Amazon Echo Club

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by Josieb1

Alexa and the Dot do look sleek and sophisticated compared to Google Home, and yes without Audible at least I don't see the appeal. Home automation will never be anything that interests me. I guess I'm too old to worry about that side of AI

I have absolutely zero interest in home automation. These devices only have appeal to me because they're standalone and can stream books and music with voice commands.

[tubemonkey]

Next month marks the 2nd anniversary for the Echo, and mine is still going strong. It's my single most favorite gadget outside of my computer.

All hail The Jeff and his Echo

[Josieb1]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

I have absolutely zero interest in home automation. These devices only have appeal to me because they're standalone and can stream books and music with voice commands.

That's what I want but Jeff won't allow me access to all my audiobooks

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by Josieb1

That's what I want but Jeff won't allow me access to all my audiobooks

3 Audible accounts = 3 Amazon accounts + 3 Echo Dots

[Josieb1]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

3 Audible accounts = 3 Amazon accounts + 3 Echo Dots

After my 'issues' last year I think one Amazon account is enough. I can live with my Android Audible app and my iPad, I can have all my audiobooks in the one place on those, it doesn't matter what account they were bought on.

I still don't quite trust Amazon but at least we got past the anniversary without another letter this year.

[Yolina]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

...and it still looks like an air freshener

Well, the air might still smell of tuna I like that you are able to change the colour of the base but I wouldn't really consider getting one (plus it won't be available in the UK for a fair while yet anyway AFAIK).

I have absolutely zero interest in home automation. These devices only have appeal to me because they're standalone and can stream books and music with voice commands.

I do like the home automation side of things, works really well - even if all I have for now are the lights. For me, as a whole, Amazon's offering suits my needs better anyway.

Originally Posted by Josieb1

I still don't quite trust Amazon but at least we got past the anniversary without another letter this year.

[tubemonkey]

Heads up, y'all

I've spun off Google Home into a separate thread here in the lounge. Please direct further discussions to that thread. Thanks, tm

Google Home

[WT Sharpe]

I like the Google AI because she can give me street by street directions in real time while I'm driving to the nearest Best Buy to buy an Echo.

[WT Sharpe]

Face it, what feels better, calling Alexa by her name to get her attention, or saying "Okay, Google" to get its attention?

[Josieb1]

I was discussing the upcoming UK release of the Dot with hubby this morning and he was quite excited at the prospect of linking it up to our HIFI sound system (would have to be by audio line though as we don't have a bluetooth connection with it) so it looks like I will get a chance to try a Dot after all .

Hubby wants to try it with Prime Music and I want the Audible options. We do have a small Ilogic bluetooth speaker if the HIFI system connections are too complicated. We will wait until John Lewis has it though as they do a two year warranty for no additional cost. Its released over here on October 20th.

I've read that if we connect the HIFI mains plug to a smart plug we can turn the HIFI on with Alexa, does anyone have any experience with smart plugs? Or connecting a Dot to a non bluetooth hifi system?

I understand the bluetooth side but not the hifi side

[Yolina]

Originally Posted by Josieb1

I've read that if we connect the HIFI mains plug to a smart plug we can turn the HIFI on with Alexa, does anyone have any experience with smart plugs? Or connecting a Dot to a non bluetooth hifi system?

I understand the bluetooth side but not the hifi side

I've got a Dot on pre-order to connect to my stereo too. It's just a connection with either a Y cable from the Dot out to the amp RCA in or a simple single audio cable - depends on your type of hifi. Remember to get a cable!

No experience of smart plugs yet but I might be grabbing a few depending on what comes up in all the BF/Xmas deals.

[mpeg2]

I have the TP Link smartplug (can't recall the exact product name) connected to a reading lamp in the bedroom - works very well (it's kind of nice to be able to call out when climbing the stairs to get the light turned on in the bedroom).

I also have the Dot - bluetooth connected to my bedroom stereo. I chose bluetooth over a direct wired connection, since using the wired connection disables the built in speaker in the Dot - you can only hear what it says when the stereo is on. I bought a bluetooth adapter from Amazon (Amazon basics?) & have it connected to the switched AC outlet on my amplifier.

This way, if the amp is off, I can hear what Alexa is saying with no problems (like checking the weather or traffic) - but when I want to listen to music, I turn on the amp, the bluetooth automatically pairs within a few seconds and then ask Alexa to play music.

Works very well for me.

Rich

[Yolina]

Originally Posted by mpeg2

I chose bluetooth over a direct wired connection, since using the wired connection disables the built in speaker in the Dot - you can only hear what it says when the stereo is on. I bought a bluetooth adapter from Amazon (Amazon basics?) & have it connected to the switched AC outlet on my amplifier.

This way, if the amp is off, I can hear what Alexa is saying with no problems (like checking the weather or traffic) - but when I want to listen to music, I turn on the amp, the bluetooth automatically pairs within a few seconds and then ask Alexa to play music.

Good point... I missed that issue completely Will get a BT receiver before my Dot arrives then since I don't intend to leave the amp permanently on.

Edit: or option B: just disconnect the audio cable between the Dot and the amp when I'm done with music...

[mpeg2]

If it helps, this is the one I ordered from Amazon - it works quite well with the Dot:

AmazonBasics Bluetooth 4.0 Audio Receiver

https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-...Breceiver&th=1

Rich

[ApK]

Originally Posted by Yolina

Edit: or option B: just disconnect the audio cable between the Dot and the amp when I'm done with music...

A minor issue, but since TM brought up the warranty difference:
Repeated insertion and removal of the plug will eventually wear out the little springy bits of metal in the jack that hold the plug in and make the electrical contact. This will eventually lead to crackles, pops and dropouts of the audio.

No telling how long "eventually" is, only that it will be sooner if you plug and unplug several times a day than if you just leave the plug in all the time. It's minor issue, as I said, but since we were talking about if this cheaper Dot has cheaper parts, motivating the shorter warranty, I figure it worth mentioning.