Amazon Echo Club

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by FizzyWater

Millennials are paying $450 annual fees for a credit card that's metal instead of plastic. Anything to be "cool".

I didn't realize these were a thing until yesterday when I got one in the mail as a replacement for my current card. It's interesting I guess, but then I'm not paying an annual fee to have it. Not sure why someone would pay for one (or for any card) nor get why it's considered "cool".

[tubemonkey]

Amazon Echo with a built-in screen may be on deck next month

I already have an Echo with a built-in 7" screen

Spoiler:

The device, code-named Knight, could make the Echo more useful for video chats and online shopping.

The Amazon Echo family may get even bigger.

Amazon will likely reveal a new Echo device with a built-in screen next month, a person familiar with the plans told CNET. This information comes just after Amazon on Wednesday introduced the Echo Look, a smart speaker with a built-in camera.

The person said Amazon had been working to more fully develop its Echo devices, but it appeared to get a "wake-up call" last week after Google said its Home smart speakers can now identify multiple users, a feature Echo devices don't have. Amazon's devices team may now be looking to speed up introduction of these products so they can stay ahead of Google, the person added.

Timing on the new Echo device's introduction may change, the person said. An Amazon representative declined to comment for this story.

The rush to get out a new version of its hit speaker underscores the fierce battle raging to dominate your home and connected devices. While Amazon enjoyed a significant lead in getting its Echo into homes and has aggressively built up the capabilities of its Alexa voice assistant, Google is coming on strong with its own Home speaker. Whichever companies are able to dominate will be able to embed their products deeply into people's lives for years to come.

[tubemonkey]

New developer options now allow Alexa to whisper, change pitch, and more

Amazon is making Alexa sound more human with new options for developers to vary its speaking speed, volume, bleep out words, and even whisper. This is an extension of the Speech Synthesis Markup Language (SSML) that Amazon recently adopted. A couple of months ago, Alexa skill developers gain the option to use expressive words to give Alexa more personality. The new SSML options will allow Alexa users to have a “more natural voice experience.”

New SSML Features Give Alexa a Wider Range of Natural Expression

Speech Synthesis Markup Language, or SSML, is a standardized markup language that allows developers to control pronunciation, intonation, timing, and emotion. SSML support on Alexa allows you to control how Alexa generates speech from your skill’s text responses. You can add pauses, change pronunciation, spell out a word, add short audio snippets, and insert speechcons (special words and phrases) into your skill. These SSML features provide a more natural voice experience.

Today, we are excited to announce five new SSML tags in the US, UK, and Germany that you can use with Alexa, including whispers, expletive bleeps, and more.

In addition, today we also rolled out speechcons in the UK and Germany. Let me explain what they are and how to use them.

Five New SSML Tags

1. Whispers – Convey a softer dialog with <amazon:effect name="whispered">.
2. Expletive beeps – Bleep out words with <say-as interpret-as="expletive">.
3. Sub – Use <sub> tag when you want Alexa to say something other than what’s written.
4. Emphasis – Add <emphasis> to change the rate and volume at which Alexa speaks.
5. Prosody – Use this tage to control the volume, pitch, and rate of speech.

[Catlady]

I think instead of worrying about how Alexa sounds it would be more productive to work on how Alexa listens and interprets what it hears. I am getting tired of Alexa interpreting random sounds as commands. And I would like Alexa to be able to intepret a slightly complex command--like if I want to listen to a specific piece of music when my library has multiple versions of it.

Originally Posted by Catlady

I think instead of worrying about how Alexa sounds it would be more productive to work on how Alexa listens and interprets what it hears. I am getting tired of Alexa interpreting random sounds as commands. And I would like Alexa to be able to intepret a slightly complex command--like if I want to listen to a specific piece of music when my library has multiple versions of it.

I totally agree. Many are calling Alexa AI, artificial intelligence. That is mostly wrong in my opinion. She is not very intelligent at all as far as I can tell. She can answer specifically worded commands, but they have to match exactly or nearly exactly the pattern in which she is programmed to hear it and respond. For example, I have a lamp she can control the LED smartbulb in. I named this device "Lamp" to keep it short and make commands easier to request. If I say, "Alexa, Lamp on", she turns on the lamp. If I say, "Alexa, Light on", she gets confused and mutters a bunch of stuff and I have to wait for her to shut up before I can try the command again. Okay, it is definitely my fault that I use the wrong device name, however I only have two smart bulbs so you would think that an AI device would be smart enough to ask, "Did you mean turn on Lamp or Porch Light?" And it gets even worse when you get into music and various music apps. Your commands have to be spot on verbatim or Alexa has a melt down. AI means that Alexa should be able to interpret closely worded commands. But she is more AS, artificial stupidity than anything. The programmers who coded her AI treat commands just like programming languages--either you type in the precise, accurate syntax of a command or it returns an error. That is NOT AI, that is a MAJOR FAIL.

[tubemonkey]

What's New?

Alexa's new features and skills.


The new Echo Look

"Alexa, tell me about the Echo Look"

There's a new member of the Echo family. The Echo Look is a personal style assistant with a hands-free camera. Plus it includes all of Alexa’s fun and useful features.

Just for fun

"Alexa, what does spring sound like?"

Because you always wanted to know.

Free Audible books --> details

"Alexa, what's free from Audible?"

For fans of the detective Harry Bosch, Audible is offering two books from the series. For the month of May, enjoy The Black Echo and A Darkness More than Night for free on your Echo devices.

To get started, ask Alexa...

"Read The Black Echo"
"Read A Darkness More than Night"

[FizzyWater]

I finally caved and bought one. It should be waiting for me when I get home tomorrow. Here's to hoping I can actually figure out how to use it.

[Blossom]

I thought you might get a chuckle out of this.

This was posted by a famous author on Facebook:

My yoga studio has gone to using Amazon's Alexa for all the music, so the instructors tell Alexa to "play a yoga classical mix" or some such thing when class starts. Tonight, in the middle of standing poses, the yoga teacher tells us to be sure to check our hips. Alexa stops the music and says "Chicken has been added to the shopping list." Too much technology for a yoga class?

Sent from my XT1528

[tubemonkey]

Exclusive: This is Amazon’s new Echo with a built-in touchscreen

Here is the first look at what Amazon’s upcoming Echo with a built-in touchscreen looks like. I was able to locate this unfortunately low resolution image on Amazon’s servers in a similar manner to how I found what we now know to be the Echo Look. This new member of the Echo lineup is codenamed “Knight” and is expected to be released later this month.

Similar to my past leaks, I don’t have much information other than the image itself. We know from past sources that this will be the flagship Alexa device in Amazon’s lineup. It’s expected to have better sounding speakers than the current Amazon Echo. The screen is rumored to be a touchscreen that’s 7 inches in size.

An exact release date is unknown, but considering the nature of where I found this image, I expect it will be released this month. Pricing is also unknown, but since this is expected to be a device superior to the current Amazon Echo, you can expect it to be above $200, but probably below $300.

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Exclusive: This is Amazon’s new Echo with a built-in touchscreen

That makes way more sense than the current Alexa devices and Googles Home (or whatever it is called). There was an article yesterday on Mac Rumors about Apple SVP of Worldwide Marketing Phil Schiller criticizing the current home assistant devices because they don't have a screen. I've been saying that all along. Alexa is good for some tasks that don't require a screen, like asking her questions, turning on/off home devices, etc. However, when it comes to some tasks you really need a screen. For example, a screen really improves mapping directions, picking between different versions of songs, seeing what is currently playing, etc. The first thing I did was install the Alexa app on my tables and phone. Some tasks simply require a screen for optimum use. If this rumor turns out to be true, then I think that it is going to be a great improvement to the Echo. They also need to greatly improve voice recognition though.

However, i won't be upgrading to that though. Why? Because I don't care for Android, and I think we can bet the farm that it will be an Android/FireOS device. The thing that gripes me the most about Alexa functionality is its lack of ability to work well with iOS calendars, notes, etc. I'm heavily invested in the Apple garden, so I want to be able to have a device that can fully integrate within that garden. Will I buy the Apple version when it comes out? Probably not. I can simply use my iThingies and Siri to do that already. Alexa has been a disappointment, and I suspect I would feel the same about Google Home too. Even with a screen, I'm not sure I benefit much from such devices. I use Alexa less all the time. BTW, I prefer using my iPad Pro 9.7 with Pandora app to listening to music on the Echo. Why? It sounds way better. The Alexa devices, especially that rumored new one, need to have greatly improved sound.

[Catlady]

I already have Alexa and a touchscreen--on my cheapie Fire tablet.

Originally Posted by Catlady

I already have Alexa and a touchscreen--on my cheapie Fire tablet.

Me too, I own a lackluster Fire HD 6 that collects dust. I think it is way more important for Amazon to address the voice recognition, and provide better music support, than to introduce another device. If they do introduce a screen device, I hope they put decent speakers in it. The Echo sounds okay, but as a music jam box it is very lackluster.

[WT Sharpe]

Does anyone else think the Alexa website is a bit slow? It's not only those times when I'm in the grocery store and checking my shopping list, but someone's even at home it seems to take longer than it should to open.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by Catlady

I already have Alexa and a touchscreen--on my cheapie Fire tablet.

Same here.

I have no intention of getting one of these. I don't need a screen to listen to music and audiobooks.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

Does anyone else think the Alexa website is a bit slow? It's not only those times when I'm in the grocery store and checking my shopping list, but someone's even at home it seems to take longer than it should to open.

I don't use the Alexa Website all that often, so I wouldn't know.