland" at the end but thats just me.

Also, I suspect when the echo goes worldwide they will also regionalisation - if I were a betting man that will happen sooner than later as Googles version is due out before Christmas

Dr. Dre · 02-08-2016 3:38pm

I'd be the same as Liam, it hasn't bothered me enough to investigate tbh Nick.

I've seen it RUMOURED to for an October UK (and I guess Ireland) release.

nickhx · 04-08-2016 9:08am

Cheers guys -, have either of you managed to get Alexa to play Newstalk radio via tune in? I have tried but it either cannot find the station even though it is on tune in, or plays another station entirely.

Arbie · 04-08-2016 9:18am

nickhx wrote: »

Cheers guys -, have either of you managed to get Alexa to play Newstalk radio via tune in? I have tried but it either cannot find the station even though it is on tune in, or plays another station entirely.

I have the same problem - recognises other stations fine but no matter if I say "Newstalk Ireland", "Newstalk 106FM", etc. it still plays random American stations. I even have Newstalk as a favourite in TuneIn but no luck.

OldMrBrennan83 · 04-08-2016 9:20am

This post has been deleted.

LiamG · 04-08-2016 9:39am

re newstalk - you can play it from the Alexa app but I have yet to get it verbally (which I suppose is the point)!

Dr. Dre · 05-08-2016 10:39am

Yeah the Newstalk thing is a pain, it worked ONCE (verbally) for me when I first got it last year, but not since, oddly enough.

I have a theory that it's because the name is comprised of two 'genres' of radio and that confuses Alexa, perhaps if they give us a deeper integration with Tunein in the future, we may be able to give nicknames to stations etc..

Dr. Dre · 05-09-2016 12:05pm

Engadget speculating a UK launch is close at hand > https://www.engadget.com/2016/09/02/amazon-alexa-uk/

Dr. Dre · 14-09-2016 1:18pm

et voila https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01GAGVIE4/ref=gw_d_JL_L_AuCC_Dopp?pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=desktop-jeff-letter&pf_rd_r=11B7PW3GBWDEB301EYEQ&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=720186d7-5ed8-40b2-a674-339666a8088b&pf_rd_i=desktop

Howard the Duck · 14-09-2016 1:39pm

Doesn't deliver to Ireland does parcel motel work for that?

ct5amr2ig1nfhp · 14-09-2016 1:44pm

Won't ship to parcel motel it appears.

Dr. Dre · 14-09-2016 2:23pm

Wow, that's a bit extreme of them

donegal. · 14-09-2016 2:45pm

£50 off for prime.

i.ve tried it for a local delivery service from derry (similar to parcel motel etc) and it worked.

dbro · 14-09-2016 7:58pm

Just ordered through parcel motel...no problem

ct5amr2ig1nfhp · 14-09-2016 8:52pm

I had tried it twice earlier and it wouldn't ship to parcel motel.

Just tried it again after reading the bargain alerts thread and it is now allowing me to ship to parcel motel.

Autumn Grumpy Ring wrote: »

Won't ship to parcel motel it appears.

Radioheader · 15-09-2016 9:34am

Hi,
If I get this shipped to parcel hotel, will it work fully in Ireland, using my Amazon.co.uk account? Can I pair an iPhone with it? Everything I have is on my iPhone at the moment. Will it work with my Nest? I don't use Spotify so is it a waste of time for me?

I really like the sound of this gadget and want to give it a go.

Sorry for the simple questions!

LiamG · 15-09-2016 10:34am

Hi

I am presuming it will work with the .co.uk account. Can't see why not. It definitely works with Nest thermostats I believe. I also works with TuneIn and amazon prime music.

You can pair by phones by bluetooth per the amazon site but kind of defeats the purpose then if you are into music.

donegal. · 15-09-2016 10:39am

how would you get amazon prime music to work on it ?

LiamG · 15-09-2016 11:12am

just get the alexa app (or via the website) , link your prime account to your echo on the app
easy to do

donegal. · 15-09-2016 11:27am

LiamG wrote: »

just get the alexa app (or via the website) , link your prime account to your echo on the app
easy to do

In ireland?

LiamG · 15-09-2016 11:29am

should be an option i would have though (not out yet obviously) but worse case you sideload apk file - i did this for the US version and its perfect

donegal. · 15-09-2016 11:55am

i can only find us/canada version of apk

LiamG · 15-09-2016 12:11pm

it only launched yesterday - give it a few days!!

donegal. · 15-09-2016 1:10pm

prime music launched about a year ago.
I can't decide if the echo is worth getting or not.
I've a few things i can control with my phone and it'd be cool to have voice control. But how often do you need to change the thermostat etc ?
If its only for spotify then theres probably better speakers

But if I could get prime music working that would swing it for me.

Radioheader · 15-09-2016 4:07pm

I think I will get it anyhow, even if its applications aren't apparent right away.

OldMrBrennan83 · 15-09-2016 4:32pm

This post has been deleted.

loughrey2887 · 15-09-2016 6:05pm

donegal. wrote: »

i can only find us/canada version of apk

The US Echo app apk is the exact same as the UK one, just like the Fire TV remote app. It'll give you the relevant apps depending on the address you set up as your digital content address on the Amazon site.

loughrey2887 · 15-09-2016 6:07pm

donegal. wrote: »

i can only find us/canada version of apk

The US Echo app apk is the exact same as the UK one, just like the Fire TV remote app. It'll give you the relevant apps depending on the address you set up as your digital content address on the Amazon site. The problem is the UK Echo app won't appear on the Irish Google Play store or the Apple store. You'll need to sideload it on if you have an Android phone, just like the Prime Video and Fire TV apps which don't appear on the Irish app stores.

loughrey2887 · 15-09-2016 6:09pm

donegal. wrote: »

i can only find us/canada version of apk

The US Echo app apk is the exact same as the UK one, just like the Fire TV remote app. It'll give you the relevant apps depending on the address you set up as your digital content address on the Amazon site. The problem is the UK Echo app won't appear on the Irish Google Play store or the Apple store. You'll need to sideload it on if you have an Android phone, just like the Prime Video and Fire TV apps which don't appear on the Irish app stores. You simply can't get it if you have an iphone (lack of app sideloading is one of the reasons a ditched the iPhone) unless you are jailbroken or are paying a visit to the UK. VPN doesn't seem to make these apps appear in the app stores either.

loughrey2887 · 15-09-2016 6:11pm

I have Amazon Prime Music but for those who don't use Prime the Echo will have very limited functionality unless you're a Spotify subscriber and like Tunein.

loughrey2887 · 15-09-2016 6:12pm

I have Amazon Prime Music but for those who don't use Prime the Echo will have very limited functionality unless you're a Spotify subscriber and like Tunein. If you don't subscribe to any of these services a bluetooth speaker would be a better option.

loughrey2887 · 15-09-2016 6:15pm

Patww79 wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

Google highly unlikely to release the Home in the UK for at least a year after the US release as they'll need to work out deals with third party providers and assess the response from the US market first. They did this with the Chromecast too. Unless you want to wait another year go ahead, but at 99 pounds I don't see the Home (which has a crappy speaker unlike Echo) beating that deal on release day.

loughrey2887 · 15-09-2016 6:18pm

I ordered my Echo today but does anyone notice they are no longer shipping to Northern Ireland? I've contacted Amazon about it and they said they'll give me a 'detailed explanation' in a few hours. I really hope they don't cancel our orders. I don't understand the reason as the North has full access to Prime

OldMrBrennan83 · 15-09-2016 6:51pm

This post has been deleted.

Radioheader · 15-09-2016 10:54pm

Patww79 wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

A full list of features and possible applications would be very useful if anyone has it.

BobbyT28 · 16-09-2016 3:13am

ordered mine today (Via Parcel Motel) to Dublin and it pre ordered fine.

BobbyT28 · 16-09-2016 4:01am

A little bit off topic!

Looking to get start with home automation after getting the Echo,

Can people post a few links to Wemo and other home automation gadgets that they have and will work with alexa.

Looking at the Wemo Insight

Anyone using the Logitech hub to control TV Xbox etc?

Anything else?

BobbyT28

BobbyT28 · 16-09-2016 6:35am

Just seen a youtube video of a fella controlling his whole media library, Sony Bravia Smart TV (Change channels, Alexa...... Put on ESPN) and STB using the Echo. Very impressive.

Wonder if there is a way to controll my Sony Smart TV to change channels and play movies and TV shows from PLex??

Seriously looking forward to getting my hands on this and having a play around with it.

BobbyT28

Zascar · 16-09-2016 2:30pm

Really intersted in getting one of these as I use voice controls with my phone all the time and would like to be able to do more with alexa. Just wondering exactly what it can and cant do? What do people use it for most?

Amazon Echo FAQ

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