Amazon announces: Echo

[wodin]

Well I ordered my second Echo for the living room (I have the first one in the bedroom), and right away my Echo app popped up with a second profile (wodin's 2nd Echo) with a Echo software version of 0 and the serial number populated.

I'm not sure yet if when I put it on line it will inherit my "Connected Home" settings from "wodin's Bedroom Echo" or if I will need to enter them manually. It's not really a big deal as it's really a piece of cake to enter them. It automatically detects my devices, and I just have to set up the groups by naming a group and check the boxes for the devices I want in that group. I can see some benefit for having them different but not much.

On a related topic, I went down to Home Depot yesterday and bought an armload of GE Link light bulbs, and have much of my home's lighting on voice control. Now I need to make some decisions about what's left, as some of my fixtures are non standard (tube type florescent or UG-29 bulbs) , and I'll need to change them out in order to fit the Link bulbs.

There are a couple of things I'd like to see Amazon enable, I'd like to see an Intercom feature between two or more Echos, so Susie can say "Alexa... intercom" from the bedroom and talk to me in the living room (or anywhere else I might install an Echo), now she just calls my cell phone but that doesn't always work if my phone is in the charger. And I'd REALLY like to be able to chose a different "wake" word. Susie was whining to me yesterday that the name "Alexa" has negative connotations for her, and "Amazon" is just ridicules. I'd still like "Sarah" but that's just me.

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by wodin

There are a couple of things I'd like to see Amazon enable, I'd like to see an Intercom feature between two or more Echos, so Susie can say "Alexa... intercom" from the bedroom and talk to me in the living room (or anywhere else I might install an Echo), now she just calls my cell phone but that doesn't always work if my phone is in the charger. And I'd REALLY like to be able to chose a different "wake" word. Susie was whining to me yesterday that the name "Alexa" has negative connotations for her, and "Amazon" is just ridicules. I'd still like "Sarah" but that's just me.

Tell them.
They do listen.

At a minimum, it should be possible to have it answer to Echo.
And the intercom would be a natural feature for multi Echo devices where you could say "Call Echo" or "call Alexa".
If Amazon doesn't do it, some third party will.
It will be necessary once it expands into full-blown home automation applications.

[rem736]

speaking of multiple echos in the same house (and therefore on the same network), any idea when amazon will enable user assigned wake names? i'm thinking of getting another one as well and don't want both to wake when i'm directing the inquiry to one specific echo. using "Amazon" isn't practical because in daily conversion, i can see that "amazon" comes up a lot.

[wodin]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

Tell them.
They do listen.

At a minimum, it should be possible to have it answer to Echo.
And the intercom would be a natural feature for multi Echo devices where you could say "Call Echo" or "call Alexa".
If Amazon doesn't do it, some third party will.
It will be necessary once it expands into full-blown home automation applications.

OK I shot off a suggestion to echo-feedback@amazon.com:

Originally Posted by me

There are a couple of things I'd like to see Amazon enable; I'd like to see an Intercom feature between two or more Echos, so Susie can say "Alexa... intercom" or "Alexa... call wodin's 2nd Echo" from the bedroom and talk to me in the living room (or anywhere else I might install an Echo), now she just calls my cell phone but that doesn't always work if my phone is in the charger.

And I'd REALLY like to be able to chose a different "wake" word. Susie was whining to me yesterday that the name "Alexa" has negative connotations for her, and "Amazon" is just ridicules. I'd still like "Sarah" but that's just me.

I'll let you all know what they reply.

[wodin]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

It will be necessary once it expands into full-blown home automation applications.

With the addition of WINK support it has already expanded into full-blown home automation application. And with the addition of IFTTT it has the potential to be a very sophisticated one.

[wodin]

That was fast!

Originally Posted by Lucas L @ Amazon

Hello Wodin,

I like that intercom idea. I can submit that idea over to our developers to look into for us!

As far as the wake words go, I know we're going to be having a few more of them soon! (I just don't know exactly when or what they'll be) But change is coming for those wake words for sure. I'd like to see more than just the 2 current options myself.

Thanks for writing in!



Best regards,
Lucas L

[ApK]

I took a chance and got a Wink hub and a couple bulbs.
Found a deal good enough to risk trying it without feeling hopelessly committed.
Too bad they don't have voice dimming with Wink yet.

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by wodin

That was fast!

See?
They do listen.
In fact, they might have answered if you had verbally said it to the Echo.

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by wodin

With the addition of WINK support it has already expanded into full-blown home automation application. And with the addition of IFTTT it has the potential to be a very sophisticated one.

Yeah.
What I meant was home security applications. Those often come with an intercom system.

[wodin]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

Yeah.
What I meant was home security applications. Those often come with an intercom system.

Mine is Vivint, and doesn't have an intercom. Even though they use Z-Wave technology they configure it as a walled garden so I don't anticipate being able to integrate it with either WINK or Echo.

My contract has expired, so I can dump them without an ETF, so if something comes along in that arena I might just trip the trigger on them.

[EZPuzzler]

If you have the a remote the Echo will repeat what you say. All you need to do is say "Simon Says ... " first.

[wodin]

WOOT!

I just got a text from Amazon saying my second Echo will be delivered today. I wasn't expecting it until Friday.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by wodin

WOOT!

I just got a text from Amazon saying my second Echo will be delivered today. I wasn't expecting it until Friday.

A two Echo family

[wodin]

Easter EggList of known Easter eggs for Amazon Echo (so far)

[wodin]

It wasn't on that list, but I can't wait to get home and ask her who John Galt is.