Amazon Echo Club

[tubemonkey]

One other thing about the Dash Wand - it's ugly! I hate the upper white half! White is ugly when used for devices!

I wish the entire device was black

[WT Sharpe]

Since it costs $20, and you get a $20 credit, the device is really free (although sold out as of this writing). Even for free, however, I wonder if it's worth it. What about accidental purchases? What about small kids using it to buy a year's worth of pizza? (Okay, that last one might not be too bad.) Can someone give me a reason for hanging one in the kitchen? I even have Alexa's Amazon ordering capabilities disabled.

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

Since it costs $20, and you get a $20 credit, the device is really free (although sold out as of this writing). Even for free, however, I wonder if it's worth it. What about accidental purchases? What about small kids using it to buy a year's worth of pizza? (Okay, that last one might not be too bad.) Can someone give me a reason for hanging one in the kitchen? I even have Alexa's Amazon ordering capabilities disabled.

I think I read it would do recipes.

This is just me personally, so it won't apply to everyone by any means, but I'm a visual type of person. I want to review my shopping lists, browse them, make corrections, all things that really require me to view the lists (as in use my eyesight). I cannot even imaging trying to place orders for multiple items by just using my voice. I would still double-check the list in a browser, smartphone, or tablet. I want to verify I'm ordering what I intended to order, paying for it using the method I desire, etc. So a device like the Dash Wand, or even using an Echo, Dot, or Tap, just don't appeal to me as far as shopping goes. Perhaps they are good for placing a single item order or for using the Dash wand to scan a barcode, but I would still review the order in an app wherein my eyes could do the verifying. Just saying....To each their own, but voice ordering is not for me.

[DreamWriter]

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

What about accidental purchases?

Not likely since items are merely added to your Amazon shopping cart. You still have to go through the checkout process manually. Amazon Fresh may be different. I don't have that.

Can someone give me a reason for hanging one in the kitchen?

I plan to use mine to create grocery shopping lists. Nice that I can have my head in the refrigerator while adding items. For example, if I say "Add milk," that'll show up in the Alexa Shopping List, which can be accessed via the Alexa app (even when not connected to WiFi) or online. If you go to www.amazon.com/alexa, you can print the list. In the Alexa app, you can check off items while shopping.

When writing, it'll be handy for spelling or word definitions. I occasionally need to convert foreign currency or recipe measurements, which it can do.

It doesn't give accurate weather info for me due to my small-town location, but that's a nice feature (simply say "temperature" or "rain" or "forecast"). If you regularly travel a certain route (daily commute perhaps), you can set your "destination" in the Alexa app (Settings>Accounts>Traffic), and it'll estimate travel time when you say "Traffic." That may be more accurate for urban/freeway locations.

I don't have any Alexa-enabled smart devices, but it'd be great to control those—lights, in particular.

These functions can be performed by any Alexa device, but with the wand in hand, you don't have to raise your voice or say the wake word. You do have to press and hold the button while speaking, though.

When you ask it to set a timer, it responds "Timers are not currently supported on this device." Note the word currently. Perhaps they'll add that capability later, which would be very handy.

I even have Alexa's Amazon ordering capabilities disabled.

Me too. Adding products using the Dash Wand by voice or scanning still works.

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

I think I read it would do recipes.

Yes, it does. I tested this by saying "Ask AllRecipes for baked chicken." You can then have it read ingredients, which also show up in the Alexa app—nice for those of us who are more "visual." Then it will give you instructions step-by-step, one at a time. To move to the subsequent step, say "Next."

[Cinisajoy]

I do not need the wand. I do not need the wand. I do not need the wand.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

I do not need the wand. I do not need the wand. I do not need the wand.

But it's FREE!

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by ApK

But it's FREE!

You said the F word. I shall report you now. I did think about it but if you have to hold a button while doing recipes, it would get icky in a hurry.

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

You said the F word. I shall report you now. I did think about it but if you have to hold a button while doing recipes, it would get icky in a hurry.

I thought about it too, but with Alexa being so insane here lately, and the whole lack of a visual on the lists or recipes, not that I ever cook anything that requires a recipe, I decided it was not for me. I could never use a verbal recipe anyway, even if I did cook with recipes. I'm too distracted by sounds and need to read what I'm supposed to be doing!

[DreamWriter]

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

You said the F word. I shall report you now. I did think about it but if you have to hold a button while doing recipes, it would get icky in a hurry.

You could put it in a plastic bag.

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

I do not need the wand. I do not need the wand. I do not need the wand.

The only reason I got it was because it was almost free (had to pay sales tax) after the $20 credit (good only for items sold directly by Amazon.con). I used the credit for Prime Pantry groceries, which I was going to order anyway.

I certainly could live without it, but I'm glad I got it. I have an Echo, a Tap, two Dots, and my Fire tablet has Alexa. I like the portability of the Dash Wand (keep it next to the computer while typing, on the refrigerator (the magnet is strong!), next to the recliner, etc.). While watching TV, we sometimes ask trivia questions. There's a Dot in the room, but we have to yell at it when the TV's on since it's close to the speaker. The wand will be easier to use for things like that. And if they add timer capability in the future, I can carry the wand from room to room and still hear it...

[Cinisajoy]

I am going to call several of you enablers.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by DreamWriter

The only reason I got it was because it was almost free (had to pay sales tax) after the $20 credit (good only for items sold directly by Amazon.con). I used the credit for Prime Pantry groceries, which I was going to order anyway.

I certainly could live without it, but I'm glad I got it. I have an Echo, a Tap, two Dots, and my Fire tablet has Alexa. I like the portability of the Dash Wand (keep it next to the computer while typing, on the refrigerator (the magnet is strong!), next to the recliner, etc.). While watching TV, we sometimes ask trivia questions. There's a Dot in the room, but we have to yell at it when the TV's on since it's close to the speaker. The wand will be easier to use for things like that. And if they add timer capability in the future, I can carry the wand from room to room and still hear it...

I have no practical use for it, so it's a toy for me. I using it for time and weather checks, and conversions (£ to $).

[WT Sharpe]

Originally Posted by DreamWriter

Not likely since items are merely added to your Amazon shopping cart. You still have to go through the checkout process manually....

Okay, I'm in. Got one now on backorder. Not sure how useful I'll find it to be, but the price is right. 🤔

[issybird]

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

Okay, I'm in. Got one now on backorder. Not sure how useful I'll find it to be, but the price is right. 🤔

I've been holding out, but I finally caved. Since I no longer have Prime, I had to order it on my sister's account, but it's coming here.

I did try to talk her into getting it, but she wasn't interested. Well, she's getting one anyway!

[tubemonkey]

Introducing Smart Home Camera Control with Alexa

Today, we are happy to announce that you can enable customers to view live video feeds from their smart home cameras on Echo Show with the Smart Home Skill API. Customers can say, “Alexa, show the front door” and have the feed from an Internet connected camera like Arlo or Ring display on Echo Show. We first announced camera control on May 9, 2017. Today, the capability is available to all developers building smart home skills in the US.